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Build your own automatic fishing machine Activity

by David Shaw, 22 June 2022 | 0 comments

Illustration of a fish trap with netting across the river.

Here’s a chance to create your own automatic fishing machine inspired by Aboriginal engineering. Automatic fishing machines were, and may still be, used by Aboriginal people to catch fish in shallow waters. This activity is based on a fishing machine invented by Aboriginal engineers and used near the Murray River.

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Make a jumping jack Activity

by David Shaw, 12 May 2022 | 0 comments

Cardboard robot toy with moving arms and legs

This cardboard doll loves to leap! It takes a bit of crafting, but the results will make you jump for joy.

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Clucking cup Activity

by David Shaw, 16 September 2021 | 1 comments

A person holding a paper cup with string attachment and a musical note in speach bubble above.

Want to surprise your friends and family? With a bit of practice, you can make this cup cluck like a chicken!

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Inca quipu numbers Activity

by David Shaw, 6 February 2020 | 0 comments

a lot of knotted strings all tied together.

People record numbers in lots of different ways. This method was used by the Inca people and many others who lived near the Andes Mountains of South America.

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Tension tower Activity

by David Shaw, 28 November 2019 | 0 comments

Pipeleaner and string construction.

String is floppy, so it’s usually a terrible thing to build a tower from. But this tower uses tension and string to hold itself strong!

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Make a pi necklace Activity

by David Shaw, 19 September 2019 | 1 comments

Image of a person wearing a necklace

Written by Gabrielle Tramby and Rachel Fitzgerald In this activity, you’ll turn a number into a necklace.

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Pulling pulleys Activity

by David Shaw, 26 July 2018 | 2 comments

Photo of a bobbin attached by a loop of string to a drink bottle, with another srting loop going upwards out of the shot.

Have you ever wondered how cranes can lift such heavy things? Their pulleys really help lighten the load. In this activity, have a play with some pulleys. These simple machines can make heavy weights as light as a feather!

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Hanging by a thread Activity

by David Shaw, 27 November 2017 | 0 comments

a picture hanging from two pins

You’ll find yourself going a little loopy with this puzzle, but it’s worth unravelling the secret.

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Super strong pencil Activity

by David Shaw, 4 January 2017 | 0 comments

Someone is wrapping a yellow string around a pencil.

In this trick, you’ll wrap a shoelace around a pencil and a strip of cardboard. The string seems to pass straight through both, tearing the cardboard, but leaving the pencil untouched!

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Draw an egg Activity

by David Shaw, 20 April 2014 | 2 comments

Three points are marked in a triangle. around each pair of points, an elipse is drawn. the whole shape looks like an egg.

Happy Easter everyone! Here’s a handy way to draw an egg shape using maths.

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Double helix cover

Double Helix

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