Cause & Effect: Systems & System Models

Good Start Activity—when children have developed some experience building with unit blocks, add segments of cove molding or commercially purchased ramp segments and marbles or other small spheres to the block center. Invite children to explore ways to move the spheres on the ramps.

Solving Problems

Tracy and a child figure out how to create a ramp structure with a 90-degree angle so that the marble can turn a corner.

Comparing ramps of different lengths

Heidi and two children explored different lengths of ramps and how they could
connect them to create a long ramp structure that resembled that types of bridges they see in their environment.

Carrying out an investigation

Tracy helped children investigate how marbles roll on ramps of different heights.