Prompt: Build a small vehicle or flying object using recycled materials.
Pick one that excites you:
- Balloon-Powered Car
- Rubber Band-Powered Car
- Glider / Flying Vehicle
Then collect materials and build it and decorate it.
Output: 1 Vehicle
:rotate(0)/tka5femcuvm2amc1tnw7kpzxgqc5)
Recyclo:
Vehicle
ACTIVITY MATERIALS
Required:
Pencil
Markers
Cardboard
Paper
Masking Tape
Scissors
Optional:
Straws
String
Popsicle sticks
wooden skewers
Recycled Materials
+
RECYCLED MATERIALS EXAMPLES
Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard Tubes
Egg Cartons
Strings
Straws and Cups
Old Magazines
Plastic packaging
Plastic Bottles and Caps
Now it’s time to build something that can move.
Your goal: create one small vehicle or flying object using recycled materials.
Pick one idea that excites you:
Use recycled materials and simple craft supplies to build your vehicle.
You can also decorate it to make it look fun, fast, or futuristic.
Activity Prompt
Balloon-Powered Car
VEHICLE EXAMPLES
Rubber Band-Powered Car
Glider or Flying Vehicle
Vehicle:
Balloon Car
Inspiration:
Race cars and simple moving machines.
Description:
“I used cardboard for the body, bottle caps for the wheels, and a balloon to help the car move. I added stripes and a number on the side. My car is exciting because it can roll forward when the air comes out.”
Activity Example
1
1st
Think about what kind of vehicle you want to make.
Will it roll on the ground or fly in the air?
Draw a quick sketch of your idea.
Think about what parts it needs, like wheels, wings, or a balloon.
15 mins
Plan Your Vehicle
2nd
Look around your home for recycled materials you can use.
You might find:
Choose materials that match your vehicle idea.
15 mins
Gather Your Materials
3rd
Use your materials to make your vehicle.
Cut, tape, fold, stack, or decorate the pieces as needed.
You can add colors, patterns, flags, wings, or other fun details.
120 min
Build Your Vehicle
Simple Rolling Car
From the supplies, you will select:
Cut the straw to fit the axle length (make sure the dowel axle is at least 1" longer that the straw so you can attach the wheels!).
Customize the shape of your cardboard platform based on your idea for a design and the wheels and axles that you chose.
Glue the straws to the cardboard platform.
Put the dowels inside the straws.
Vehicle Examples
Vehicle Examples
Balloon Car
Balloon Car Materials
Tools you could use:
Cut one of the straws in half.
Make the wheels and axles for the car.
Cut both skewers , make sure the cut piece of wood stick is longer than the straw you cut. If you have really sharp scissors you can cut right through the skewers. Otherwise, cut through as much as you can and then snap the skewers off.
Make the wheels and axles for the car.
Make a hole in the center of the bottle caps using a small screwdriver, or sharp tool.
To do this, place the cap top up on a cutting board and push the screwdriver down into the center of the cap. Then pick up the cap and wiggle the screw driver all the way through until the hole is just large enough for the skewer to fit in.
Make the wheels and axles for the car.
Add a cap to the pointy end of the skewer, top first, and push it to the other side.
It should be a snug fit, but you can add some hot glue inside the cap to keep it in place if necessary.
Then add a straw half onto the skewer.
Make the wheels and axles for the car.
Place a second bottle cap on the skewer, opposite to how the first cap was added, so both tops of the caps are pointing out.
Repeat with the other caps, skewer, and straw half to make a second axle with wheels.
You can also trim the other end of the skewer if it sticks out too much. (do this safely, away from your eyes and others)
Make the wheels and axles for the car.
Tape/ glue each a axle to one side. Make sure that the straws are perpendicular to the bottle so that the wheels roll in the right direction.
Connect the wheels to the ‘car body’
Place the bottle with the wheels down and put the second straw into the bottle’s mouth, on an angle so it hits the top of the car/bottle.
Hold the straw so that an inch is outside the mouth of the bottle. Then mark an inch below where the straw hits the inside of the bottle. (You can either make an actual mark with a marker, or just keep your finger on the spot like we did.)
Add balloon power to the car
Slide a balloon onto the straw and secure it to the end with a small elastic.
Add balloon power to the car
Push the straw in through the ‘X’ cut on the bottle, until the end of the straw comes out the mouth of the bottle. (There should be about 1 inch coming out the mouth of the bottle and 1 inch coming out the top of the bottle on the balloon end. )
Add balloon power to the car
Now make the balloon blow!
The elastic should keep the balloon in place and secure on the straw as it blows up, but if it leaks air you may need to adjust the elastic on the balloon or glue the balloon to the straw.
Now put your finger on the end of the straw to hold in the air, and then let it go to watch the balloon car drive away!
Make it work!
Rubber Band Car
Rubber Band Car Materials
Required:
Corrugated cardboard
Drinking straws
Plastic milk bottle caps - 4
Bamboo skewers - 2
Brass fastener - 1
Zip tie - 1
Metal washers - 4
Rubber bands
Tools you could use:
Tape
Push pin
Ruler (paper)
Pencil, Pen, or Marker
Scissors
Make a hole in each bottle cap to fit your skewers.
Make sure the hole is tight around the skewer.
Measure your skewers and cut them 3cm longer than your car's body on each side
Cut your straws to be 1cm longer on each side.
Rubber Band Car
tape the straws and insert the skewers then connect the wheels like this
do the same in the back, but cut two small pieces of straw not one big one
Rubber Band Car
Make a hole for your brass fastener.
tie a zip tie on the back skewer pointing towards the back of the car and cut it then connect your rubber band
Rubber Band Car
hole here
Rubber Band Car
Make sure your car has weights in the back so it can move.
Now customize your car! Add a structure for the car body, and colorful paper, markers, and any other supplies to make the design your own.
When you're done you can spin the back wheels and watch it race!
Glider Plane
ACTIVITY MATERIALS
Required:
Pencil
Markers
Cardboard
Paper
Masking Tape
Scissors
Recycled Materials
+
Glider Plane
A plane is usually made from 3 main parts:
The wings: it needs to be lightweight (thin) so we will draw it on thin cardboard.
The body: it needs to be strong so we will draw it on thick cardboard.
The tail: it needs to be lightweight (thin) so we will draw it on thin cardboard.
rigid (strong) cardboard body
Glider Plane
lightweight (thin) cardboard wings and tail
After you draw your parts on pieces of cardboard, you can cut your glider body and the wings and tail.
Tip: put some tape on the front side of the wings to make it fly better!
Glider Plane
Your glider plane should look something like this.
be careful not to throw it near important delicate objects!!
Launch it and let it fly!
4th
Try your vehicle and see what it does.
Does it roll, glide, or move the way you hoped?
Make small changes if needed.
Then take a photo or short video of your finished vehicle and submit it.
10 mins
Play and Submit!
Great!
You've Completed
Activity 3
Prompt: Build a small vehicle or flying object using recycled materials.
Pick one that excites you:
Then collect materials and build it and decorate it.
Output: 1 Vehicle