Racing bugs

For a word document version of this activity, please click here:
Racing bugs.doc

This activity encourages manual dexterity and creative skills

You will need:
used cotton reels
pencil/coloured pencils/crayons
scissors
glue
elastic band
coloured felt material
two spent matches or small cocktail sticks

Instructions:

Place the end of the cotton reel on a piece of felt, draw around and then cut out two equal size circles of material.

Use another piece of felt to cover the centre part of the cotton reel.

Cut a small hole in the centre of one of the round pieces of felt.

Glue this circular piece onto one end of the cotton reel so the hole in the felt lines up with the hole in the cotton reel.

Push an elastic band through the hole in the cotton reel leaving a section showing at both ends.

Put half a matchstick through the elastic loop at the none-covered end of the cotton reel. Pull the elastic so the matchstick is tight against the end of the cotton reel.

Glue the other circular piece of felt over the matchstick to hold the match firmly in place.

Decorate the cotton reel by adding eyes, stripes etc to maker a bug.

Push another whole matchstick through the other end of the elastic band and wind up tightly.

Put the bug onto a smooth tabletop and release the tightened matchstick.

The elastic should start to unwind causing your “bug” to move forward.