No.73
Tilting-Box Maze
Japanese name: ころころ迷路
Materials
- A shallow box with sides
- Cardboard dividers
- Tape
- One large, lightweight ball
- Writing tools
- Child-safe scissors
How to play
- Draw a start and goal in a shallow box. Temporarily arrange cardboard walls to make a turning path wide enough for the ball.
- Roll the ball by hand to test for blockages. Once the path works, tape the walls securely.
- Place the ball at the start, hold both ends of the box and tilt gently. Guide the ball without touching it.
- If it leaves the box, restart. Take two attempts each. Others must not shake the box, but may share observations.
- After everyone tries, improve one difficult corner and try again. Compare whether the route is easier.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: an adult makes a short route. Younger primary school children: build the route first. Older primary school children: add dead ends and exchange mazes.