12 reusable techniques

Workshop Missions skill cards

Learn just enough technique when it becomes useful, then return to the open mission with your own design choices intact.

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1

Connect

Join materials so they can be taken apart and reused.

Short demonstration

  1. Align two materials over a safe work surface.
  2. Choose a reusable fastener and make a loose first connection.
  3. Check alignment, tighten by hand, and reverse the connection to prove it can be reused.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Reusable cardboard screw
  • Hand driver
  • Binder clip
  • Hook-and-loop tab

Quick learner check

Can you take the joint apart and rebuild it without tearing the material?

Safety

  • Keep fingers clear of the driver tip.
  • Return small fasteners after the check.

Common mistakes

  • Over-tightening crushes cardboard.
  • A joint is hidden where it cannot be repaired.

Troubleshooting

The joint twists

Add a second connection point or a wider joining plate.

The cardboard tears

Move the connection away from the edge and add a spacer.

K2 Explorer

Join it, wiggle it, and ask an adult to help with small pieces.

G3 5 Maker

Make a reusable joint and test it with a gentle wiggle.

G6 8 Inventor

Choose fastener spacing that controls rotation and remains serviceable.

G9 12 Innovator

Justify the joint for load path, maintenance, and reuse.

2

Brace

Use triangles, folds, ribs, and cross-bracing to add strength.

Short demonstration

  1. Build two equal frames.
  2. Brace one with a triangle, fold, rib, or cross-piece.
  3. Apply the same gentle load and compare movement.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Corrugated-cardboard panel
  • L-bracket
  • Straight joining plate
  • Craft stick

Quick learner check

Can you show where the brace redirects force?

Safety

  • Add loads gradually over the grid mat.
  • Stop before parts snap or spring loose.

Common mistakes

  • Adding material without connecting it to the force path.
  • Changing several variables in one comparison.

Troubleshooting

The frame racks sideways

Add a diagonal brace between opposite corners.

A panel buckles

Fold an edge or add a rib across the weak direction.

K2 Explorer

Find the wobbly place and add a strong triangle or fold.

G3 5 Maker

Compare one braced and one unbraced shape.

G6 8 Inventor

Trace the force path and record deflection under equal load.

G9 12 Innovator

Optimize stiffness-to-material use and document the failure mode.

3

Hinge

Create controlled rotation with pivots, hinges, and stops.

Short demonstration

  1. Connect a moving panel to a fixed frame.
  2. Mark the rotation axis.
  3. Add stops and test the useful angle range.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Hinge
  • Nylon thumb screws, nuts, and washers hardware set
  • Adjustable angle bracket
  • Angle guide

Quick learner check

Does it turn only where intended and stop safely?

Safety

  • Keep fingers away from pinch points.
  • Move the hinge slowly during the first test.

Common mistakes

  • Hinge axes are not aligned.
  • There is no stop to protect the user or mechanism.

Troubleshooting

The hinge binds

Loosen the pivot and align all hinge axes.

The panel swings too far

Add an adjustable bracket or cardboard stop.

K2 Explorer

Open and close it slowly with an adult watching the pinch place.

G3 5 Maker

Measure how far the hinged part moves.

G6 8 Inventor

Tune pivot friction and stop position for repeated use.

G9 12 Innovator

Analyze range, torque, pinch risk, and service access.

4

Roll

Build a free-spinning wheel and axle with hubs and collars.

Short demonstration

  1. Support an axle at two aligned points.
  2. Add hubs, wheels, and collars without squeezing the wheel.
  3. Roll over a marked distance and observe drift.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Passive axle
  • Passive wheel
  • Axle bushing or collar
  • Hub
  • 15 cm ruler

Quick learner check

Can the model roll freely and repeat a similar path?

Safety

  • Keep long hair and loose clothing away from wheels.
  • Roll on the floor or low table, never toward stairs.

Common mistakes

  • Axle supports are not parallel.
  • Collars rub against the wheel.

Troubleshooting

A wheel does not spin

Create a small gap between wheel, collar, and frame.

The model curves

Realign the axles and compare wheel diameters.

K2 Explorer

Spin each big wheel and watch which one rubs.

G3 5 Maker

Build an axle and measure a straight roll.

G6 8 Inventor

Measure drift over repeated trials and isolate alignment causes.

G9 12 Innovator

Optimize rolling resistance, tracking, and maintainability.

5

Drive

Connect motor, bracket, hub, wheel, battery, and controller.

Short demonstration

  1. Mount the motor before adding power.
  2. Connect motor, controller, and battery with the switch off.
  3. Clear the motion area, switch on briefly, then switch off before changing parts.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Low-voltage geared motor
  • Motor bracket
  • Hub
  • Matching drive wheel
  • Protected motor, sensor, and servo controller
  • AA battery pack

Quick learner check

Can you name the safe power-off step before adjustment?

Safety

  • Switch power off before every connection change.
  • Adults control powered motion for K-2 learners.

Common mistakes

  • Power is connected before the mechanism is secure.
  • The hub does not match the motor shaft.

Troubleshooting

The motor does not move

Switch off, check battery direction and color-coded leads, then retry.

The wheel slips

Switch off and reseat the matching hub and wheel.

K2 Explorer

An adult connects power; you point to the safe moving zone.

G3 5 Maker

With adult approval, check the motor mount and use the on/off switch.

G6 8 Inventor

Diagnose the powered chain one connection at a time.

G9 12 Innovator

Document power boundaries, load behavior, and safe failure recovery.

6

Transfer Motion

Use gears, pulleys, belts, cams, cranks, and linkages.

Short demonstration

  1. Choose an input and desired output motion.
  2. Connect one transfer mechanism from the assortment.
  3. Turn by hand first and mark speed, direction, or motion-shape changes.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Large gears
  • Small gears
  • Pulleys
  • Belts
  • Cams
  • Cranks
  • Linkage strips

Quick learner check

Can you describe how the output motion differs from the input?

Safety

  • Hand-test every mechanism before adding power.
  • Keep fingers clear of gear and linkage pinch points.

Common mistakes

  • Gears mesh too tightly.
  • A linkage reaches a locked straight line.

Troubleshooting

The mechanism jams

Disconnect power, turn by hand, and add clearance at the tight point.

The belt slips

Align pulleys and adjust spacing without over-stretching the belt.

K2 Explorer

Turn it by hand and watch what moves next.

G3 5 Maker

Choose a gear, pulley, cam, or crank and compare its motion.

G6 8 Inventor

Tune ratio, alignment, or linkage geometry through repeated tests.

G9 12 Innovator

Model transmission choices and document efficiency and failure tradeoffs.

7

Move Precisely

Use a servo to point, open, close, lift, or move a linkage.

Short demonstration

  1. Secure the servo in its bracket with power off.
  2. Attach a horn and lightweight output.
  3. Calibrate a small angle range before increasing travel.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Position servo
  • Servo horn set
  • Servo bracket
  • Protected motor, sensor, and servo controller
  • Color-coded lead or extension cable

Quick learner check

Does the output reach the target without pressing against a stop?

Safety

  • Keep power off while fitting the horn.
  • Start with a small travel angle to avoid pinching or stalling.

Common mistakes

  • The horn is installed before center calibration.
  • The commanded range pushes into a hard stop.

Troubleshooting

The servo buzzes at the end

Switch off and reduce the commanded angle range.

The pointer starts in the wrong place

Center the servo, switch off, then reposition the horn.

K2 Explorer

An adult connects the servo; you choose two safe pointing places.

G3 5 Maker

Use a block-code angle and check two positions.

G6 8 Inventor

Calibrate repeatable positions and record error.

G9 12 Innovator

Quantify accuracy, load, backlash, and safe travel limits.

8

Sense

Read touch, motion, light, sound, distance, or a dial.

Short demonstration

  1. Name the condition to notice.
  2. Read one sensor safely and observe its range.
  3. Choose a threshold only after collecting several values.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • BBC micro:bit V2
  • Distance sensor
  • Rotary dial
  • Push button
  • Protected motor, sensor, and servo controller

Quick learner check

What does the sensor notice, and what might fool it?

Safety

  • Use only listed sensors and protected ports.
  • Do not point the distance sensor at eyes at close range.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a threshold from one reading.
  • Confusing a sensor reading with the real-world condition itself.

Troubleshooting

Readings jump

Hold the setup still, repeat, and use a range rather than one exact value.

The value never changes

Check the selected input and connection with power off.

K2 Explorer

Watch an adult show how the kit notices a button, light, or movement.

G3 5 Maker

Collect a few readings before choosing a simple trigger.

G6 8 Inventor

Calibrate thresholds and record false triggers.

G9 12 Innovator

Analyze uncertainty, bias, privacy, and failure consequences.

9

Signal

Communicate with light, sound, movement, symbols, or touch.

Short demonstration

  1. Choose a message and intended user.
  2. Create two different ways to communicate it.
  3. Ask the user what they understood without revealing the intended answer first.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • LED module
  • Buzzer
  • Accessibility icon
  • Symbol
  • Position servo

Quick learner check

Can a user understand the message in more than one way?

Safety

  • Keep sound brief and comfortable.
  • Avoid flashing patterns that could be unsafe.

Common mistakes

  • Relying on color alone.
  • Testing with a leading question.

Troubleshooting

Users miss the signal

Increase contrast or add a second communication mode.

Users misunderstand it

Change the symbol, timing, or wording and test again.

K2 Explorer

Show the message with a shape, movement, light, or gentle sound.

G3 5 Maker

Use two signal modes and ask what a partner understands.

G6 8 Inventor

Measure recognition and false-alarm rates across users.

G9 12 Innovator

Evaluate accessibility, urgency, consent, and signal fatigue.

10

Code

Use sequences, conditions, variables, thresholds, and loops.

Short demonstration

  1. Describe behavior as input, decision, and output.
  2. Build the smallest sequence that can be tested.
  3. Change one value and observe whether behavior matches the prediction.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • BBC micro:bit V2
  • USB cable
  • Protected motor, sensor, and servo controller

Quick learner check

Can you trace what happens from input to decision to output?

Safety

  • Test powered output with a clear motion area.
  • Switch off before changing wiring.

Common mistakes

  • Changing code and hardware at the same time.
  • A loop has no safe stop condition.

Troubleshooting

Nothing happens

Show one diagnostic icon, then check input and output separately.

It triggers constantly

Log readings and move the threshold away from normal noise.

K2 Explorer

Tell an adult the first, next, and last action; code is optional.

G3 5 Maker

Build a short block sequence or condition when it improves the idea.

G6 8 Inventor

Use variables, thresholds, and loops with diagnostic output.

G9 12 Innovator

Compare block, Python, or JavaScript implementations and document failure handling.

11

Test

Set criteria, run trials, compare evidence, and record failure.

Short demonstration

  1. Write one observable criterion before testing.
  2. Run the same procedure more than once.
  3. Record a failure as evidence and choose one change.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Design-criteria cards
  • Comparison charts
  • Failure and revision log
  • Grid work mat

Quick learner check

Can another group repeat your procedure and compare results?

Safety

  • Stop a trial when the setup becomes unsafe.
  • Use known test loads and keep faces away from stressed parts.

Common mistakes

  • Changing the procedure between trials.
  • Hiding a failed result.

Troubleshooting

Results vary widely

Check what changed between trials and increase the trial count.

The criterion cannot be scored

Rewrite it as something observable or measurable.

K2 Explorer

Try it once with an adult, say what happened, and choose one change.

G3 5 Maker

Set a basic criterion, record simple evidence, and improve once.

G6 8 Inventor

Run repeated trials and explain a tradeoff with evidence.

G9 12 Innovator

Analyze variability, limitations, and the defensible next test.

12

Remix

Credit an idea, change a constraint, combine functions, and improve it.

Short demonstration

  1. Name and link the source idea.
  2. Choose one constraint or function to change.
  3. Test the changed version and record what is different.

Suggested items

Ask your teacher which materials are available for this technique.

  • Design journal
  • QR/project card
  • Evidence pages

Quick learner check

Can someone see the source credit and the meaningful change?

Safety

  • Recheck safety after changing a mechanism or user.
  • Do not copy personal details from another learner's record.

Common mistakes

  • Removing source credit.
  • Changing decoration without changing a function or constraint.

Troubleshooting

The remix feels identical

Change a real constraint, intended user, or combined function.

Credit is unclear

Link the source and write one sentence naming what was kept and changed.