Planting Machine
In this activity, you will
build a planting machine out of recycled materials!
Supplies Required
- Toilet paper tube
- 10 small seeds
- Pencil
- Masking tape
- Scissors
- 2 large smoothie straws
- Cardboard pieces
The Challenge
Farms are very important to the food we eat! Planting trees and plants is one way to help the earth and build your farm! Often, when farmers plant large fields of plants, they use a mechanism to help space seeds evenly. See if you can engineer your own mechanical planting machine!
Problem and Solutions
[contact-form-7 id="18624" title="STEM book form ENG 1"]Let’s Experiment and Build!
Instructions
- Find an empty toilet paper tube or make a tube out of stiff paper.
- Decide where you want to place holes on your tube to hold seeds. Cut holes in your tube just big enough for your straw.
- Punch holes into the tube and insert a piece of a straw. Make sure that seeds (beads) are small enough that they can’t get stuck.
- Next, make wheels for your machine. Cut circles from cardboard or see what you have that could be used as a wheel.
- Secure the wheels to your tube. Make sure your machine is even and does not wobble when you roll it.
- Put a piece of masking tape sticky side up on a table. This tape is your testing zone.
- Roll your machine over the tape and track your results. Did your seeds drop in the location you thought they would? For far did it roll? Make some changes and see if you can improve your results.
Result, Reflection, and Redesign
[contact-form-7 id="18625" title="STEM book form ENG 2"]Think about it and Additional Resources
What are the benefits of the planting machine? Why do you think so many inventions have happened on the farm? What would farms be like if they didn’t have a machine and had to plant the seeds by hand?
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#SproutHouse
#ProjectExploration
#StemAtHome
Tag a friend and challenge them to do it, too!
For more activities like this one, go to www.projectexploration.org/stemhome. If you’re interested in learning more about Project Exploration and our free events, programs, and activities, please find us on social media and be sure to follow!
Call or text us for help: 312-772-6634
In these videos, you will learn…
- How a corn planter works
- About the mechanization of farm equipment