Rig Up Some Cool Contraptions!

What can you do with a paper towel roll, aluminum foil and some duct tape? Listen to a heartbeat, of course! A stethoscope is only one of the many cool contraptions your child can rig up with Tom Fox's book, “Snowball Launchers, Giant Pumpkin Growers, and Other Cool Contraptions.”

A See-Safe Solar Viewer allows your young astronomer to see the sun through solar eclipses without damaging his eyes. For kids who hate chores, the Automatic Cat/Dog Feeder or an Auto-Fill Water Dish may be just the trick. There are also electrical experiments, such as a home-made Morse Code Telegraph and a Secret Drawer Lock made with a battery and a magnet wire.

The coolest part of these contraptions is that they can be made out of everyday stuff: recycled goods, common household items, and some typical fare from the shed out back. Not only does this inspire ingenuity, but it also shows kids that learning is everywhere.

The book gives clear instructions and diagrams for making and using each contraption, but Fox goes a step further by explaining the history behind the tool and the science of why it works, offering valuable lessons in physics and the history of invention.

While the book is recommended for children 9-12, some of the experiments are more technical than others, and may require adult participation. But, once you dig into these projects, you may just want to hang around.