Helping Hand

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
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).

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English, Spanish

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)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
      • Mechanical Engineering
    • Technology
      • Medical Technology
  • Life Sciences
    • Human Body
      • Skeleton
      • Muscles and Skin
    • Human Senses and Perception
      • Touch
  • Physical Sciences
    • Energy
      • Work and Machines
    • Motion and Forces
      • Machines
  • 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

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:

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation, 0810996