Mech Marvel

Feb-Apr 2024

A STEAM activity kit for 9-12 year olds to explore mechanical engineering through simple mechanisms, chain reactions, and movement.

ROLE

3D Modeling · Prototyping · User Testing

TOOLS

Laser Cutting · Solidworks · Adobe InDesign

OBJECTIVES

Engineering

  • Cause & Effect

  • Problem Solving

Design

  • Creating chain reactions

  • Creating movement

Exploration & Fun

  • Experimenting

  • Open Play

RESEARCH

For Children, Ages 9-12

According to Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development, this is the school age stage, transitioning to adolescence stage. They are developing their self-confidence in their abilities and beginning to define their identity.

STEM For Middle Schoolers

It is an opportunity to provide students with the skills and confidence to pursue STEM.

For engineering concepts, it is recommended to have a structured and progressive approach to introduce new concepts and connect them to the real world. (Ex: Movements, How Things Work)

IDEA

Introduce different mechanisms through a series of kits that build on previous concepts.

PROTOTYPE

Systems Map

Using a systems map narrowed down the potential concepts to include and depicted what elements were necessary. It clarified the relationships between different elements.

Structural Pieces

Holds the pieces in place.

The connector allows pieces to be connected along different axes.

The crank has a end piece to keep an element in place, such as a gear.

The base board acts as an anchor for the created movement and keeps all the pieces in place.

Made from 1/8” bassword.

Gears

Experimentation with the quantity, size, shape of teeth, along with thickness of the gear.

It emphasizes the concepts of speed, rotation, and force.

Ramps/Levers

The design functions as a ramp or lever, depending on where the dowel is inserted.

Pulley

The simple pulley system uses the marbles as a load. The yarn is looped over the wheel and axle (dowel).

FINAL

The Kit

  • 3 mechanism concepts

  • Pre designed formation

  • Open play/Creative build: to design and predict their own chain reactions

Instruction Book Prototype

This is an example of a pre-designed build that uses the concepts in the kit to get the users started.

USER TESTING

Adham (9), Lily (14), Athena (12), Jack (12), and Kai (9) were invited to play with the activity kit. Overall, they were very engaged in creating their own designs of movement.

“ I wish I had one of these kits at home, I would much rather play with this than my devices.” - Adham