This kit is perfect for kid’s STEM education. It’s suitable for schools, learning centers and education companies for business. Cam toys (aka automata) use hand-powered mechanisms to create cyclical motions that animate a scene. Students design and create cam toy machines with moving objects/characters that symbolize abstract concepts and represent dynamic situations.

STEM Teachables: 

Mechanical Systems:

The kit involves building an automata, which is a mechanical system that exhibits repetitive motions. This aligns with the understanding of mechanical systems in the Ontario science curriculum, where students learn about the components, functions, and interactions of mechanical systems.

Energy Transfer and Transformation:

Explore how energy is transferred and transformed within the automata. Discuss the types of energy involved (e.g., kinetic, potential) and how energy transformations occur during the motion of the automata.

Design and Engineering Principles:

Students engage in hands-on design and engineering processes while constructing the automata. They can learn about designing for specific movements, structural stability, and aesthetic considerations.

Patterns and Motion:

Analyze the patterns and motions created by the automata. Discuss concepts such as periodic motion, rotational motion, and the linkage between input (hand-cranking) and output (dancing cat motion).

Creativity and Innovation:

Encourage students to modify or customize the automata design to create unique movements or themes. This promotes creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Explore the history and cultural significance of automata, discussing their evolution from ancient mechanisms to modern kinetic art. This can tie into broader discussions about technology, art, and societal impacts.

Documentation and Presentation:

Incorporate elements of documentation and presentation into the learning process. Students can document their design process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and present their final automata designs to peers or in a showcase.

By integrating these teaching elements into your lessons using the automata kit, you can align with various strands of the science curriculum while also fostering creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning experiences for students.