Face the Fact…ory

From a wintery snow globe to the pencil at your desk, everything has to be created! Take a deep dive into how things get made and the inner workings of a factory with your students!

To start, agree on a specific object in the classroom that you want to know more about, like a box of pencils or a stuffed animal.

Then, as a class, research to find a video or article that shows the factory where it gets created (use this YouTube video which shows how crayons are made as inspiration).

Taking note of the mechanics, science and design of the factory in the video, ask students to create their own “factory” in the classroom!

First, decide what product your factory wants to design, and then use blocks, butcher paper, pipe cleaners or other open-ended materials to create it. You can even work with your students to set up different stations in your room to mimic a real factory.

As a class, use your imagination and creativity to produce something special, working together like inventors. Now your gears are turning!

To support this unit, use the A Toy-tastic Design Challenge Creativity Page.