Free teacher web sites for Design and Technology topic ‘Moving Toys’

Good simple un-pickable demonstration of how a cam works in a toy. Beats trying to track down transparent toys down the High Street at the weekend.

External link: All About Cams

• suitable for class use

Range of helpful resources including movie files that aims to teach Y5 and Y6 children about gears and how they work.

External link: All About Gears

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Attractive online versions of the Flying Pig 'cut-out and make' packs you may have seen in the shops. Good animations that show what may be achieved in terms of cams, axles etc.

External link: Complex animated cardboard models

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Excellent and simple demo of making lever linkages with card and split pins. A real gem, voiced-over with care and clarity.

External link: Lever Linkages

• suitable for class use

Nothing very fancy here, just a useful set of movies of fairground rides. Some evidently complex mechanisms in place that may be simplified for pupils' use. Videos seem to be in a variety of formats but mainly mpeg. Click on the thumbnail images of rides to download the videos - make sure your media player is up to date.

External link: Movies of fairground rides

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Nice descriptions and explanations of moving toys, hidden a bit in the midst of a story about catching a rat-type creature. Clear diagrams.

External link: Moving Toy Mechanisms

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Selection of moving toys, made from wood and card. Some resources to purchase as well, but there is plenty online free of charge.

External link: Moving Toys - animations

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use

Lovely wooden kits for sale via this site, but you can use it on the white board to show your class animations of their lovely wooden models. To see the videos, which are of a good high quality, click on one of the model photos then click Watch Video (top right).

External link: Moving Wooden Toys - animations

• suitable for class use

Excellent simple sequence of screens that demonstrate clearly how a cam mechanism works.

External link: Operate a Cam mechanism

• suitable for class use

• suitable for teachers’ personal use