ACTIVITY GUIDE: TOY HACKING

Content developed by: MakerKids (www.makerkids.com)

Contact info: info@makerkids.com / @makerkids

ABOUT MAKERKIDS

MakerKids (www.makerkids.com) develops maker learning programs for kids and educators, and runs one of the only makerspaces for kids in the world. Our Board of Advisors includes Dale Dougherty (CEO of Maker Media, MAKE Magazine and Maker Faire) and Massimo Banzi (CEO of Arduino). We enable kids to build their ideas with real tools and materials; our goal is to inspire and empower kids to think, design, experiment and create.

CONTENTS OF THIS GUIDE:

• Activity description
• Step-by-step instructions for the facilitator(s) for each session
• Content to be presented (including presentation slides, video clips, articles etc.)
• Materials requirements list
• Technology requirements list
• Technical set-up
• Logistical advice
• Potential challenges
• Best practices and advice
• Resources for additional learning

DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOP:

Turn old toys into new creations! Use tools such as drills, hack saw and scissors to take them apart then use glue, duct tape, and needle and thread to put them together again in a brand new way. Humpty Dumpty never had it so good!   

WHY THIS TOPIC IS IMPORTANT:

When kids learn how to make their own toys or inventions it leads to a shift from being a consumer of technology to a creator of technology. They become empowered!

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Toys 

These can either be picked up from a second hand shop or donated. Encourage the kids to bring in their own toys to breath new life into them. Make sure to have a supply of batteries on hand for

Tools

• Hack saw (Hardware store, $8)
• Clamping Miter Box, Quick-Grip Clamps (Hardware store, $17, , $30)
• Drill
• Screwdrivers. Large and small for all sizes of screws.
• scissors, aviation snips
• Hot glue guns (Hardware Store, $17), Duct tape
• Safety Glasses
• Extension cords
• Table cloth to protect tables from saws and hot glue guns

Craft Supplies:

• Craft foam
• Tape
• Coloured paper
• Googly eyes
• Ribbon
• Fabric
• Needle and thread
• Glitter glue (Not loose glitter, it gets everywhere!)

Electronics:

• LEDs
• CR2032 button cell batteries
• Switches
• Electrical Tape
• Batteries for Toys
• Geared Motors ($5, Contact MakerKids)
• Wheels ($4, Contact MakerKids)
• Robot Controllers ($5, Contact MakerKids)
  

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:

 If you want to integrate technology into this workshop it is possible by supplying motors, LEDs, batteries and switches that the participants can wire up to integrate into their toy hacked creations. Also if you have a 3D Printer you can have the kids 3D print elements such as glasses, moustaches or button noses.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR FACILITATORS:

There are 6 steps in this activity

1. Choose your toy
2. Deconstruct
3. Reconstruct
4. Embellish/ be crafty
5. Add awesome (Electronics)
6. Add even more awesome (3D Printing)

You can print out this Powerpoint presentation with signs and photos to identify the different stations.

1. Choose your toys

On a table lay out the selection of toys to be hacked. It’s so fun for the kids to rummage through the different discarded toys to find hidden treasures.

2. Deconstruct

At this table set out the saws, clamps, scissors, drill and screwdrivers. Kids will use these tools to disassemble and dissect the toys. Encourage them to leave usable parts for others to use. For example,

Everyone at this station should Wear Safety Glasses. Sharp pieces can fly during disassembly, and everyone needs to be protected. Ordinary glasses are fine.

The next safety rule to teach the kids at this table is to Secure Your Materials. Any time a saw or drill is being used on a toy, make sure that they have securely attached the toy in the miter box with the clamps. Parents frequently will hold a toy in their hand while their child drills or cuts it. Explain that this puts their hands too close to the tool, and we prefer that they secure it with the clamps provided.

The miter box has slots in it to guide the saw blade while cutting. This allows even very small children to easily use the saw safely.

This brings up the next rule, Cut Away From Yourself and Others. Picture where the drill, saw or scissors will go if it slipped. Make sure that nobody is in that direction.

Sometimes the kids choose toys for the mechanism inside - voicebox, lights, etc. It’s lots of fun to transplant a voicebox and make Buzz Lightyear sing like Barney. If you’re expecting some older kids (12+), save some toys with interesting electronics for them to take apart.

Kids also like to take apart toys to see how they work. Encourage this kind of exploration, but encourage them to leave useful pieces for others to use when they’re done.

3. Reconstruct

At this table the kids can put the pieces back together using tape and hot glue.

Hot glue is magical - it attaches anything together, and hardens very quickly. Some care is required to make sure that the kids use glue guns safely. Explain where the dangerous parts of the tool are - the tip and the glue that comes out. Do not touch the glue until they are sure that is has hardened - poke it with something. Most minor burns that we’ve seen are actually from touching the glue after it has been applied, not from the tool itself.

Watch that they are using the glue guns with care and respect ie. sometimes they like to make piles of hot glue for no reason but this is both unsafe and a waste of materials.

4. Embellish/ be crafty

Place all of the craft supplies out on this table so the kids can rummage through them and add on crafty elements such as wings out of cardboard or add glitter and googly eyes.

Sheets of craft foam are very useful, kids can use them to build structure in any colour they want.

Fabric in different colours is good to have on hand for making outfits. These can be sewed, or hot-glued. Keep the stuffing from any disemboweled toys for use in making pillows, heads and other stuffed items.

5. Add awesome (Electronics)

At this station they can integrate electronics. The quickest and simplest electronics to add are LEDs with button cell batteries. You can simply connect one wire to each side of the 3v CR2032 battery and hold in place with tape. Make sure the positive and negative are on the right sides - reverse them if the LED does not light.

The LED will stay lit for days, or can be turned off by removing one wire.

These LEDs can be used for glowing eyes, magic wand effects, headlights, etc.

Note that different LED colours allow current to flow through them at different voltages. In practice, this means if you hook up different colour lights in this simple way to the same battery, only one of the colours will turn on.

This simple circuit leads naturally to more sophisticated circuits with switches, multiple lights, etc. If you add a small value resistor in series with each LED, you can limit the current to each one, and get multiple colours lit at once from the same battery.

Another simple electrical component to add are motors. Connected to wheels, your toy is mobile! Connected to arms, legs, or even eyes, and your toy has a whole new personality!

MakerKids has located a source for wired robot controllers with joysticks that can be used to control motors. We also have sources for reasonably priced geared motors and wheels. Contact us for pricing and ordering.

Motors and sophisticated LED circuits involving switches will require soldering. Be sure to go over the safety procedures of soldering beforehand. If you like you can print this pdf from Sylvia’s Super Awesome Maker Show. It’s written by a kid for kids so it speaks to the right audience. http://sylviashow.com/printables/how-solder.

6. Add even more awesome (3D Printed Parts)

Finally if you have access to a 3D printer you can go to http://www.thingiverse.com/ to download embelishments for the kids to add to their creation. A very popular 3D printed element is moustaches - keep them printing out during the event. If you have access to Ipads you can also use 123D Creature (free app: http://www.123dapp.com/creature)  where the kids can design their own toy and 3D print it.

LOGISTICAL ADVICE:

Ideally the different key activities mentioned above each happen at separate tables. This allows for a flow from station to station. Each station should have a leader who can explain what happens at that station, and explains any safety rules. Kids under 8 years old should be accompanied by their parents at every station to make sure the safety rules are followed, and that they have the dexterity to properly use the tools.

The tables will get covered in plastic dust and hot glue. Cover them with craft paper or a plastic tablecloth.

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES:

This activity uses sharp and hot tools. There will need to be a person supervising the deconstruct, reconstruct and add awesome tables at all times ensuring that everyone is using the tools safely.

Make sure the kids know the tools aren’t toys. ie. they might like to make puddles of hot glue or drill in the air. Teach them to respect their tools and materials and use them seriously.

Running and other rambunctious behaviour can result in accidents. Keep everyone calm.

BEST PRACTICES AND ADVICE:

Every time we run this event, the toys get progressively more awesome throughout the day. The kids are very inspired by what they see the kids before them making.

So show examples of previously hacked projects as a frame of reference and encourage the kids to be creative.

WHAT NEXT:

Now that the kids have experience in toy hacking they can use that skill in other aspects of their daily lives. This activity will empower them to hack other things and reuse/reduce/recycle giving old products new life or new products more personalized performance.

MakerKids is available for running this event at your location! This can be to offer your participants an awesome experience, or to help train your staff on how to run this themselves.

If you run this event, please share photos, success stories, feedback, and any suggestions you may have for enhancing this event or documentation.

You can contact us at info@makerkids.com .

Sample Pictures