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.

Open Design

Over the las few months the children have really been catching on to the concepts that are at the heart of what we are doing in the program. Everyday we hear stories of things that they have made and/or a family member has made.They have mastered the use of both a screwdriver and the hot glue gun. And recently we have begun hearing more and more about what they want to make. So during the last few weeks we allowed them to use the tools, resources, and our skills to come up with a design project and see it through. At first we had them plan out what they wanted to design and make. We then when through what materials and/or supplies they would need.

Finally we stood back and let them get to making. Some of the children wanted to make figures like a mermaid, Spiderman, or Mario and Luigi. So we came up with a generic cardboard figure, we cut on the laser cutter, that could be put together using brass fasteners at their joints. The children then put them together in the configuration they wanted and added props they created, decorations, and other additions. Other children wanted to make rockets, cars, stuffed animals you name it. 

Using the laser cutter we were able to assist some in cutting out their drawings in cardboard so they would have a physical representation they could then add to and play with.

What a great summer. It is wonderful to see the confidence the children have gained with the tools and to see grow as makers!

Making Music

This week our hands-on journey was focused on sound. So we made a few musical instruments.

The first was a Straw Oboe. The children were given straws, scissors and a quick demonstration on the shape they would need to cut at the end of their straw. It took some assistance but it wasn't long before we heard the first HOOONK! and "I did it!". Shortly after that the room was buzzing.
We experimented with the length and even used larger diameter straws to compare the change in sound. The children were provided with various craft materials and we once again fired up the trusty hot glue guns. They were encouraged to both add their own touch and extend the design of their instruments. Some added cups to the end to amplify the sound even more. By the end of the activity everyone had a unique, fun instrument that they could not put down.

The next instrument we explored was the Glove-A-Phone.
Once again the children were given the raw materials and an example.

After some taping and cutting everyone began trying to play their new instrument. Getting the glove stretched out just right over the paper tubes was a bit difficult for some but once they got the hang of it they could not put them down. These made a much lower, and louder sound than the Oboes so the children were really able to notice the different sounds produced by both designs. The fact that the glove vibrations on the top of the tube in the Glove-A-Phone can actually be observed compared to the Oboe, where the vibrations where occurring inside the mouth, allowed the children to connect the concept that the vibrations are what generate the sound. However the glove vibrates so fast it was hard for the children to see. So we had them feel the top to sense the vibrations. Again we encouraged them to decorate and add on to the deign of their instruments. Some children came up with the idea of gluing or taping one of the craft materials to the top of them membrane to help make the vibrations visible. However they quickly realized that whatever they added dampened the vibrations and the instrument became harder to operate.

Rockets

We asked the children to draw a rocket. From their drawings we pointed out similarities between their drawings and discussed why most rockets have these characteristics.

We then asked them to decorate and assemble a three dimensional rocket puzzle that we had cut out on our laser cutter. The rocket has a hole in the center which was designed to fit a film canister for a similar activity we have done before. However this time we decided to try using the rocket at the end of a stomp rocket launcher. This is basically a 2 litter bottle attached to one end of  a PVC tube. The other end is open and facing toward the sky. We put the rocket at the end, and had the children jump on the bottle to launch their rockets.

We then extended the activity by constructing a compressed air rocket launcher. The children were able to see the difference in launch height between stomping 2 liters of air and releasing about 10 compressions of a bicycle pump (~50 psi) into the back of their rockets. Once we had thoroughly explored the launching of the cardboard rockets we moved on to a discussion about weight and created paper rockets to launch on our rocket launcher. What a blast!