Looking for some fun STEAM challenges? Look no further! Check out our Positive STEAM-ventor Challenge Cards, where positive mindset meets STEAM Challenges. It is a great way to infuse and foster a growth mindset through positive affirmations during creation activities.

We drew one of the cards and got the affirmation I CAN DO AMAZING THINGS with the challenge BUILD A STRUCTURE THAT CAN BALANCE ON YOUR HAND. With that in mind we got our inventors box out and got to building. 

This activity is a playful way to explore physics and engineering. The balancing sculptures  suspends, twists, hangs and slides simple objects in whimsical ways. Not only is this activity full of STEAM exploration, but it also has a funky name. Balancing sculptures are also called kinetic sculptures! Kinetic Sculptures are 3D art that moves. Pretty neat huh?

This activity allows children to explore complex physics and math concepts like stability, the centre of gravity and symmetry in surprising and hands-on ways. Plus, balancing sculptures are such a great way to use everyday and ordinary materials in new and whimsical ways. 

Now, Let’s start balancing!

How to make a balancing structure

What you need:

For Base:

• Objects that taper to a small point, such as pencils, bottles, markers, twigs, branches
• Something a little heavy to place the above item in like a container filled with rice or sand, half a lemon. 
• Or tape the item to something heavy like a pencil taped to a heavy jar or table. 

Objects to build your sculptures with:

Pull out your inventors box or go on a scavenger hunt and find any bits and bobs you can use. Here are a few suggestions:

• Bolts, nuts, screws, washers
• Bendy wires
• Toothpicks and small sticks
• Beads or buttons
• Feathers
• Binder clips
• LEGO
• Kitchen utensils tools
• Art supplies
• Food like cereal, fruits and vegetables
• Sticky tack
• Playdough
• Googly eyes. 

Binding objects:

• Tape
• Stapler
• Cardboard
• Sticky tack

How to:

This is an explorative activity so there is no right way of doing it. All you need to do is set up a base and get sculpting from your inventor box/scavenger hunt items. For some ideas and inspiration, check out the video below.  

The STEAM behind the fun:

This activity has so many fun concepts to learn from it. Here are a few of them

• Balance: is when weight is equally distributed so an object is able to stay in one position or suspended on something.
• Center of gravity: is the point where the weight is even on both sides. In the case of the sculptures, it was where the sculpture balanced on your finger or the stick. This is the point where something is able to balance. 

• Symmetry: is when something looks exactly the same on each side of a mirror or line.

Who knew using familiar objects in unexpected ways would result in such exciting and surprising artwork. We hope you enjoy this activity and do give us a shoutout over on Instagram or Facebook if you try it out. We would love to see your creations. Happy balancing!