The Cardboard Carnival:
Marble Adventure
We challenge you to design & build a cardboard marble adventure
The Cardboard Carnival is open to all D65 students and Evanston residents in grades 4th – 8th.
The rules are simple. Design a marble adventure using cardboard and other everyday materials. You must also include a moving element using a control board and a motor. We will provide you with a free kit to help you get started that include tools, materials, and everything you need to make a moving element.
No experience is required.
Never built a marble adventure? Never programmed a motor? We got you covered. Check out our Cardboard Carnival YouTube channel. We have created 20+ video tutorials to assist you in your design process – topics include programming a motor, creating a funnel, obstacles, and more.
Girl Power!
STEM activities and spaces are not always inviting to everyone. That’s why the Cardboard Carnival is intentional about creating welcoming activities and opportunities so that girls see themselves represented and feel encouraged to participate. Join the girls-only mentor hour on Mondays at 1:00 PM.
Submit your marble adventure and earn a chance to win prizes.
Submit a video of you marble adventure before the deadline and you will be entered into the challenge prize raffle. The more design elements you include in your marble adventure the better your chances at winning. We will feature selected marble adventures, celebrate all participants, and pick raffle winners in a citywide live stream showcase on March 13th, 2021.
“It’s magical to be able to come up with ideas and then have them materialize.”
— Lonnie Johnson, NASA Engineer
Funded by the Illinois State Library – Project Next Generation Grant
With additional support from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and Northwestern University Office of Community Education Partnerships.
