What are Crankie Contraptions? Tell a scrolling illustrated story using a cardboard screen machine! Learners will integrate engineering, art, and language arts skills to design, test, and share a unique visual story sequence. This Spark is easily differentiated for lower elementary through middle school.
This playful engineering bulk project pack features ready-to-build components for learners to create and keep. Designed for groups of up to 25 in classrooms, camps and out-of-school time programs, it's a perfect 45- to 90-minute screen-free activity with reusable components. Playful engineering extensions for older learners are available in our coaching guides.
Learners will create a novel machines that turn a scroll to tell an illustrated story sequence. Crankies usually come in two flavors: sequences (linear or time-based cycles) or narratives (beginning, action/change in the middle, and an ending). They will strengthen planning, drafting, and sequencing by designing a visual story that requires planning and testing.
What's in the pack?
This is a bulk-packed class set in a reclosable box. You'll receive each of the following in labeled reusable packages of 25:
A set of die-cut cardboard crankie frames
Bundles of paper straws
Sets of printed stickers
A pack of folded crankie scroll paper
Pack of learner build guides
Reclosable plastic storage bags
What do adults need to support?
This Spark has a coaching playbook available via our website, featuring educator-only videos, quick-start guides, slide decks and extensions so adults can quickly prepare and confidently play alongside their learners.
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