The Marble Game

     We spend the month of December working on The Marble Game, a hand-held toy that uses marbles to play tic-tac-toe.
     Made from 2x4 lumber, students can now differentiate this most common construction material from 2x6 used for the Peg Game.  This project is similar to the Peg Game in many ways; one reason we do this project is to reinforce important skills.  The main point of the Marble Game is to teach the drill press.  During the Peg Game I teach general concepts of marking and making holes; now, on the press, students learn precision.  Students are taught drawing and drilling techniques which enable them to bore any number of holes at the exact same spacing and depth.  Students are exposed to several types of drill bits and learn how to evaluate the purpose of their work in order to determine which type of bit should be used.
     Safety on the drill press takes the form of a step-by-step procedure which I demonstrate and then enforce rigidly.  In addition, students secure their work in a parallel clamp which is uncomfortable and inconvenient unless held in a safe position.
     Students' Second Quarter grades are the average of their Marble Game and Peg Game scores.  If time allows, we have an informal Marble Game Tournament; not for points and just for fun, students have an opportunity to use something that they built. 
            -Mr. Reifler

Teacher Websites © 2009 SchoolWorld