Year 5 have been busy this term designing and building moving toys using cam mechanisms. Pupils tested their ideas before starting the assembly process by carrying out a 'market test' on their peers in the school. Our children then learnt to accurately measure, cut and shape their model parts using hand saws and hand drills. Assembling a moving toy proved quite a tricky process, as our pupils discovered. Some needed to adjust their moving parts in order for the cam or the follower to move smoothly.
Continue reading to download and watch a video of Adam's finished moving toy.
Below we have a downloadable movie file showing one of our pupil's models in action. The text below was written by Adam himself to explain how his toy works and the reasons for his choice of design scheme:
Hi, my name is Adam and I am going to tell you all about Year Five's Moving Toy products. I used a mixture of colours; some bright to make it look attractive to children and, on the other side, dark colours to make it look spooky and frightening. The wooden rod going through the top of the box is called the follower and the rod going through the sides is the camshaft. Inside the box is the cam mechanism which, when you turn the camshaft, makes the spider toy on top of the follower spin and jump up and down. Enjoy the video clip!
Click here to download and view my Moving Toy in action
Please also take a look at some of the other finished models in the pictures below.
Comments (4)
I think the designs for the spider boxes are fantastic and I liked the way Adam explained what you did. Well done to all of you you have worked really well.
Posted by Mike Carter | January 22, 2007 2:30 PM
Well done on the cam models. They are great. I have used them to inspire me into teaching this topic with enthusiasm. Thanks for the video. I shall use it in my lesson.
Many thanks.
S Betteridge
Class Teacher.
Posted by Mr Betteridge | January 22, 2007 2:52 PM
hello. i was jst wondering if you have a picture of the mechanism itself. if you do, please could you send it to me. i go to the high school in Boston, and would appreciate your cooperation. this is for homework purposes only. thank - you
Posted by vicky horne | September 12, 2007 7:17 PM
Hi all these are all briliant cam toys. Well Done!
Posted by leon | September 27, 2007 9:55 PM