Earlier this month, Heather and I taught a homeschool workshop about taking things apart. In this three-hour class, kids (10-13 years old) transformed cheap toys into new ones.

Day 3: Lights and Motion Today we experimented with using several lights instead of just one. We used clusters of Christmas tree lights with 9V batteries, and multiple maglights. We also tried making the light or the objects move, back and forth, around in circles, or up and down. We decided the images look more interesting when they move. Using Crickets, motors, legos, and cardboard, we looked at examples of modules that could be used to make lights or objects move in different ways.

Drawing made with a simple spinner. During the workshop this spring, I worked with a spin art machine. This first drawing is made with watercolor, a very fine brush, and a spinner that spinned in one direction. I experimented with the speed of the motor a bit -- too slow, and it just didn't have enough power to turn the paper. Made with a spinner that goes forward and backward.