Games
Back Scratcher
Children create sturdy back scratchers using sausage sticks and rubber bands, developing creativity, hand coordination, and basic engineering skills through hands-on crafting.
Materials
- Straws
- Popsicle Sticks
- Toothpicks/Sausage Sticks
- Cardboards
- Masking Tape
- Scissors
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Checklist
Older game
how to play
Begin with a fun story, such as helping a sleepy bear who cannot reach an itch on its back or inventing a tool for explorers stuck in the jungle, to spark imagination. Give each student sausage sticks, rubber bands, and tape, and explain that their challenge is to design and build a sturdy back scratcher. Encourage them to think about length, strength, and comfort while assembling their tool. If children face difficulties, give hints such as: How can you make it longer and stronger? Where should the rubber bands be tied to keep it sturdy? What shape at the end might help with scratching better? Once complete, allow the children to test their creations in a playful and safe way, celebrating their creativity while learning about hand coordination, strength, and basic engineering.
Challanges
- Provide different materials such as toothpicks, popsicle sticks, cardboards, and straws to different kids and ask them to make a scratcher using these materials.
- Make a scratcher that would reach to your shoulders and upper back. With the same scratcher, what changes can be made so that it would reach the middle of your back?
Questions to be asked
- How does the difference in length of the scratcher affect while using?
- Why should the scratcher be longer?
- Which of the materials used is the best for the scratcher and why?
- Why does the handle of the scratcher need to be joined strongly?
- Can materials like cotton, nails, or screws be used in it? Why?