Ocean Cleaner
The project goal was to develop a stem Kit for Brownies in second and third grades around ages (7-9). The requirements insisted to develop it under $7 and must be related to robotics. First the teacher will be responsible to provide the materials needed for kids. My job was to write two versions of assembling this project. The first revision where the teacher will buy the needed material and the work they will prepare so it is easier for kids later to do it. Second version for kids to assemble by themselves. Also the goal was for the kids to assemble it no more than 20 minutes.
Teacher Version:
Instructors guide:
Materials needed:
❖ 2x PEX Pipes 5.25-inch-long with diameter ½ inch
❖ 1x Shelf liner 12-inch length & 4-inch width
❖ Food container worth 3 cups
❖ Cardboard pieces
❖ 5x Popsicle sticks 5.86-inch-long & 0.72-inch width (arms)
❖ 4x Toothpicks
❖ 4x CPVC cap slips with diameter ½ inch
❖ Double face tape
Preparing the kit:
1. Cut PEX pipes in the given dimensions.
2. Add hot glue on the pipes in straight lines to give it a grip.
3. Cut the shelf liner in the given dimensions and using a stapler, connect them together.
4. Place two squared pieces of double face tape on each side of the food container.
5. Drill holes in each CPVC cap wide enough to insert a toothpick through each of them.
6. Use hot glue to secure the toothpick inside the cap hole.
7. Take 2x popsicles and drill a hole 1.5-inch away from each edge in each popsicle.
8. Insert the caps along with the toothpicks through the holes you made on the popsicles.
9. Add a tiny drop of hot glue on each toothpick to act as a stopper so that it is not wobbly.
10. Break about 2x pieces 2-inch long of one popsicle and hot glue it to the toothpick of the upper right arm.
11. Add double face tape to each arm then stick them to the other two popsicles at an angle. (could be any angle as long as it’s the same from both directions)
12. The goal is to make it look like this:
Kids Version:
DESCRIPTION:
This activity is designed to simulate and show how an automated ocean cleaner functions in the real world.
SETUP:
-Materials inside this kit:
❖ 2x PEX Pipes 5.25-inch-long with diameter ½ inch
❖ 1x Shelf liner 12-inch length & 4-inch width
❖ Food container worth 3 cups
❖ Cardboard pieces
❖ 4x Popsicle sticks 5.86-inch-long & 0.72-inch width (arms)
❖ 4x Toothpicks
❖ 4x CPVC cap slips with diameter ½ inch
❖ Double face tape (already mounted on container & arms)
-How to assemble:
1. Plug in both rollers to the caps of the arm marked left.
2. Pass the Shelf liner through both rollers in order to look like this:
3. Plug in the rollers to the caps of the arm marked right to have it look like this:
4. Peel the edges of the double face tape located on each side of the container.
5. Carefully grab both arms and place both on each side of the container at the indicated spot on the arms. (So that each double face taped is in the box indicated on the popsicle)
6. Final product is going to look like this:
GAME:
❖ The cardboard pieces provided represents the waste carelessly thrown in the ocean by humans, your goal is to clean the ocean using the ocean cleaner you assembled.
1. Fill the provided tub (the kit came in) with water.
2. Throw the cardboard pieces in the water and spread them around.
3. Place the ocean cleaner in the water.
4. Use the handle on the right arm to spin the rollers along with the shelf liner.
5. Proceed to collect all cardboard pieces and stored inside the container.
FACTS/QUESTIONS:
-Did you know that the ocean cleaner has an automated bigger version where it uses motors to turn the rollers automatically and clean the oceans in the real world?
-Did you know that there are small automated robotic versions of ocean cleaners where they could be remotely controlled from a distance?
-This ocean cleaner version could be improved by using DC motors instead of a manual handle however it would require some basic electrical knowledge.
+❖ It would look something like this:
