How to Make a Tech Deck Ramp out of a Cereal Box

When people think of skateboards, many immediately imagine ramps for jumping. Tech Deck by Spin Master is a hot craze in the toy world for young boys (and young girls too). The Tech Deck toy consists of a plastic figure with magnetic feet and a magnetic skateboard. Some of the figures also include an accessory such as a small pet. The Tech Deck figure is approximately 1½ inches tall, so making a ramp for it is pretty simple---all you need is a cereal box and some common household items.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tech Deck figure with skateboard Empty cereal box Scissors Scotch tape Fan or hair dryer Spray bottle filled with water Props: Books A food can A coffee cup Chair

1. Using scissors, cut the empty cereal box into strips that are about 2½ inches wide; by cutting the length of the cereal box, you will end up with several of these strips. Cereal boxes come in a variety of sizes, so you can use the giant, economy size boxes to obtain longer strips. Cut some ½-inch-wide strips if you want sides for your ramp.

2. Spray the cereal-box strips with a fine mist of water from the spray bottle until they're flexible. No skateboard ramp is complete without "hills" on which to go up and down.

3. Wrap a part of the damp strip around a food can or a coffee cup and let it dry. You can speed up the drying process by placing a fan in front of the damp strips or by using a hair dryer.

4. When the strips are completely dry, tape the 2½-inch-wide strips together by the ends to make the "road" of the ramp. If you chose to have sides on your ramp, tape the ½-inch-wide strips to both sides of the ramp.

5. Tape the top of the ramp to the top of a food can, a coffee cup, a stack of books or even a chair (if your ramp is long enough).

6. Place your Tech Deck figure on its skateboard and put it at the top of the ramp. Let it go and watch all the stunts that the Tech Deck performs. You can also race two Tech Decks and see which is faster---that's where the real fun is.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider putting sides on the ramp. They'll help keep the Tech Deck on the ramp. You can even decorate your ramp using stickers, crayons, markers or even gift-wrap paper.
• Don't put too much water on the cereal-box strips during step two; use just enough to make the strips flexible. Always supervise children when they're using scissors to cut the cereal box. Always be careful when using electric items such as a fan or a hair dryer.

References

• Kooker Kids
• Tech Deck