Notes for the teacher

Today the Apprentices will create a mini golf course out of cardboard, etc.! This may take 2 days. Judge based on how your class is doing.

Goals

• Explore the simple math of mini golf
• Explore the design process
• Fulfill criteria while staying within constraints
• Creatively use materials to create a unique and fun mini golf course
• Reimagine the design of a obstacle course that works better

Materials

• Small golf clubs (1 per 3-4 students)
• Golf balls (1 per 3-4 students)
• Lots of cardboard
• Box cutters (for adult use only)
• Coloring implements (most likely markers)
• Scissors
• Tape
• Recyclables
• MakeDo cardboard tools
• Paper and writing implements for planning

Design a Mini

Golf Course!

Apprentices: Summer 2024

K - 6th Grade

History of Mini Golf

What are the rules of mini golf?

• The goal is to hit your ball into the hole.
• Do not swing your club above your waist.
• Each stroke of your club that hits the ball is a point.
• The lowest number of points at the end of the course wins.
• Each hole has a “par”: the number of strokes it takes, on average, to hit the ball into the hole.
• Number of players doesn’t matter; even a single player can compete with themselves to try to beat par!
• Some mini golf courses say you can’t hit the ball any more than 6 times per hole.

Plan it on paper first. Once planned, show the teacher, who will give you materials. Consider the following:

• What theme will your hole have?
• What is its par?
• What will you use to make it?
• How will it be challenging or fun?

After building the hole, how can you improve it to make it work better?

What do you think?

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Share your thoughts about creating your team’s mini golf course.

What challenges did you experience during your design?

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How did you all overcome the challenges?

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Why didn’t certain design options not work for your team?

FORE!

Acknowledgements

• Video from here
• Slide template from here