The Cardboard Valentine "Box" Challenge!

Last year, I had my third graders create Valentine's Box Book Reports, and I knew that I wanted to facilitate that process again this year with my current thirdsters.  I just wasn't sure what to do with my fourth grade kiddos... at first.  Eventually, I decided to have them create "out of the box" Valentine's Day boxes using cardboard boxes, recyclables, and other odds and ends.  Instead of writing book reports like my third graders, I had my fourth graders work through the engineering design process, build a contraption incorporating a simple machine into the design, and write a procedural report to explain how other people could duplicate their designs.  I am departmentalized, and I don't teach science anymore, but if I'm being completely honest,  sometimes I miss it.  I love the way science encourages creativity and inquiry in such an organic way.  So, I guess you could say this project was therapeutic for me too.  :)  Ha!   he projects FAR EXCEEDED my expectations, and I am excited to share some of the Cardboard Challenge creations with you right now! Here's a sampling:

This kiddo is one of the most amazing child artists I've ever seen.  She said, "Tigers are like angels to me."  Precious! 

 

Thhis minion had levers for arms.  We had to do a little glue gun surgery, but I am happy to announce that he made it!

Look at this little robot cutie!

This hatch was designed to hold valentines, but it could honestly hold so much  more!

This is a claw machine with separate compartments for valentines and prizes.

A view from the top of the claw machine.

An inclined plane for the valentine compartment.

Here's a shot of the claw machine in action!

One of my sweeties created a locker for her American Girl doll.

She incorporated a task wheel into the design.  I think she may be a future teacher! Ha!

I just love the little bag hooked into the back of the locker.  Such a cute detail!

A gumball machine featuring a wheel and axle, a lever, and a screw.

Simple, yet functional!

Another little robot friend.  I love the egg carton eyes!  It's another use of levers!

This is a fully functional gumball machine!

Here's the side view of the gumball machine.  The pipecleaner heart acted as a stopper to line it up correctly.

How fun is that?! This was a big hit with the other kiddos, of course!

A Festive Tiki Well!

The lever actually moved the basket up and down into the well.

Here's another look at the tiki well and how the basket was rigged.

Yes, you're seeing this correctly.  It is a Valentine's Day toilet.  Fourth graders!

This iPod featured a spinning wheel and lots of lovey dovey songs too!

This race car featured a working hood and grill... and wheels too!

This pirate ship was fun to learn about.  It features a pulley system that can be turned into a game.  ;)

Clearly the Lego men and the soldiers are engaged in some sort of conflict aboard the ship.

This is a unicorn with a beautiful mane of yarn.  The horn is a lever that opens the mouth.

Of course, I was not surprised to see a little Minecraft Creeper.  My boys are obsessed.

This Creeper served another purpose... as a decorative tissue box cover!  {This is the tiniest tissue box ever.  Ever.}

This is a milk jug monster with arms that are levers as well. 

One of my girls made a "transformer".  She works with her dad on cars a lot, so she LOVES mechanical things.

This was stowed away in a pretty zebra box, then she took it out to display her use of a battery operated car & a hair tie..

When she pulled the trigger, a paint roller spun an oatmeal container around and around. 

As you can see, this project was quite a hit with my kiddos, and this is only about HALF of them!  The other sixteen are amazing too!  :)  My third grade group was already commenting on what they want to create as fourth graders.  Ha!  As you can see from the pictures of a few of my kiddos' reports, I kind of underestimated them.  Next year, I want to give them more lines/pages to work with for their final drafts.  Some of them were really long.  If nothing else, I need to run extras off and keep a stack readily available in the classroom to allow my kiddos to grab an extra page if needed.  Lessons learned.  :)  Otherwise, I am extremely satisfied with how this project turned out.  The Valentine's Box Book Reports were also a HIT, and I can't wait to share them with you!  Check back tomorrow to check out my third grade students' creations!  Have a great night!