STEAM

Full STEAM ahead! Make way for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics in your classroom with our STEAM craft ideas!

Mechanical Hand

Pull the strings and make the fingers wiggle! This awesome STEAM activity will help kids learn about the structure of our hands and how they work.
  • Step 1 Place your hand flat onto the construction foam and use the pencil to trace around it. Study your hand, where your knuckles are and where your fingers bend. Mark these points on your hand by drawing lines across.
  • Step 2 Use scissors to cut out your hand and then cut along the lines you created to show the knuckles. Be careful to keep your pieces in order so you know which bits belong where. You may even wish to number your pieces before cutting them out.
  • Step 3 Glue the pieces of your hand in position onto the cover paper. Be sure to leave a gap between the pieces as this will ensure the fingers will be able to bend.
  • Step 4 Cut small pieces of straw to fit on each of the finger pieces plus 5 long lengths of straw to run down the palm of the hand.
  • Step 5 Use the masking tape to secure them to the hand, making sure to keep them as aligned as possible.
  • Step 6 Thread the end of the twine down through the straws of the first finger so there is approximately 10cm hanging out the end so you can tie a loop. Cut the twine at the top of the fingertip and secure to the end of the fingertip with masking tape. Repeat this step for the remaining fingers and thumb.
  • Step 7 Your hand is now complete and ready to get waving! Hold the mechancal hand in one hand and place the fingertips of your other hand through the loops. As you pull your fingers down the mechanical hands fingers will also move down!

Materials used in this activity

CleverPatch Junior PVA Glue - 250ml
Optional
Product Code: 10364
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
36 or more $3.84 (inc GST) $3.49 (ex GST)          
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Product Code: 10897
EACH Was: $43.99 Now: $27.50 (inc GST) Was: $39.99 Now: $25.00 (ex GST)
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Masking Tape - 18mm x 50m
Optional
Product Code: 11774
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
20 or more $3.84 (inc GST) $3.49 (ex GST)          
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Jute Twine - Thin - 70 Metres
Optional
Product Code: 14037
EACH $8.79 (inc GST) $7.99 (ex GST)
6 or more $6.15 (inc GST) $5.59 (ex GST)          
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CleverPatch Cover Paper - White - A4 - Pack of 250
Optional
Product Code: 16142
EACH $21.99 (inc GST) $19.99 (ex GST)
8 or more $17.59 (inc GST) $15.99 (ex GST)          
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Construction Foam - A3 - Pack of 10
Optional
Product Code: 17520
EACH $49.49 (inc GST) $44.99 (ex GST)
2 or more $39.59 (inc GST) $35.99 (ex GST)          
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Recyclable Paper Straws - Pack of 250
Optional
Product Code: 17671
EACH $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)
4 or more $10.71 (inc GST) $9.74 (ex GST)          
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