Pneumatic Monsters
Introduction
These notes are for parents and teachers, obviously the primary outcome is for our children to have fun whilst playing with science but all activities also link very closely to the curriculum which is just an added bonus.
Project Overview
Target Population
Boys and girls aged 5 years to 12 years old
Goals and Learning Objectives
This is a very successful way in which to teach children how to write and harness their creativity
Project Time
2 hours one day per week
Project Duration
September to December or January to June
Setting
Room required with desks and white/blackboard
Equipment
2 paper plates, Balloon pump, 30 cm length of tubing, 2 or 3 small balloons, 2 ping pong balls (optional), 2 wiggly eyes, 10 pipe cleaners, Double sided tape, Cellotape, Stapler, Art material for decorating the Monster.
Tutor Requirements
One trained facilitator
Tutor Skill
Experienced working with young children and writing, editing, creative workshops
Secrets of success
- Attach the balloon to one end of the tubing and secure it in place with celloptape.
- Push the other end of the tubing over the nozzle of the balloon pump.
- Play with blowing up the balloon and detaching the tube from the pump, before it bursts!
- Feel the air leaving the open end on faces and hands. – Can the moving air be used to push anything across the table or floor?
- The spare balloons allow for the ones which burst due to over inflation to be replaced! BANG!
- Put the tubing and pump aside. Place the 2 plates on the table. These are to be decorated.
- The monsters can be scary or friendly; big or small; colourful or camouflaged; alive or imaginary!
The art work process can be as long or as short as you wish. This process can continue after the final assembly and initial working of the Monster.
- Place the lower plate on the table and lay the tubing on the plate so that the balloon end is between the edge and centre of the plate (the further back the better).
- The tubing will act as the throat of the Monster and the balloon pump its lungs.
- Place the second plate on top of the first and using the stapler join the two together using a couple of staples either side of the tubing.
- Re-attach the balloon pump. Inflate the balloon and watch the Monsters mouth open.
- Detach the pump and watch the mouth close!
Project Event
The completed projects were posted to the (Scientific Sue) Facebook account and can be accessed here
Project Outcome
Your children should learn:
- how air pressure can be used to produce and control movement
- techniques for making simple pneumatic systems
- how to use appropriate vocabulary to describe how things work
These notes are for parents and teachers, obviously the primary outcome is for our children to have fun whilst playing with science but all activities also link very closely to the curriculum which is just an added bonus.
Project Overview
| Target Population | Boys and girls aged 5 years to 12 years old |
| Goals and Learning Objectives | This is a very successful way in which to teach children how to write and harness their creativity |
| Project Time | 2 hours one day per week |
| Project Duration | September to December or January to June |
| Setting | Room required with desks and white/blackboard |
| Equipment | 2 paper plates, Balloon pump, 30 cm length of tubing, 2 or 3 small balloons, 2 ping pong balls (optional), 2 wiggly eyes, 10 pipe cleaners, Double sided tape, Cellotape, Stapler, Art material for decorating the Monster. |
| Tutor Requirements | One trained facilitator |
| Tutor Skill | Experienced working with young children and writing, editing, creative workshops |
Secrets of success
- Attach the balloon to one end of the tubing and secure it in place with celloptape.
- Push the other end of the tubing over the nozzle of the balloon pump.
- Play with blowing up the balloon and detaching the tube from the pump, before it bursts!
- Feel the air leaving the open end on faces and hands. – Can the moving air be used to push anything across the table or floor?
- The spare balloons allow for the ones which burst due to over inflation to be replaced! BANG!
- Put the tubing and pump aside. Place the 2 plates on the table. These are to be decorated.
- The monsters can be scary or friendly; big or small; colourful or camouflaged; alive or imaginary!
The art work process can be as long or as short as you wish. This process can continue after the final assembly and initial working of the Monster.
- Place the lower plate on the table and lay the tubing on the plate so that the balloon end is between the edge and centre of the plate (the further back the better).
- The tubing will act as the throat of the Monster and the balloon pump its lungs.
- Place the second plate on top of the first and using the stapler join the two together using a couple of staples either side of the tubing.
- Re-attach the balloon pump. Inflate the balloon and watch the Monsters mouth open.
- Detach the pump and watch the mouth close!
Project Event
The completed projects were posted to the (Scientific Sue) Facebook account and can be accessed here
Project Outcome
Your children should learn:
- how air pressure can be used to produce and control movement
- techniques for making simple pneumatic systems
- how to use appropriate vocabulary to describe how things work
