Source Institutions
Source Institutions
Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square250/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-001-913.jpg?itok=8NmROfMG)
In this invention challenge activity, learners see how many objects they can grab with a homemade "bionic" arm. Learners will follow the design process to build a grabber that can reach at least two feet, develop a way to open and close the grabber’s jaw, and figure out how to connect the “jaw” to a stick. Educators can use this activity to introduce learners to the design process as well as simple machines (lever, fulcrum).
- Under 5 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- $1 - $5 per student
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity
- English, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- 4 brass fasteners
- corrugated cardboard
- hole punch
- objects to pick up (e.g., tennis balls, cotton balls, plastic soda bottles, and paper cups)
- 2 rubber bands
- sandpaper
- scissors
- string
- tape (duct or masking)
- 4 toothpicks
- 4 wooden skewers
- yardstick (or long paint stirrers for 5-gallon buckets, a thin wooden slat, or lath 2–3 feet long)
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
-
Technology
- Medical Technology
-
Engineering
-
Life Sciences
-
Human Body
- Skeleton
- Muscles and Skin
-
Human Senses and Perception
- Touch
-
Human Body
-
Physical Sciences
-
Energy
- Work and Machines
-
Motion and Forces
- Machines
-
Energy
-
The Nature of Science
- Science as a Career
-
The Nature of Technology
-
Technology and Society
- Impacts of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Research and Development
- Invention and Innovation
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
-
Technology and Society
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection
- Design Squad Nation
Rights:
- All rights reserved, WGBH Educational Foundation, 2010
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, 0810996