School-Age
FromRobotics for Young Children, Ann Gadzikowski
What to have Old clocks and fans make great take-aparts because they usually have large, visible gears and other parts that turn. You will likely need a set of screwdrivers in different sizes to remove screws and open up the cover of the device or machine. Prepare some small bins or trays for placing the smaller parts, hardware, and other components that you remove from the machine. The bins and trays can be used to pass the parts around the table so the children can look at them closely.
What to do An adult must carefully supervise and facilitate a take- apart activity. Young children usually do not have the dexterity and small- motor skills to use tools and manipulate small pieces of machines and appliances safely. This activity is best done at a table with a small group of children. Prep the take- apart machine ahead of time to ensure the activity will be successful. Check online for information about possible hazardous materials in the item you are taking apart. Beware of electronic devices, such as TV sets, that may contain hazardous materials. A good resource for information about safely taking apart household items is the Instructables website: www.instructables.com/howto/take+apart. Practice removing the cover ahead of time so you’ll be ready to demonstrate this step for the children.
Why Children will examine the parts that make up a machine or robot and will learn how to take things apart and how machines are broken into component parts.
For more activities check out Robotics for Young Children: STEM Activities and Simple Coding
By Ann Gadzikowski Copyright 2018 School-Age