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In this activity, learners construct bug models that "jitter" all over the table with just a battery, motor, and counterweight. Use this hands-on activity to facilitate inquiry and invention as well as demonstrate how circuits and motors work to power machines.
- Under 5 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- $5 - $10 per student
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per student)
- 4 paperclips for the legs
- 1/2 of a hot-glue stick
- Electric motor (3 volts DC or less, with wires attached if you can find them)
- 1 AA battery
- Block of insulation foam (yellow or pink)
- A finger-length strip of thin foam or fabric
- Masking tape or colored tape
- Craft materials to decorate your jitterbug: feathers, googly-eyes, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glitter
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
-
Engineering
-
Physical Sciences
-
Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Motors
- Electric Circuits
-
Motion and Forces
- Machines
-
Electricity and Magnetism
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- About Inquiry
-
The Scientific Process
-
The Nature of Technology
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The Design Process
- Invention and Innovation
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
-
The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Animals
- Arts and Crafts
- Electronics
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Science Museum of Minnesota,
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, 0087813