Making ramps is something I think every kid should do once in their childhood. There’s something so simple and fun about playing with a ramp.
You can slide just about anything down a ramp if it’s the right size and weight.
And if you have a sturdy enough ramp…. then ta da! You also have a slide.
I remember making a cardboard ramp by propping up a piece of cardboard on a chair.
I took my entire bouncy ball collection (I still have it here in the house!) and rolled each ball down the ramp one by one.
There’s something so satisfying and mesmerizing about letting something slide down a ramp.
It’s something I (and my kids) could do over and over again and again…
For our ramps activity this time, we got out our colorful tissue paper balls.
These tissue paper balls have reappeared on our blog multiple times, so if you want to see what else we do with them check out these posts:
Who knew crumpled up tissue paper could be so useful?
(Me. I knew. And now, you know.)
Ramps and Simple Machines
OK, here’s a little sciency stuff about ramps that I totally had to Google.
- Ramps are considered a simple machine, even though they have no moving parts.
- They are used to do work by helping us get objects from up high down low very quickly. (Duh.)
- Ramps are also called inclined planes.
See if you can teach that term to your toddler.
“Say it with me kids: in-clined plaaaaane.”
If you can get a 2-year-old to use that in a sentence, you’ll get so many smart parent points.
How to Make and Play with Ramps
I created a simple inclined plane using a wood plank. We have tons in our basement from when we installed our hardwood floors.
Anyone need one?
If you don’t have a wood plank just lying around the house, try deconstructing a cardboard box.
Or maybe prop up an old poster board or a giant greeting card.
You’ll have to get creative here.
I can’t do that part for you.
Next, grab a basket and set it at the bottom of your ramp.
Unless, of course, you’re OK with chasing after tissue paper balls all day.
Then start sliding tissue paper balls down the ramps.
Extend the Activity
A few things you can do with kids as they play:
- Count how many make it into the basket.
- Time how fast different toys slide down the ramp.
- Give simple instructions like can you slide the red ball and the blue ball down the ramp together? How about the pink ball and then the brown ball right after? Following simple instructions and sequences challenges kids’ memory.
Will You Try Making Ramps?
Leave a comment below telling us what you used to make your ramp and what your kids slid down it!
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