Crankie Contraptions

1st-8th

$122.00

Learners build

A hand-turned cardboard theater that scrolls an illustrated story like a movie.

Learners start by folding the frame, winding a paper scroll onto two straws, and practicing turning both ends toward the center.

From there, they plan a sequence on a story worksheet, draw it on the scroll, and perform it for classmates. It connects art and design with English language arts.

Activity Time 45-60 min
Prep Time 5-10 min
Crankie Contraptions is spicy for kindergarten, medium for 1st and 2nd grade, and mild from 3rd through 8th grade. Not recommended below kindergarten.
FutureMakers Crankie Contraptions STEM Kit for School Homeschool Scouts

Educator Resources

Crankie Contraption Class Pack

Student-facing slides introduce the concepts, guide the activity, and help learners reflect on what changed. Educator materials support setup, pacing, discussion, and extensions so this can work in classrooms, libraries, homeschool groups, clubs, or makerspaces.

View Crankie Contraption teaching materials

Learners explore

Storytelling

Create characters, settings, and moving scenes that tell a story.

What's included

Choose a pack size to see how the component quantities change for one learner, a small group, or a full class.