Crane Challenge

🔄 Instructions:

🧠 1. Ask & Imagine

• What makes a crane effective?

• What kind of cranes have you seen in the real world (e.g., construction, ships, factories)?

• How can you control direction, lift height, and balance?

✏️ 2. Plan

• Sketch your crane design.

• Decide how it will rotate, how the string will raise/lower the bucket, and where the load will attach.

🛠️ 3. Build

• Use skewers or sticks to create the crane’s vertical support and arm.

• Attach a string pulley system using a skewer or paper clip as an axle.

• Tape a small cup or paper bucket to the string for lifting objects (marbles, paperclips, etc.).

🎯 4. Test & Improve

• Try lifting different amounts of weight.

• How does changing the arm length or base width affect stability?

• Can you rotate or swing the crane?

• What design changes make it more accurate or capable of lifting heavier loads?

🚀 5. Challenge Options

• Lift the heaviest load without tipping over

• Move and drop a marble into a target zone

• Build the tallest crane that still works

• Add a “control system” (e.g., twist the skewer axle to raise/lower)

📸 6: Share Your Creation

🎥 Record a short video of your crane in action!

📲 Upload your video and photos using the QR code provided below.
📝 Enter your first name(s) in the “Subject” area

🧾 Reflection Questions

• What did you change in your design during testing?

• How does this model relate to real-world cranes or robotic arms?

• What’s the most important force or concept involved in your design?