Science and Elementary Technology

Introduction

Toys, utility objects and learning materials are important in our daily lives.
These objects can be bought and used. However, we can make our own toys, utility objects and learning materials easily using locally available materials.

Look at the following pictures.

Describe each of the pictures.
Use the pictures to predict what you are going to learn.

3.1: Making toys using sorghum straws and sticks

Activity 3.1: Making toys using straws and sticks

(i) Go into the nearby field. Collect dry straws and sticks.
(ii) Also collect pictures of bicycles and huts.
(iii) Choose the best materials to make toys from the ones you have collected.

a) Making a toy house using sticks and sorghum straws

Materials required:

Small flexible sticks, A big stick with a sharpened end, Sorghum straws, Strings or wires

What to do:

b) Making a toy bicycle

Materials needed:
• Sticks, Straws, threads / strings

What to do:

3.2: Making utility objects in wood

Activity 3.2: Making utility objects in wood

(i) Collect these tools from the school workshop or from a nearby workshop: Chisel, spokes shave       and saw.
(ii) Collect sisal fibres and pieces of wood.
(iii) Bring the following utility items to school; spoons and hoe handle.
Name 3 other utility items used in your home.

a) Making a spoon in wood

Materials needed:
• A soft piece of wood                 • Knife or machete                  • Pencil or pen
• Spoke shave or sand paper                                                       • A chisel

What to do:

b) Making a hoe handle
Materials needed:
• Hand saw
• A long thick piece of wood (about 1 m long)
• A machete or strong knife
• A spokes shave or sandpaper

What to do:

Utility items are used in daily activities. Some of these items include spoons, baskets, chairs and hoe handles.

3.3: Making learning materials in paper and manila paper

Learning materials are used in class to make learning easier and enjoyable. In P5, we will make shapes such as rhombuses, parallelograms and trapeziums.

Activity 3.3: Making learning materials in paper

A rhombus is a figure that has four equal slanted sides.

Materials needed:
• Scissors               • Pencil                       • Pen or marker
• Ruler                    • Manila paper            • Protractor

a) Making a rhombus
What to do:

b) Making a parallelogram

What to do:

c) Making a trapezium

What to do:

3.4: Maintenance of utility and learning objects

Activity 3.4: Maintenance of utility and learning objects

(i) Collect boxes sacks and bags.
(ii) Put some wooden spoons and hoe handles in one dry corner of the class.
(iii) Hang the remaining wooden spoons on a rack.
(iv) Store your rhombus, parallelograms and trapeziums on a shelf or in a dry bag.
(v) Mount your shapes on a soft board and hang on the class wall.

How will you keep the things that you have made?
• Wooden spoon and hoe handle can easily rot if placed in a moist place.
• A hoe handle should be kept in a tool store. Wooden spoons should be hung on a rack.
• Learning materials should be mounted on a soft board and displayed in class.
• They can also be put in class cabinets, shelves, cupboards and boxes.

• Store your toy bicycle in a cool, dry and safe place.
• Protect your stick house by covering it with paper or leaves.

Revision Activity 3

1. Make a toy bicycle using straws and sticks.
2. Make a wooden hoe handle.
3. (a) Identify three tools that should be used when making a hoe handle.
    (b) Make a trapezium from waste pieces of paper.
         (i) Colour the trapezium using crayons.
         (ii) Store your trapezium safely.
4. Identify ways of maintaining utility and learning objects.
5. Draw a rhombus, trapezium and a parallelogram.
A pupil made a toy house as shown below.

6. (a) Identify the tools that she used.
    (b) How did she use the tools?
7. (a) Name the local materials that she used.
    (b) Where did she get the materials?
8. What precautions did she take while using the tools and materials?
9. How will the girl maintain the toy house?
10. Give the uses of the following utility items.

Word list
1. Read the following words in pairs.
• Hoe                      • Utility objects         • Straws         • Peg
• Wall plate             • Scissors                 • Drill
• Spoke shave        • Chisel                    • Gouge
• Sand paper          • Diagonal                • Bisect
• Protractor             • Compass               • Sisal
2. Spell 3 words while your friend writes them in his or her notebook. Let your friend also spell 3 other words as you write them in your notebook.
3. Discuss with your friend the meaning of any 3 words in the word list. Refer to notes in your textbook.