Ramp-o-rama

🌸 Overview

It’s time to roll, race, and reason!

In Ramp-o-Rama, your child becomes a mini engineer; designing ramps to explore slope, speed, and distance. This simple yet exciting experiment introduces physics concepts like gravity and friction, all wrapped in playful testing and tinkering.

From toy cars to marbles to balls, kids can measure, compare, and adjust their ramps to see how small changes make big differences.

🌿 What You’ll Explore

• Maths: Measurement, estimation, data comparison.

• Science: Slope, friction, and motion.

• Engineering: Design, test, improve.

• Social & Emotional: Patience, experimentation, problem solving.

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(Full learning outcomes and ready-to-use report phrasing available in the printable pack.)

🪴 What You’ll Need

• Cardboard, books, or wooden planks (or guttering!) for ramps

• Toy cars, marbles, or balls

• Tape and a ruler

• Stopwatch or phone timer

• Paper for recording results

✨ Quick How-To

1️⃣ Build a ramp using cardboard on books.

2️⃣ Roll your toy from the top - measure how far or fast it travels.

3️⃣ Try different heights, ramp surfaces, or weights.

4️⃣ Record results and compare outcomes.

💡 Parent Tip: Ask open questions like “What happens if the ramp is steeper?” or “Which surface makes it go faster?” - turning play into inquiry.

💚 Adapt for Every Age and Ability

• Use larger, slower objects for younger or SEN learners (balls instead of marbles).

• Simplify measurement - compare by “Which went furthest?” rather than exact numbers.

• Offer a visual chart for recording results.

• For sensory seekers, try textured ramps (bubble wrap, foil, sandpaper) to explore friction.

  
  

(SEN & Early Years visual chart and “ramp surface cards” included in the pack.)

🎨 Extension Ideas

• Ramp Olympics: Score each ramp on speed, distance, and creativity.

• Design Challenge: Build the longest ramp using only recycled materials.

• Friction Test: Use fabric, foil, or cardboard to see which slows the car most.

• Maths Upgrade: Create a simple bar chart comparing ramp angles vs distance.

💾 Download the Full Activity Pack

The Ramp-o-Rama Printable Pack includes:

✔️ Visual setup and step-by-step guide

✔️ Maths measurement and data worksheets

✔️ Ramp Challenge score sheets

✔️ Friction test chart

✔️ Visual Now/Next board and SEN adaptations

✔️ Certificate of completion

🛒 Get the Ramp-o-Rama Pack on Etsy

🎥 See It in Action

Watch our full ramp testing challenge and speed experiments here:

🌿 Watch Ramp-o-Rama on Instagram

🪶 Why We Love This

We love Ramp-o-Rama because it’s the perfect mix of learning and laughter -kids get to move, test, and think all at once. It’s science you can see in action!

Thanks for joining us for today’s experiment 💚

If you give it a go, we’d love to see! Tag @CuriousPawsLearning on Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, X, Pinterest or Facebook so we can celebrate your little scientist’s success together. 🐾