The Inventive Arm

For School Groups

School Program
Costs 13.00 per student
Takes about 1.50 hours
Designed for 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade and 8th grade
Theme: Basic Skills, Design and Invention

Description

Themes
Anatomy
Simple Machines
Design Engineering
Robotics
Evolution

With modular wooden pieces, wire and rubber bands, construct a hand with fingers. The parts will work in a dozen basic configurations.

Test your design
Retrieve a lifesaver, a penny, a marble from a cup. Pick up a marker and draw. Pop a balloon. Propose your own challenge. Invent games two hands can play.

Outcomes
Each task may require specific adjustments. Some hand configurations are more versatile than others. Discover the interplay between tasks and design.

Meets Connecticut Science Standards

4.1: The position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing or pulling.

Meets Common Core Standards

4-PS3: Energy

Meets Next Generation Science Standards

4-PS3-4: Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another
3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3: Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

Assembly Instructions
Pictures

Assembly Instructions

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We are accustomed to teaching with a model in front of a child, but these instructions should make it so that anyone can build one without our presence. We urge that parents and teachers be there to guide – but to allow the child to try to let the materials (and a picture of the final product) guide them. A wrong direction is always un-doable until you've glued something.

The Parts.

This will give you an Inventive Arm which has a fixed bottom (jaw/finger) and a moveable upper finger with a hinged digit at the end. Look at the picture. Two versions: either Always Open or Always Closed

Step 1. Place the long stick with holes into the base. Make sure it is not upside down. Look at the picture.

Step 2 and Step 3 Attach the linkage pieces as shown and then insert the 3/4" thick piece with the hole in it between the linkage pieces as shown. Push the dowels through the holes to hold these pieces on. If needed add the O rings to keep them in place if they get loose.

Step 4 Put the other two linkage pieces at the top of the stick and attach with a dowel as shown (use o ring if needed). Add another dowel through the holes behind the stick as well (the rubberband will hook onto this one soon).

Step 5 Attach the short fingertip piece as shown using the bolt instead of a dowel. The Wing Nut is screwed on the other side of the bolt to hold it on and adjust the tightness. (see images below)

Step 6 -7 Place the rubber band as shown behind the top dowel at the end of the upper assembly. Then fold the top loop over the down and put your finger through both loops. Slide another dowel through both loops to attach them to the end of the lower bar.
The photos should explain how it will look when the top and bottom parts are attached. If you have another way to to it that's ok too.