Kids LOVE to take things apart! (Especially if they don’t have to put them back together again.) In the last few weeks of the Winter Session Maker Lab, Mr. Mac let the kids take apart all kinds of machines that people had donated to us — old computers, hard drives, printers, hair dryers, boom boxes, an x-ray control console, a lawn mower, a robotic arm, and a chain saw!

The kids got to examine the devices and find all the screws, bolts, tabs, and clips that were holding them together. Little by little, they dismantled the component parts, using various screwdrivers, nut drivers, wrenches, pliers, etc. The lawn mower motor was so old, it took a big steel wedge and a hammer to separate some of the parts!

Afterwards, some of the kids used the parts they removed to make something else (small motors and fans were very popular). Some of them made a sculpture from the parts they pulled out. They also got to take some of the pieces home.

The Maker Lab isn’t on the schedule for the Spring session, but we’re trying to line up a new teacher so we can offer it again. Meanwhile, scroll dawn to see what these kids were up to!

Kids couldn’t wait to get their hands on this chainsaw.

Four heads are better than one!

Finally got the chain off!

This robotic arm had lots of intricate moving parts.

This girl made a sculpture from the parts she removed from the robot arm.

Kids took apart hair dryers to get the fans out.

Kids needed patience and focus to get the job done.

Three at once working on the x-ray console.

This x-ray control console was chock full of wires.

This lawn mower engine required all the muscle power he could muster!

Carefully dismantling a printer to get the carriage assembly out.

Circuit boards taken out of a printer.

This student turned the printer’s carriage on its end and hooked it up to a battery to make an elevator.