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The Cardboard Carnival

Design & Build a Cardboard Carnival Game

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  • Rules
  • Challenge Support
    • Tutorials
    • Workshops
  • Prizes
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    • Cardboard Carnival 2022
    • Marble Adventure 2021
  • About Us

Design & Build a Cardboard Game

Get Started

Your Cardboard Carnival game needs to include the four basic requirements. Other than that you have complete freedom to design your game.

We have identified four basic types of cardboard games to help inspire you. Feel free to duplicate, remix, or design a completely different game.

Demo Games

Ball Run Illustration
Ball Run
Ball Drop Illustration
Ball Drop
Ball Launcher Illustration
Ball Launcher
Pinball Illustration
Pinball Style

You can find tutorials for many of the design elements highlighted in demo games below.

Game Element Tutorials

Obstacle Elements

  • Peg obstacle
  • Spinner obstacle
  • Stationary obstacle
  • Rubber Band Bumpers
  • Funnel
  • Multi-track switch
  • Mini-Catapult
  • Pinball Launcher

Motor Elements

  • Wire a Servo
  • Code a Positional Servo
  • Code a Rotational Servo
  • Starting Gate
  • Servo Gate
  • Servo Spinning Obstacle
  • Servo Swinging Obstacle
  • Servo control board

Design Elements

  • Add sound
  • Touch circuits
  • Create a theme
  • Create a sign with your game’s name
  • Add circuit board lights
  • Button controls
  • NeoPixel Lights
  • Paint, draw, stencil

Workshops

We will offer a number of workshops throughout the challenge beginning on Wednesday, February 1st, which is a half day for District 65 schools.

Some workshops will feature limited specialty supplies. Workshop attendees will get the first chance to work with these materials, such as adding NeoPixel light strips or a speaker to their project. You can earn a prize token for attending each workshop.

You must be registered for the challenge and also register for each workshop individually. Click on the links below to register for a workshop.

Dates

WED, February 1 > 1:00 – 2:30PM

SAT, February 4 > 1:00 – 2:30PM

WED, February 8 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

THU, February 9 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

WED, February 15 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

THU, February 16 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

WED, February 22 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

THU, February 23 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

SUN, February 26 > 1:00 – 2:30PM

WED, March 1 > 4:00 – 5:30PM

SAT, March 4 > 1:30 – 4:30PM

SUN, March 5 > 1:30 – 4:30PM

SAT, March 11 > 2:00 – 3:30PM

Workshops

Get Started with Servo Motors ——-Robert Crown

Laser Cut Parts —————————Main Library Falcon Room

Open Shop ———————————Robert Crown

Getting started with buttons ———-Robert Crown

Open Shop ———————————Robert Crown

NeoPixel Light Strips ——————–Robert Crown

Open Shop ———————————Robert Crown

Sound & Speakers ———————–Robert Crown

Sound & Speakers ———————–Main Library Falcon Room

Decorating and Choosing a Theme Robert Crown

Last Chance Workshop —————- Robert Crown

Last Chance Workshop —————–Robert Crown

CARNIVAL SHOWCASE —————–Fleetwood-Jourdain

Help Form

You can also submit any questions through our Help Form. Please give us 1-2 days to respond. Someone may have already asked your question so be sure to check our FAQ page first.

HELP FORM
FAQ PAGE

Evanston Public Library, District 65, and our partners are committed to creating safe and welcoming spaces, programs, and services for all Evanston youth.  Just like Evanston youth, the staff who work on the Citywide STEM challenges come from a variety of races, cultures, experiences, sexual orientation, and gender identities.  By being intentional with our staffing and program structure we hope that youth see themselves reflected and feel supported when they take part. 

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