Can I Make Things Move?

Explore problems and techniques encountered when attempting to make things move. A variety of materials will be used. Each of 4 sessions will introduce a 15 minute topic followed by individual constructive play.
Start any day, different projects each day.

Can I Make Things Move? Jurassic Park Mechanism

For these sessions, participants will be provided with mechanisms that were used to open and close the gates on a Jurassic Park advertisement.  (motorized with cam/linkage) They will create a take home project of their own design.

Day 1: Kids will talk a bit about battery types and formats and change the form factor for the battery supply.

Day 2: Hack a power supply to power the mechanism.

Day 3: try to figure out how the mechanism worked.

Day 4: They will then visualize an action that they can use this linkage to perform.

Can I Make Things Move? Olde Fashioned Machines

For these sessions, participants will be building scenes that use motors, pulleys, gears in their very own action scene.  They will create a take home project of their own design.

Day 1: Videos for inspiration, parts list, simple machines, brainstorming.

Day 2: Independent project working time.

Day 3: Independent project working time.

Day 4: Project working time and group show.

Can I Make Things Move? LEGO machines

For these sessions, participants will be using LEGO in various problems presented to he group.  They will create a take home project of their own design ***on the last day only.***

Day 1: Wheelies

Day 2: What’s in the box.

Day 3: Stage Movements

Day 4: Building up.  Free play with parts.