Nuts and Bolts

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

Steps:

Lay a flat Styrofoam block on your table.
Use markers to draw a simple robot or house shape on the top.
Poke several small holes along the lines of your drawing using a pencil.
Pick up a long bolt and push it through one of the holes.
Reach under the foam with your other hand.
Use your fingertips to find the end of the bolt without looking.
Twist a nut onto the bolt until it is tight against the foam.
Repeat this for every hole until your structure is full of metal parts!
Stack a few wooden blocks on the bolts to see what you can build.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small nuts and bolts are a choking hazard. Ensure the pencil used for poking holes is handled safely.

The Metal Button Spire

Steps:

Use your pencil to poke a hole in the center of a sturdy cardboard square.
Push a long bolt through the hole so the threads point straight up.
Place a button onto the bolt so it rests flat on the cardboard.
Pick up a nut and twist it onto the bolt using your fingertips.
Spin the nut all the way down until it touches the button.
Add another button and then twist on a second nut.
Continue stacking buttons and nuts to build a tall, colorful spire!
Use your non-dominant hand to hold the cardboard base steady.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Nuts and bolts are small parts that can be a choking hazard. Ensure all materials are used safely.

The Pipe Cleaner Deep Sea Divers

Steps:

Fill the plastic container about halfway with cool water.
Take a colorful pipe cleaner and bend it into the shape of a little person.
Ask your child to pick up a nut from the pile using their thumb and pointer finger.
Thread the nut onto the pipe cleaner diver’s legs to act as a heavy weight.
Drop the diver into the water to see if it sinks or floats.
Add more nuts and bolts until the diver reaches the very bottom of the tank!
Use another pipe cleaner as a hook to fish the divers back up to the surface.

Safety Tip:
Ensure your child is seated at a stable table. Metal nuts and bolts are small and should be handled with care.

Tight Weave Screw Frame

Steps:

Use the Markers to draw a sturdy frame or square onto the Cardboard. Use the Scissors to cut this frame out (parent assistance may be needed).
Take the Index Cards and cut them into long, colorful strips for weaving. Draw a simple pattern on them using markers.
Glue the beginning of each strip to the back of the Cardboard frame. Weave the strips tightly across the frame, then secure the ends with Glue on the back.
Using the Hole Puncher, squeeze hard to punch 4 holes straight through the woven layers and the Cardboard frame. This requires strong effort!
Stabilize the frame with your helper hand. Push a Bolt straight through one of the tight, punched holes.
Pick up a Nut with a precise Pincer Grasp. Twist the Nut firmly onto the Bolt until the woven strips are compressed tightly. Repeat until all holes are secured.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required when using scissors. Ensure the child handles the nuts and bolts appropriately, keeping them away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Card Link Twister

Steps:

Use the marker to number 8 index cards sequentially from 1 through 8. This creates your chain links.
Use the hole puncher to create two holes at the top edge of each numbered card link.
Hold Card #1 steady with your helper hand. Push one bolt through each of the two punched holes.
Use your working hand to twist a nut firmly onto the end of each bolt. Practice using quick finger movements.
Now, take Card #2. Thread the exposed bolts from Card #1 through the holes in Card #2.
Twist two new nuts onto the exposed bolts to link the two cards securely together.
Continue this process, linking the numbered cards in order until you have created a long, flexible, and colorful chain.

Safety Tip:
Nuts and bolts are very small pieces. Ensure all materials are kept away from the mouth and supervised closely during assembly to prevent choking hazards.