Materials
String
Ceiling hook Masking tape Wide, washable markers in assorted colors Large sheets of butcher paper or newsprintInstructions
What to do
1. To design the pendulum, cut a length of string that will reach from the ceiling to the floor.
Attach one end of the string to a hook on the ceiling. Tie the other end to a roll of masking tape
and cover the tape with contact paper.
2. Attach a marker to the pendulum weight so that the tip of the marker just touches the floor.
3. Lay butcher paper or newsprint beneath the marker. Show the children how to swing the pendulum,
then watch as the movement of the pendulum creates a design on their paper. Invite
the children in turn to choose a marker and place their paper beneath the pendulum.
More to do
More art: Attach paintbrushes to the pendulum for a different effect.
Science: On another day, hang various objects from the pendulum and watch their motion.
Experiment with different weights and chart the results. Brainstorm about everyday uses of pendulums.