Looking for a fun project to do in your spare time? These activities from past Harper activity days put your building skills to the test.
Create your own zippy bot in minutes with this fun filled electronics kit! Bristlebots are a fun way to learn about basic engineering, motor, circuits, and principals of balance. Creating a bot is simple, just attach the parts to the tooth brush head and watch them go. Change the way they move and behave by adjusting the balance and pipe cleaners. Bristlebot Kits are available from Brown Dog Gadgets.
For more detailed building instructions, please refer to the Bristlebot Instructions PDF (English version, Spanish version).
If you want to take your new bot one step further, consider making a Bristlebot Maze.
This catapult is a tiny version of the design created by the famous Leonardo da Vinci in the late 1400s. It harnesses energy stored in flexible materials to generate force to launch projectiles. Be careful not to aim it at anyone! This build is relatively simple, but it requires using a 3D printer to manufacture the necessary pieces to construct the catapult. 3D printable Davinci catapult cards are available from BBProjects.
Building instructions are available in the Davinci Catapult Manual PDF.