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EngineeringScience

Broken Amusement Park

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Grades 3-560-75 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids are handed a set of broken simple-machine rides, like a lever that won't lift or a pulley that won't turn, and have to diagnose exactly what's wrong before fixing each one. It's a mechanically-minded scavenger hunt for troubleshooters.

Budget levels

Materials list coming soon to members

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only. $0 to buy. Printing is noted separately.

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Full Experience

Up to $25 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, priced per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Student time: 45 min, one class periodTeacher prep / build-ahead: 10 min$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.One table or a clear section of floorBeginner-friendly

Setup

Place common or recycled supplies for Broken Amusement Park on one work surface and choose a safe area for the test. Read the four activity directions aloud; drawings, paper models, and household substitutes may replace specialized materials, and no digital tool is required.

Activity

  1. Examine a broken ride's simple machine and predict which part is causing it to fail based on how it moves.
  2. Build a repaired version of the mechanism using the correct pulley, lever, or wheel arrangement.
  3. Test the repaired ride by running it several times, then redesign a part when it jams or still doesn't complete the motion correctly.
  4. Reopen the ride for a class demonstration, explaining what was broken and how the fix worked.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Done when: The group produces the Broken Amusement Park solution, completes the described test, makes the revision called for by the evidence, and supports its final explanation with an observed or measured result.

Materials

craft sticks, string, pulleys or spools, small wheels and axles, cardboard, tape, pre-built broken machine stations

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Steps

  1. Examine a broken ride's simple machine and predict which part is causing it to fail based on how it moves.
  2. Build a repaired version of the mechanism using the correct pulley, lever, or wheel arrangement.
  3. Test the repaired ride by running it several times, then redesign a part when it jams or still doesn't complete the motion correctly.
  4. Reopen the ride for a class demonstration, explaining what was broken and how the fix worked.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · 3-PS2-2

    Make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.