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Creating a Hand Crank Winch out of Recycled Items
Are you ready for another eco-friendly, science activity? Today we’re making a hand crank winch out of a few recycled materials. This activity supports your child in crafting and designing a new machine re-using items. This will help them use their imagination to use recycled items in an innovative approach while testing out their new machine with heavy and light items.
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Tape two cardboard tubes to a solid surface. Use the straw or pencil to measure how far the tubes should be from each other.
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Make two cuts at the top of each cardboard tube big enough for the straw or pencil to place and spin.
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Put the spool on the straw or pencil and tape/tie the string to it, if you don't have a spool at home simply tie or tape the string to the straw or pencil.
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Tie your basket or object to the bottom of the string.
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Test your hand crank winch to make sure it is lifting well.
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Your simple machine is ready to work.
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Find a variety of objects to test your new machine with.
Children love using machines and figuring out how machines work. Invite your child by saying “Would you like to build a hand crank winch with me? This is a machine that helps raise up or lower down very heavy items like engines, boats, or cars”. Walk through the steps together to make the pully machine. Once you have completed crafting your handmade winch, ask your child to collect items to raise and lower using their new machine. Find opportunities to enrich their vocabulary with words such as heavier than, lighter than, pull, raise, lower, slow, fast, rotate, spin, etc. Allow your child to lead their explorations with what sparks their interest and have fun experimenting the different items they choose to test their machine out with.
PLASP Child Care Services