4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 6-Mobile (EC-14)

EXPLORATORY APPROACH

Encourages creativity and deductive reasoning, lacks structure, takes more time, and risks frustration for the youth. Generally best for out-of-school-time settings, large blocks of time, and youth ages 11 to 13.

	MATERIALS Construction paper, thread, fishing line, string, skewers, sticks, straws and tape.
	VOCABULARY LEVER: A rod with a fixed point, called a fulcrum. LEVERS can be used to change the direction and the amount of a force. The shapes of your mobile will be attached to a LEVER. If the two shapes are exactly the same, they will balance. However, if your shapes are different sizes, you will have to adjust the location of the fulcrum to make it balance. If you move the fulcrum closer to the larger object, it reduces the force of the larger object.
	4-H LIFE SKILL PROBLEM SOLVING: Building a mobile that balances will be difficult. You will need to PROBLEM SOLVE to balance your mobile as you continue to add more objects.

DO

YOUTH COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY

Watch the Challenge
 

GUIDED APPROACH

Provides structure, promotes good instruction-following habits, increases rate of success, and limits creative solutions. Generally best for classroom settings, finite blocks of time, and youth ages 8 to 10.

	MATERIALS 5 pieces of construction paper, string, 6 skewers and clear tape.
	VOCABULARY LEVER: A rod with a fixed point, called a fulcrum. LEVERS can be used to change the direction and the amount of a force. The shapes of your mobile will be attached to a LEVER. If the two shapes are exactly the same, they will balance. However, if your shapes are different sizes, you will have to adjust the location of the fulcrum to make it balance. If you move the fulcrum closer to the larger object, it reduces the force of the larger object.
	4-H LIFE SKILL PROBLEM SOLVING: Building a mobile that balances will be difficult. You will need to PROBLEM SOLVE to balance your mobile as you continue to add more objects.

DO: YOUTH COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY

Watch the Challenge then follow steps one through five.

STEP 1. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

Design and build a mobile as a decoration for your home that balances all of the LEVERS used.

STEP 2. IMAGINE SOLUTIONS

Think about all of the possible ways you can make a mobile. Decide on a theme for your mobile such as interesting shapes, colors, or pictures. How many LEVERS would you like to use?

STEP 3. PLAN POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Plan how you want to make your mobile. Sketch your design to show where your LEVERS and fulcrums will be and where you will attach your construction paper shapes.

STEP 4. CREATE YOUR MOBILE AND TEST IT

STEP 5. IMPROVE YOUR DESIGN

1. Cut lengths of string to match design.
    
2. Cut shapes out of construction paper. Begin with two shapes. Use a small piece of tape to attach the string to the shape.
    
3. Tie the other end of the string to either end of a rod. There should be one shape attached to each side of the rod. Tie another string to the middle of the rod as a hanger. You have created a LEVER.
    
4. The place where the hanger string attaches to the rod is the fulcrum. Slide the fulcrum toward the larger shape until it balances. Use a small piece of tape to secure the locations of the fulcrum and shapes once they are balanced.
    
5. Continue making balanced LEVERS, and then attach them to the other LEVERS and rebalance them to build a multi-layer mobile. Do you need to change anything to make your mobile balance? Can you add any other interesting features?