Youth Activity Archive

Activity Description: Build and test a bouncing paper spring bot to explore how machine elements work.

Items Needed:

• Paper strips
• Extra paper
• Tape
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or crayons

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 15 min):

1. Explain the leap bots. (2 min)
   • A Leap Bot is a small jumping machine. A folded paper spring acts like a compression spring machine element because it stores energy when pushed down and releases it when let go.
2. Make a paper spring. (5–10 min)
   • Cut two long strips of paper. Put the ends together to make an “L” shape and tape them in place.
   • Fold the bottom strip straight over the top strip.
   • Keep taking turns folding the bottom strip over the top strip until there is no paper left.
   • Tape the loose ends together so the paper stays in a bouncy accordion shape.
3. Make a face. (3 min)
   • Draw a face on an extra piece of paper, cut it out, and glue it to the top of the paper spring.
4. Test it out. (5–10 min)
   • Squish the paper spring down to the table and let go to watch the bot bounce. Test it three times. Rate each jump:
     • Jump 1: Did not jump / Low / Medium / High
     • Jump 2: Did not jump / Low / Medium / High
     • Jump 3: Did not jump / Low / Medium / High
5. (Optional) Think of an improvement. (3 min)
   • Engineers always look for ways to make things better. Think about how the machine worked. What is one way you could change the Paper Spring to make it jump higher or stay bouncy longer?

Step-by-Step Tutorials:

• Alternate Instructions: Paper Spring by Chasing the Paper Rabbit
• Vidoe: Paper Spring Toy by Daksh’s Craft Lab

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