What Made It Work?

Materials

Various tools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, tack removers, wire cutters, etc. Small appliances

Safety goggles

Large piece of corrugated cardboard or heavy box lid Glue, tape, wire

Instructions

1. Ask parents and friends to save small appliances that no longer work.

2. Pick an appliance and discuss with the children what it was for and how the children think it worked.

3. Make sure that each child has a pair of safety goggles before beginning the next step.

4. Slowly and carefully help the children take apart as much of the appliance as they can.

5. Others can glue and tape the smaller pieces onto the piece of cardboard.

6. Label the pieces they recognize, like gears, magnets, wires, etc. The title of your board might be "See What Made Me Tick" for a clock or "See All the Pieces I Needed to Work." Children always seem to be amazed by all the pieces they find inside appliances.