We will focus our explorations on 4 major types of mechanical motion: linear, rotary, reciprocating, and oscillating. 

Getting Started With Mechanical Motion

Project #1 - Climbing Critter

Students will use common materials to build a character that climbs up and slides down two strings to demonstrate linear motion.

For prep I laser cut the template on chipboard, glue the top straw section to the clothespin, and cut the smaller straw sections.

The students trace the template on white cardstock, illustrate, cut out their illustration, glue the illustration to the template, attach small straws with masking tape, tie on first cork, thread the project, and tie on final cork.

Project #2 - Offset Gymnast

Students will use straws, cardboard, dowels, and carstock to construct a gymnastic character.

Exploring Reciprocating Motion

Concepts Explored

• secondary motion

• fixed connection

• movable connection

• cam

• shaft

• crank

Project - Reciprocating Scenes

We will take inspiration from Oliver Jeffers wonderful book, What We'll Build and create moving depictions of our dream creations.

Exploring Linkages

Then we'll explore cardboard linkages.  Which are a fun and flexible way to create a variety of movements.

Slider Mechanisms

Project #1 - Service Actions

1. Read Just Help! by Justice Sonia Sotomayor

2. Brainstorm a list of service or helping words that are found in the text.

3. Teach students how to assemble a slider mechanism.

4. Have students build their own slider and use it to animate one of their service words.

Head template below.

We loved our characters so much we decided to create short graphic stories about them.

Template

Combining Mechanisms

Project 1 - Three or More

Now that you've learned to make a variety of mechanisms, how might you use three or more of them to make an original creation?

Pop-Up Critters

1. Review the concept of a crank.

2. Share example of pop-up critter.

3. Discuss how a crank is used here.

4. Build pop-up critters.