Crazy Contraptions

Crazy Contraptions allows students to build jaw dropping, innovative, Rube Goldburg style mechanisms.

Find out what yours students can build with pulleys, cups, gears, linkages, cams, wood strips, screws, cars, chipboard, marbles, wire, and loads of other components that easily work and fit together.

Don't be afraid to rob the recycling bin, take apart your old toys, or cut up some wood. The crazy contraptions components are designed to be used with anything you can find to build anything you can dream.

Most teachers group 2 student together for this activity (use ½ the number of kits as they have students).

Activity Documents

Content Covered

Crazy Contraptions Base

Each Crazy Contraption requires a 12"x12" wood base with drilled holes. You can make this base yourself using wood from a local lumber yard or purchase it from TeacherGeek. Directions and a template for making bases are included in the Crazy Contraptions Activity Guide.

Innovation Components

Innovation components allow for greater alternative and innovative designs. They are not required, but are suggested to bring more engineering and innovation to the activity. Only a few innovation components are usually needed to create alternative designs, so your supply of innovation components can be used for many activities. Here are some recommendations:

    ▪ Long Link Strips

    ▪ Perpendicular Adaptors

    ▪ 10 Tooth Gear

    ▪ 20 Tooth Gear

    ▪ 40 Tooth Gear

    ▪ 50 Tooth Gear

    ▪ 10mm Pulley

    ▪ 30mm Pulley

    ▪ 50mm Pulley

    ▪ 60mm Pulley

    ▪ 70mm Pulley

    ▪ Angle Strip

    ▪ Small Rubber Bands

    ▪ Playing Cards

    ▪ Mousetraps

    ▪ String

    ▪ #10 x 1" Machine Screws

    ▪ #10 Washers

    ▪ #10 Square Nuts

    ▪ Anything else you can find (Raid the recycling bin, wood, metal, plastic, broken toys, etc.).

Do you have the Easy Engineering tools to complete this activity?