Design and build a hydraulic claw that works just like the games in an arcade. Move the upper cylinder and watch your claw open and close below. We have documents to get you started, but the final claw design up to you. Can you design a claw to pick up specific objects (worms, marshmallows, balls)? Take a look at the photos above for ideas and inspiration.
This educational product pairs well with the Junk Drawer Robotics Curriculum and is suitable for all ages, however youth 12 and under may require adult supervision.
Activity Documents
Click on the flowchart to view documents from each category.
Go Guide:
Go Guide: PDF DOCX |
Give it to your kids and go! This is the essential document to get kids started with the Hydraulic Claw, and it culminates in the Ocean Cleanup Challenge. |
Labs:
Fluid Power Lab: |
Explore how hydraulic and pneumatic power systems work! Ages 12+. |
Challenges:
Go Guide: PDF DOCX |
Design your claw to clean the ocean, play “HORSE,” or Claw Ball! See the Go Guide document for challenge instructions. |
Engineering Notebook: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, Engineering Notebooks are designed to help kids 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:
STEAM Market-It Challenge: PDF DOCX |
Add the STEAM Market-It Challenge to any completed activity to teach kids how to turn their design into a retail product. Kids 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, Engineering Notebooks are designed to help kids 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. |
Optional Tools
Make even more innovative Claws with these optional tools!
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items,
etc.
Reamer
Ream teeth from
holes so dowels
spin freely.
Screw Driver
Drive screws
into holes.
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
Hydraulic Claw Components
What comes with Hydraulic Claw?
4x Connector Strips
1x Slide Stop (70 mm)
8x Screws (#10 25 mm)
4x Nuts (#10)
2x Cylinder Screws
4x Perpendicular Blocks
2x Cylinders (4.5 ml)
1x Tubing (380 mm)
4x Zip Ties
2x Dowels (150 mm)
4x Dowels (75 mm)
6x Dowels (5 cm)
This is an educational product and not a toy. It is intended for use by ages 6 and above with adult supervision.
Science, Math & Engineering Standards
Our engineering kits fit proposals, grants or lesson plans with ease! Explore more resources below:
NGSS Standards Spreadsheet: PDF DOCX |
NGSS standards matrix for all activities. |
ITEEA Standards Spreadsheet: PDF DOCX |
ITEEA standards matrix for all activities. |