Hands-on STEM

Dough-Maze Challenge

Tilt and guide a marble through a handmade playdough maze.

Perfect for ages 3-8yrs | Supervision recommended | Great for individual play

Materials Needed:

  • Tray with raised edges
  • Playdough (2 colours adds visual interest)
  • Small marble
  • Creative spirit!

How to Play:

1. Set Up Your Maze Base
Lay out a clean white plate or tray. Take two colours of playdough and roll into thin strips about finger-width thick. For beginners, make wider paths; for experts, create narrow challenging routes.

2. Design Your Path
Create your maze pattern by placing playdough strips on the plate. Start with a clear entrance and exit. For younger players, use straight paths; for advanced players, add tricky turns and dead ends. Pro tip: press the strips firmly onto the plate so they don't shift during play.

3. Add Your Challenge Points
Mark a clear 'START' and 'FINISH' point. For extra fun, add special zones like 'slow motion areas' or 'speed zones'. Advanced players can create multiple paths but only one leads to victory!

4. Position Your Marble
Place your marble at the start point. For beginners, use a larger marble or ball for easier control. Expert players might try a smaller marble or time challenges.

5. Navigate & Master!
Hold the plate with both hands and slowly tilt to guide your marble. Younger players can use gentle movements with adult help. Challenge older players to complete the maze without touching walls or race against a timer. Redesign and replay as often as you like!

Why This Activity Rocks:

Develops Fine Motor Control – Manipulating playdough and guiding the marble strengthens hand muscles and finger dexterity. Precise movements and controlled tilting enhance hand-eye coordination.
Enhances Problem-Solving Skills – Planning maze routes, predicting marble movement, and adjusting strategies builds critical thinking and spatial reasoning abilities.
Builds Focus & Persistence - Maintaining concentration while guiding the marble and trying multiple attempts fosters determination and patience.
Promotes STEM Understanding – Hands-on exploration of basic physics concepts like gravity, momentum, and cause-and-effect relationships.

Link to Early Learning Framework:
✓ Learning Through Play
✓ Physical Development
✓ Cognitive Development
✓ STEM Foundations
✓ Social-Emotional Skills

Perfect for small groups, centres, or individual exploration
Adaptable for different age groups and ability levels

Activity & content credit to - @learning.with.athena