STEM Activities Phenakistoscope Animation Discs Engineering Activity

Students will enjoy building these spinning discs in this engineering activity. The animated wheels are an example of an early video technique. These devices are also called movie wheels and it’s a fun engineering activity for students to build and then view the show! It’s certainly a good exercise of fine motor skills for students to cut the viewing slots on the wheel. STEM activities for the classroom or STEM at home. Directions to make the animated wheels are completely described.

Important: You need a mirror to view this optical effect.

There are two templates provided for a running horse: one a 12 frame animation and the other a larger 10 frame wheel. Students can explore which is better. There are also blank templates included for those students who want to try to make a wheel themselves. Also included is an classic version of two people waltzing.

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Dr. David Purvis. After obtaining a PhD in Microbiology, I switched careers and became a middle school and elementary science teacher because I loved kids. Almost thirty years later I have taught science in some context to every grade level from pre-K to college education classes. No matter what grade you are teaching, science should include fun for students. My store offers rigorous resources that align meaningful content, an inquiry approach, NGSS standards, and student interest.

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