Building Metal Detectors

In the Orca class we read a story that had someone using a metal detector. This was fascinating to the children, and they decided that the next day they wanted to try making their own metal detector. We looked closely at the picture, talking about the different parts of the metal detector. Then we drew a plan for what we would build.

Making a plan before you start a project is an important step. It allows you to focus, to think about shapes, and parts, and what things you will need. Then we used our Make It Box to find recycled materials to build our metal detectors.

The children did a variety of different things. They all knew they needed a part on the bottom that would detect the metal. They would need a long handle, and there was a wire that went up the handle to where they hold on. A couple of children saw that the girl in the book had something on her ears, and one boy decided they were ear protectors. This was a challenging project to figure out how to build.

Some children become teachers to their friends, explaining and helping the others with their work.

We took them out to the sand area on the playground, where I told them I had buried some pirate gold.

They diligently searched the sand area for gold.

One boy was very frustrated that his metal detector did not actually work, that it did not beep. His daddy said they could work on that when they got home. I wonder if they were successful?