For March, the kids focus on gravity. However, this program wasn’t a boring lesson because this time the kids would be building their own pinball “machine”, using just cardboard boxes and a hot glue gun.
Once their pinball machine was constructed, they were free to decorate it in whatever way they wanted. Two kids created a space theme, and one did a beach theme. Best of all, the paint was glow-in-the-dark, so they could play in the dark, and their game would light up as if they were in an actual arcade. Then the kids had to add borders to make sure the ball would go in one direction and borders for the ball to land on. Depending on how the kids structure their game, players could gain twenty, fifteen, or ten points.
When everything was ready and dry, the kids got to choose a marble as the ball in the game. With the flick of a finger on their makeshift lever, the marble would shoot across the board to land on one of the constructed point landings. Once everyone was finished, they all got to test their creations with each other. Ultimately, the lesson taught the participants gravity and physics in a fun way that really captured their attention.
Written by Kalee Wiley, Library Associate at Central Library
For more information about the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, email us at libraryteentech@fultoncountyga.gov, opens a new window or call us at 404-613-0259.
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