We've all lost more than a few quarters to the arcade claw machines.With the
TeacherGeek Hydraulic Claw, you can forget the coins and create your very own
remote-controlled fluid-powered grabber.
This is way more than just a toy claw. TeacherGeek's build system and the
included extra parts allow kids to tinker with their claw, learning through
experimentation and applying their findings to change their design to complete
new challenges.
Each Hydraulic Claw Activity comes with a printed Go-Guide that gets kids inspired and creating their own unique designs. TeacherGeek also hosts a ton of free science labs and engineering challenges to deepen students' understanding of fluid power and ocean conservancy!
Scroll down to "Things You'll Need" for more info.
Age Range
Customize this activity for the highlighted ages with tons of free labs and challenges!
This is an educational product and not a toy. Adult supervision is required.
Videos
Documents
Click on the flowchart to view documents from each category.
Go Guide:
Give it to your students and go! This is the essential document to get students started with the Hydraulic Claw.
|
Go Guide: English: PDF DOCX Videos Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Start here! Build your claw, evolve your design, and begin an engineering challenge! |
Labs:
|
Fluid Power Lab: PDF ANSWERS |
Explore how hydraulic and pneumatic power systems work. Ages 12+. |
Challenges:
Build a claw to clean up the ocean, challenge your friends to a game of "Claw Ball," or "HORSE!"
See the Go Guide document for challenge instructions.
|
Ocean Cleanup Challenge: PDF DOCX Videos |
Challenge instructions are included in the Go Guide document. |
|
Engineering Notebooks: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, TeacherGeek Engineering Notebooks are designed to help students cycle through the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. We recommend keeping extra copies of this on-hand for kids during activities. |
Other Resources:
|
STEM Rubric: PDF | DOCX |
Use the STEM Rubric to assess any TeacherGeek project. |
|
STEAM Market-It Challenge: PDF DOCX |
Add the STEAM Market-It Challenge to any completed TeacherGeek activity to teach students how to turn their TeacherGeek design into a retail product. Students will learn the 4 'Ps' of marketing - Product, Placement, Price and Promotion. Students have the option of completing a commercial, a billboard or retail packaging as a summative assessment. |
|
Engineering Notebooks: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, TeacherGeek Engineering Notebooks are designed to help students cycle through the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. We recommend keeping extra copies of this on-hand for kids during activities. |
Things You'll Need
You're going to need some stuff, but don't sweat it! You probably have it already.
Click a tab below to choose how you will complete this activity - that determines what you'll need.
You're in the right tab!
TeacherGeek Tools
REQUIRED
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
optional
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- Recycling Bin Materials (to make the grabber/gripper)
- Tape
- Container of Water (to fill you cylinders)
- String (optional)
You're in the right tab!
You will need to pre-cut the dowels for this activity, or your kids can cut them (with adult supervision).
TeacherGeek Tools
REQUIRED
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
REQUIRED
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- Recycling Bin Materials (to make the grabber/gripper)
- Tape
- Container of Water (to fill you cylinders)
- String (optional)
You're in the right tab!
Make sure you have the right components - check the Go Guide (see above).
You will need to pre-cut the dowels for this activity, or your kids can cut them (with adult supervision).
TeacherGeek Tools
REQUIRED
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
REQUIRED
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- Recycling Bin Materials (to make the grabber/gripper)
- Tape
- Container of Water (to fill you cylinders)
- String (optional)
Activity Pack Components
What comes with the Hydraulic Claw?
The table shows what comes in each single kit. To see what comes in a 10-pack, just multiply by 10.| Component | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
 |
#10 25mm Screw | 8 |
 |
#10 Hex Nut | 4 |
 |
Cylinder Screw | 2 |
 |
4.5ml Project Cylinder | 2 |
 |
Connector Strip | 4 |
 |
Dowel - 15 cm (6 in) | 2 |
|
Dowel - 8 cm (3 in) | 4 |
|
Dowel - 5 cm (2 in) | 6 |
 |
Perpendicular Block | 4 |
 |
Slide Stop - 8 cm (3 in) | 1 |