The Dancing Doll is a paper doll that fits on the top of a box. It turns around when a hand crank is activated. Inside the box there is a mechanism that makes the motion.
The Dancing Doll example is designed for children from 4 to 7 years old. Teachers can adapt the idea to other ages.
When constructing the Dancing Doll several learning goals can be achieved:
- To learn about physics and mechanisms, in particular, mechanical energy and transferring energy from the manual turning of a handle into making the doll move.
- To develop engineering competences of analysis and construction.
- To learn mathematical concepts within the construction and assembly process, including shapes and numbers.
- To learn biology concepts about parts of the human body.
- Other soft-learning goals can be included; problem solving and creativity.
- Instructions – how to use the Dancing Doll to teach STEM concepts and Step by step guide – click here
- Template to be printed on paper (see image below to download)
- Video tutorial (see video above)
Pedagogical guidelines and construction instructions English
Scarica le linee guida pedagogiche e le istruzioni per la costruzione – Italiano
Bailarina – Download the step by step guide in PORTUGUESE here
Den dansende dukka – last ned veiledningen til konstruksjon og didaktisk bruk på NORSK her
Танцуваща кукла – Инструкции за изработване
Print this template on paper or card
Click here to download the template
Other themes and characters can be used instead of Dancing Doll. It can be a figure balancing, a bird, a carousel, smiling vs sad face or whatever teachers and children can imagine.