Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada

Activities

1. YOUR OWN PROPELLER!

Ask an adult to help you make this at home. You will need a 12 cm. (5 in.) square piece of paper, a pin, a pencil with an eraser, scissors, and a ruler. Draw an X on the paper, from corner to corner (with the ruler) to find the centre. Then...

1. Cut in at each corner, but not all the way.

2. Fold up every other corner and glue to the centre.

3. Pin the centre of the propeller to the side of the pencil eraser.

4. Now for some fun! Hold your propeller up and RUN!

2. STUMP YOUR FRIENDS!

LAY 6 TOOTHPICKS & 3 GREEN PEAS (OR 3 BITS OF WAX-ANYTHING YOU CAN STICK THE TOOTHPICKS INTO) ON A TABLE. ASK YOUR FRIENDS T MAKE 4 TRIANGLES WITH THEM. ( NO, THEY CAN'T BREAK THE TOOTHPICKS!). WHEN THEY GIVE UP, TAKE 3 TOOTHPICKS & 3 PEAS & STICKING EACH END OF EACH TOOTHPICK INTO A PEA, MAKE A TRIANGLE. LAY IT ON THE TABLE. NOW TAKE THE OTHER 3 TOOTHPICKS & BALANCE THEM TEE-PEE STYLE ON THE 1st TRIANGLE BY STICKING EACH BOTTOM END IN A PEA & LEANING THE TOP ENDS TOGETHER.
YOU HAVE MADE A TETRAHEDRON & AS YOU KNOW, IT'S MADE OF 4 TRIANGLES!

3. OLD FASHIONED TIN CAN TELEPHONE

HAVE YOU EVER MADE AN OLD FASHIONED TIN CAN TELEPHONE? IF NOT, WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRY? ALL YOU NEED ARE 2 EMPTY CANS, (SOUP CANS ARE A GOOD SIZE) AND A LONG PIECE OF STRING. 4 METRES (12 FEET) OR LONGER WOULD BE FINE. HAVE AN ADULT HELP YOU PUNCH A HOLE IN THE CENTRE OF THE BOTTOM OF EACH CAN. PUT THE ENDS OF THE STRING THROUGH THE HOLES & MAKE A KNOT IN BOTH ENDS SO THAT THE STRING WON'T PULL OUT. IF YOU ARE USING FISHING LINE, KNOTS WON'T BE BIG ENOUGH, SO TIE A TWIG OR PIECE OF CLOTH IN THE ENDS SO THEY WON'T COME OUT.
NOW GIVE ONE CAN TO A FRIEND, TAKE THE OTHER AND WALK AWAY FROM EACH OTHER UNTIL THE STRING IS TIGHT. TAKE TURNS LISTENING & TALKING. IT REALLY WORKS!