Small Wonders - Cardboard, Popsicle Sticks, and Glue
Instructor: Nadia Elkordy <>
Grades: 8-12
Meeting Time: Sundays, 10am-12pm (Day #1 meets 1pm-2:30pm)
Meeting Place: 26-204
Course Description:
Make miniature houses, cars, boats, pulley systems, or whatever you wish out of everyday materials! You can be as complex as you wish, but the key is to use simple materials to make cool toys. This class is for kids who want to have fun being creative!
Available Supplies:
Glue
Tape
String
Scissors
Needle
Some thread
Scrap cloth
Stuffing
Some cardboard
Skewers
Rulers
Standard pencils and erasers
Hole puncher
Hammer
Nails
Box Cutters
Paper clips
Popsicle Sticks
Other
What you may find useful to bring ( this depends on what you decide to make) :
Lots of cardboard
Empty cereal boxes
Small paper or plastic cups
Jar lids
Paper
More thread
More string
Empty thread spools
Wire
Aluminum foil
Rubber bands
Marbles
Empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls
Chewing gum that gets really stiff after it’s
been chewed (gross)
Your own special pencils and erasers (some
people prefer their own)
Other things from home that your families
wouldn’t miss if you were to tell them they
were gone
Day 1: July 1
Introduction: how the will class work, what to bring, what you will do
Get Started! Pay special attention to our discussion of the Class Rules1
Homework – part a) At the start of the next class, please be prepared to talk about a “challenge” you had making some part of your project; part b) This part will be discussed in class
Day 2: July 8
Challenge #1
Day 3: July 15
Challenge #2
End of this day: discuss the option of having a class design project
Day 4: July 22
Challenge #3
Day 5: July 29
Challenge #4
Day 6: August 5
Challenge #5
End of this day: surprise request for final two classes
Day 7: August 12 -
Challenge #6
Day 8: August 19 – I can't be here L.
Challenge #7
Finish projects! I very much would like to see them, so you can either finish construction before this day or have the covering instructor take pictures of the finished projects
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1Class Rules:
1. Try, and err
2. Be determined
3. Ignore the usefulness of your project
4. Don’t hurt yourself (be careful if you’re using the hammer or box cutter)
5. Think, make, test; then, rethink, remake, retest, until thrilled with result
6. If really frustrated, “ask the audience”*
7. Have crazy ideas, and go with them
8. Be supportive of your peers’ crazy ideas
9. Modify suggestions to make them your own – but always credit external help
10. Have fun – a lot!
*this rule is not in effect until Day #2