Strange Racers!

Activity One

Introduction

What can we as engineers make with everyday materials?

Let’s create a small car using supplies found around the house!

By the end of this activity, and some parental assistance, you will have a racer or two to drive around the home.

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Activity

In this activity, you will construct a working vehicle out of household items.

Upon completion of building your racer, you may also decorate it with any other items found in your home.  

Once you finish building and decorating your racer you can do the following;

  1. See how far your racer can go on a hard-surfaced floor by giving it a push.
  2. Create an elevated ramp by using cardboard or wood and resting it or holding it off the floor.  Place your racer at the top of the ramp and let it go. See how far it can travel once off the ramp.  

Materials

  • Straws
  • Scissors
  • Bottle Caps
  • Paper Towel or TP Roll
  • Skewer or Toothpick
  • Cardboard
  • Optional: Hot glue

Instructions

Step 1

Cut small holes in the roll roughly the size of straw width. Cut a square hole on top of the roll parallel to the axle holes.

Step 2

Trim straw to size, length extending just past the outside of the roll and fit through.

Step 3

Prick a hole through bottle cap using the skewer or toothpick (x4)

Step 4

Fit wood skewer through bottle cap wheels and straw (x2)

Step 5

Trim skewer excess.

Reflection

Click here to download reflection sheet