Nails and Foam Free Art

As an activity to introduce/practice hammers and nails we decided to use a material that was a little easier for the young ones than wood. We decide on rigid foam insulation. We started off by introducing the hammer and nails to the children. We discussed that nails (like glue, screws and tape) are used to bind things together. We showed them how to hold the hammer with one hand and the nail with the other to get it started, them nail in their first nail. From there they were free to practice, and boy did they. After a long period of free nailing we encouraged them to draw on the foam with markers and go back over the lines with the nails.
During the next session every child was eager to get hammering. We brought out the crafting materials and hot glue gun so that they could add to their works of art. Every child learned to use a hammer and nail while creating inspiring works of free art.

Cublets

Playing with cubelets is always a fun learning experience. For this group of children it was their first interaction with the cubelets and we decided to try a new strategy for introducing them. We simply gave them the blocks and tried to see if they would make some discoveries on their own. To keep it simple we limited the think blocks to only the battery block but gave them the full range of action and sense blocks to explore. Once they got over the cool way that the blocks connect using magnets, which took up much of the time, they eventually stumbled upon a beep, or a block lighting up, or some even noticed the humming sound coming from the motor blocks before they noticed anything turning. We then used these discoveries to discuss the function of each block. We explored what we would have to do to each sense block in order to trigger the action block.  The children were then free to tinker with and combine the blocks to make their own creations. Not bad to be introduced to robotics at the age of 4yrs old and be able to create your own, thanks to the low barrier to entry of the blocks.

Propellers and Rotors

Inspired by an instructable we had seen recently, and eager to see how fun paper whirligigs would be in our wind tubes, we decided to play with the concept of propellers and rotors.

We started off with rectangular strips of paper and we had the children play with and explore how the paper's orientation, and shape effected the amount of air resistance it experienced as it fell to the ground. When held with the long end horizontal the paper would flip, fall slowly, and move randomly on it's way down. When held with the long end vertically the paper would fall quickly, not flip, and typically landed in the same place. Next we showed them paper whirligigs and showed them how this design combines both the horizontal (rotors) and vertical (stem) paper orientation. We had them cut out their own using the scissors. After playing with them in the room we brought them over to the windtubes so that they could play with their creations and make modifications when needed.
During the next session we introduced the plastic propellers, had them explore it's shape and discussed the similarities and differences of it's design to the paper whirligigs. Each of them spent time making a small rubberband powered helicopter similar to this instructable, and played with its design by changing the shape of the paper attached to it, the amount of times the rubberband was wound up, and the sequence used to launch them. We had a great time.

Rubberband Cars

To get everyone ready for Our 2013 Cardboard Challenge we decided to play with cardboard. We got inspired when we saw some of the things being done by artist Noga Elhassid at the Moving Toy Workshop. Specifically the rubber band cars. So we cut out some basic shapes and had the children design their own toy cars. We started by searching for examples of working cars in the classroom and deciding what were the most important aspects of their design which they all had in common that made them function. They all had wheels, axles, and a body. So using these basic components, and the rubber band we let the children come up with their own windup cars.

Squishy Circuits

We began our school year program with an activity that would allow for the creative, hands on use of technology we were looking for but also provide a low barrier to entry for new students who were not with us during the summer. And besides the children love to play with play doh so what better than Squishy Circuits!
We made our own recipe for conductive play doh and provided the children with all the components required to make a simple circuit (Batteries and L.E.D.).
We led them through a basic activity that helped them organize the parts and layout of a basic circuit.
Showing them how to layout the components so that they form a circle.
After some basic problem solving and observations the children noticed that the L.E.D. had polarity. so if the circuit does not light up it doesn't mean it won't work "I can't do it" it is an opportunity to try and fix something by discovering what is wrong. Pretty soon the room was buzzing with excitement as L.E.D.s lit up and children who solved the problem were collaborating with those who were still working on theirs.
We had some pretty neat creations.