Mechanical Toy Project
Year 9
Year 9
In Year 9 pupils undertake a Mechanical Toy Project, where a toy such as those shown below is designed and made. The base of the toy is of standard design and is held together using dowel joints. This enables pupils to learn the principles of Batch Production. Pupils use jigs to cut dowel to length and fixtures to drill the dowel holes accurately in two pieces of wood simmultaneously.
Pupils further learn the basics of mechanisms, including cams and linkages and apply these in the design of their product. Finally, pupils make their design and assemble it on top of the base they have already made. Pupils use techniques of adding colour using pencil crayon (in particular tonal variation) to decorate their products.
The photographs show a completed toy cat made by a year 9 pupil, along with the design work. At the end are some partially completed sharks made using templates supplied to the pupils. A completed example of the toy made by myself is also shown.
Pupils further learn the basics of mechanisms, including cams and linkages and apply these in the design of their product. Finally, pupils make their design and assemble it on top of the base they have already made. Pupils use techniques of adding colour using pencil crayon (in particular tonal variation) to decorate their products.
The photographs show a completed toy cat made by a year 9 pupil, along with the design work. At the end are some partially completed sharks made using templates supplied to the pupils. A completed example of the toy made by myself is also shown.
