Students use hand tools to create simple and complex machines with Meccano during this hands-on workshop. Specifically the students learn about levers, pulleys, gear trains, inclined planes and wheel and axles whilst working in pairs or threes.
What's it like? Well, imagine 30 students all frantically working on their Meccano build project across your classroom floor. Teamwork, problem solving and simply using the simple tools are all part of the challenge - the students absolutely love it and often they havn't even heard of Meccano!
Apart from applications of science and mathematics, this workshop exposes students to the importance of following instructions and provides an avenue towards improving spatial and fine motor skills.
Specific Outcomes: Science & Technology
Physical Phenomena:
PPS2.4 Identifies various forms and sources of energy and devises systems that use energy; explores the operation and purpose of simple machines to develop ideas for the design of a system.
PPS3.4 Identifies and applies processes involved in manipulating, using and changing the form of energy; uses a variety of components and materials including gears, pulleys and string to construct and operating model of a crane.
Learning processes: INV DMS2.8 and DMS3.8
