Build a toothpick bridge. Have your students design a
bridge using only toothpicks and glue. The longest bridge
that can hold the weight of an egg wins a prize.
For younger kids, have
them create their own toothpick ornament in time for
the holidays.
Do a self-portrait out of toothpicks. (That's
just funny).
Using only one box of toothpicks (or a pre-determined
amount), ask your students to create a structure
at least 6 inches tall that can hold a textbook.
Have
your students create their own project. Just let them run
free with it.
See if your students can successfully make a
toothpick structure with free-moving parts (i.e.
small helicopter, car, merry-go-round) The toothpick
windmill template can be revised to move. It's a little more
advanced, but it makes them think.
Create your own template for the
kids to follow. Print it out and slide it in a sheet cover. |
Use
plastic sheet covers, overhead projector sheets, or even plastic
plates. Elmer's glue will not stick to the plastic and
you can place it on a clipboard or tape it to some cardboard for
rigidity. Students can allow glue to dry overnight (or a couple
hours) and either complete their projects the next day or take it
home.
Use "round, square-center" toothpicks. They're easier
to align than flat toothpicks and don't roll around like round toothpicks.
Have glue already poured before class. This gets
rid of messy glue bottles, restricts the amount of glue students should
use, and the glue is easier to use when it's a little "congealed." The
less glue, the better. And it dries faster.
Use masking tape to hold
3-dimensional projects together while glue is drying. It makes positioning
easier and the glue doesn't stick to the tape easily. |
The purpose of this exercise is to learn a few toothpicking
basics and how to plan your next project. While it does take
time for the glue to dry, if you plan correctly, you can
work on other aspects of the project while the glue is drying.
Good luck, and feel free to print as many of these templates
as you like, or create your own template. Be creative. Have
fun!
