key stage 1 teachers

[picnicinthewoods]

I need some ideas for simple things a group of 5-8 years old can make with a pulley.

I've looked at some ideas already: fishing rods (too hard); wells (might be a possibility) & castles with a drawbridge (too hard for the 5 years olds in the group).

I need a reasonably simple idea but one the kids can be creative with.

Any ideas? I will have 16 kids in the group & some parent helpers, but it really needs to be something they can create mostly on their own, y'know 1 helper to 4 children or similar.

I've made simple drawbridges with nursery and reception with children working mainly independently

Garage door - strings up nd across the top and down tge other side. Just use a shoebox

mrz can you tell me what materials you used for your drawbridges? I was assuming this was too hard for 5 year olds, but good to know you've done it:)

mynameiskenadams, I assume the garage door works on the same principle as a drawbridge?

......and any other ideas out there, especially tried and tested, please share!

Jack and the beanstalk -children draw a 'jack' .Use card paint beanstalk on to it .Attach Jack to a piece of string ,vertically wrap string around card/beanstalk and tie -either to self or lever -pull from back and Jack climbs .Very simple initial introduction .

I've always worked outdoor on the climbing frame (castle) and used string simple pulleys and cardboard.

We also use pulleys to raise buckets of sand to the top of the building site to tip down chutes

yes I was thinking it would be good to set up some larger pulleys outside & would be fun for them to use:)

so do you put some dowelling along the top of the box with string attached to ends of drawbridge and loop string around dowelling at either side at top?

I've used pringle tubes as makeshift pulleys

old fashioned wooden cotton reels work really well

Yes I have loads of cotton reels as it happens , but in testing it out I put the cotton reel along the dowelling, but then realised that it does nothing different than just using the dowelling on its own, because I had to fix the cotton reel to the dowelling to make it work.

Mrz can you tell me how to use the cotton reel effectively? It would be good if I could use them as I have so many!

Oh I think I get it! You mean hang the string over the cotton reel and pull one end? ok, I was sticking the string on the reel and winding it up!

Don't s'ppose you have any links to an example project? I'm just better at looking at pictures to see how they work.

It's ok now, I've worked it out, bit of trial and error. Thanks for your help!:)

www.uq.edu.au/_School_Science_Lessons/21.255.GIF

www.uq.edu.au/_School_Science_Lessons/21.256.1.GIF

mrz you are fab:)

Something to do with the lighthouse keeper stories?

I have also done drawbridges with year 1