Techno Fun
The children taking part in the Summer Reading Program today have never known a world without digital technology. Math and science skills have made possible the many inventions that make modern life easier. This chapter touches on aspects of modern technology that are likely to engage the children in a social setting.
The children taking part in the Summer Reading Program today have never known a world without digital technology. Math and science skills have made possible the many inventions that make modern life easier. This chapter touches on aspects of modern technology that are likely to engage the children in a social setting.
Fun with Robots and Robotics
Find out if there is a robotics club at your local High School or College or if there is a 4H student who is in to robotics. Either way, you have someone to help you with programming!
*Robot Collage
*Can-Do Robots
*Robot Pencil Holder
*3 Robot Crafts
*CD case Robots
*Robot Party
*Recycled Robot
*Accordion-Arm Robot
*Mini Moving Robot
Find out if there is a robotics club at your local High School or College or if there is a 4H student who is in to robotics. Either way, you have someone to help you with programming!
*Robot Collage
*Can-Do Robots
*Robot Pencil Holder
*3 Robot Crafts
*CD case Robots
*Robot Party
*Recycled Robot
*Accordion-Arm Robot
*Mini Moving Robot
Mother of Invention
Experiment: Make a String Telephone (pg 181)
What You Need
What You Do
Telephone Game (p. 182)
Seat the children in a circle. Write a message on a slip of paper that will remain hidden until the end and then whisper it to the child nearest you in the circle. The child whispers the same phrase to the child to his/her right and so on until it comes back to the last child, who speaks it aloud. Open the slip of paper and compare it to the last spoken phrase. This works best with a group larger than 10, otherwise it's too easy!
Other Invention Ideas
*PBS Inventors Club Booklet
*Teacher Resources
*United States Patent and Trademark Office Kids Resources
*Make It Without Glue
*Make It Strange
*Have the Children Come Up With Different Uses for the Same Object
*Inventions to Solve Everyday Problems
Experiment: Make a String Telephone (pg 181)
What You Need
- 2 paper cups per person
- 2 paper clips per person
- String, yarn, or fishing line
- Awl or other sharp object to poke holes in cups
What You Do
- Have the children work in pairs.
- One will tie the string to a paper clip while the other pokes a hole in the bottom of each cup.
- Thread the loose end of the string through the hole from inside one paper cup and then thread it through the bottom of the other paper cup from the outside.
- Tie the loose end of the string to the second paper clip and pull gently until the string is tight and the paper clips rest against the bottoms of the cups. The children then take turns: One will speak a question softly into the cup while the other holds the second cup to his or her ear, and then they can switch.
- After trying this for a few times, have the pair make a second telephone with a different length string and compare how the conversation sounds.
- Each child takes home one string telephone when the program ends.
Telephone Game (p. 182)
Seat the children in a circle. Write a message on a slip of paper that will remain hidden until the end and then whisper it to the child nearest you in the circle. The child whispers the same phrase to the child to his/her right and so on until it comes back to the last child, who speaks it aloud. Open the slip of paper and compare it to the last spoken phrase. This works best with a group larger than 10, otherwise it's too easy!
Other Invention Ideas
*PBS Inventors Club Booklet
*Teacher Resources
*United States Patent and Trademark Office Kids Resources
*Make It Without Glue
*Make It Strange
*Have the Children Come Up With Different Uses for the Same Object
*Inventions to Solve Everyday Problems
Build It! Engineering and Construction
Lego Day (p. 184)
If you're lucky enough to have Legos at your library (totally worth the initial investment!), challenge the children to build something in a time allotment. Or challenge them to build their version of something. Or just let their imaginations run wild. Towards the end of your program, or after your time allotment is up, invite the children to tell about their creations to further develop language and storytelling skills.
Bridges
*Build a Bridge with Paperclips and Straws
*Bridge Builder Instant Challenge
*Build a Bridge with Straws and Straight Pins
*Popsicle Stick Bridge
Tower Building
*Make a tower or other form using marshmallows and toothpicks
Lego Day (p. 184)
If you're lucky enough to have Legos at your library (totally worth the initial investment!), challenge the children to build something in a time allotment. Or challenge them to build their version of something. Or just let their imaginations run wild. Towards the end of your program, or after your time allotment is up, invite the children to tell about their creations to further develop language and storytelling skills.
Bridges
*Build a Bridge with Paperclips and Straws
*Bridge Builder Instant Challenge
*Build a Bridge with Straws and Straight Pins
*Popsicle Stick Bridge
Tower Building
*Make a tower or other form using marshmallows and toothpicks