Makerspace Activities

LEGO Build Challenges

Simple Builds with Simple Supplies

Simple Machines

• Watch the video to learn about simple machines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSfNYpCprw4

• Go on a scavenger hunt outside to see if you can find any simple machines.

• Use materials from around the house to build something that incorporates at least one simple machine. How can you improve your build to incorporate more simple machines?

Towers of Power

Materials:

• Paper

• Tape

Tools:

• Scissors

A great starting point for a beginning Maker teacher, this “Towers of Power” activity allows students to build towers out of paper and Scotch tape. Students can build the tallest tower with an unlimited amount of materials, constrain themselves to limited materials or introduce new materials, such as straws and paper clips. You can crush the towers with textbooks. Find out which tower holds up the most weight. This group activity can help students with teamwork, leadership and planning skills. Best of all, variations on this theme are endless — and the materials can be found in any school office.

Catapults

Materials:

• Mouse traps

• Wood stirring sticks

• Erasers

• Wood blocks

• Ping-pong balls

• Hot glue

Tools:

• Hot glue guns

This catapult activity is one of my favorite projects to use to introduce engineering principles, motion and fun. The catapult allows students to chase down the best launching angle and the ratio between power and arm length, as well as discuss projectile motion, gravity, physics laws and a whole host of other things. Plus, every student likes trying to smash something apart with a teacher’s permission. Little hands might pinch themselves handling the strong lever, so it’s good practice to disengage the spring for students while they make their catapults.

Bridge to Nowhere



Materials:

• Wood craft sticks

• Hot glue

• 5-gallon bucket with weights

Tools:

• Hot glue guns

• Diagonal cutters

Design a bridge to span a foot-long gap and hold as much weight as possible. An extension could be to build a cantilever — a bridge with only one footing. Use a set amount of craft sticks or materials in order to encourage creativity in solutions.

Float the Boat



Materials:

• Tinfoil

• Craft sticks

• Bamboo skewers

• Paper

• Hot glue

• Clay

• Wood scraps

• Pens and markers

Tools:

• Scissors

• Hot glue guns

• Craft sticks (all optional)

Design a boat that can hold the most cargo, move through the water the fastest or has the most efficient weight to cargo ratio. Find the best shape for sails, design the fastest hull and find the balance point.

Pipe Cleaners

Use 16 pipe cleaners to build the tallest tower in 8 minutes.

Paper and Tape

Give builders six pieces of plain white copy paper and six pieces of masking tape. Task them with building a strong table that could hold books. Test the strength of the table by adding books 1 at a time. Record your results.

Paper

Build 2 different paper airplanes to compare flight accuracy, flight distance and flight time. Use this web links for paper airplane designs. Set up zones for testing accuracy (a starting line + a target) distance (a starting line + a tape measure), and time in flight (a starting line + a timer). Record and compare your results of each paper airplane.

Space Makerspace Ideas