Maker Monday: Kids can make their own puffball race track

This week’s Maker Monday project will keep kids busy and entertained. It’s also great for encouraging creativity and building fine motor skills. With their homemade puffball race track, kids will have a blast with an activity that can involve multiple challengers or a solitary player.

The idea is to aim your straw at a puffball and blow it along a tape track. It’s a lot of fun and requires skill to make corners, get through tunnels and finish the race quickly. Blow too hard and the puffball goes flying off course!

Kids can make a list of rules for their games. A single track could involve scoring with a stopwatch, watching for improvement when playing alone or for competition among friends. A double track offers the opportunity for a one-on-one race. If you don’t have enough open floor space, use poster board as the base upon which to map out your track and use it anywhere.

As with all Maker Monday projects, kids can do this with items you may have around the house or can pick up at a dollar store or grocery store. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

A note to kid makers: Please work with a parent or caregiver on Maker Monday projects. Though this project doesn’t involve any tools, it’s always good to have grownups make sure you’re working safely.  

Maker Monday materials:

• masking tape or painter’s tape
• puffballs from a dollar store or craft store
• drinking straws
• cardboard tubes (empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls)

Maker Monday instructions:

Step 1: Use the tape to map out your track. Depending on available floor space and the ability of your players, kids can make the track as simple or difficult as they like. Think of it as a floor version of miniature golf.

Kids can get creative: One option is adding curves and corners to make it more challenging. Another idea: Use the cardboard tubes to create fun tunnels to work through. What else can kids come up with?

Step 2: Now you’re ready to play. Use your straw to gently blow the puffball along your track. Kids can dream up any rules or variations that they want!

Want more at-home fun creating cool (and delicious!) stuff and making beautiful things? Check out more Maker Monday projects right here. Do you have an idea for a Maker Monday craft project? If so, please share it with Kidsburgh! Send your maker activity ideas to info@kidsburgh.org.