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Prosthetics and Performance Lab

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Grades 9-122-3 hoursSource: Creative Dad Company

Teens build two versions of a simple prosthetic-inspired hand or limb model—one focused purely on function and one on film-style visual effects—to see how differently real and movie engineering solve the same problem. It's a fascinating side-by-side comparison.

Choose your version

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

Prep: 10 minActivity: 30 min1 session~$2/groupOne table for the Prosthetics and Performance Lab evidence and prototypeBeginner-friendly

Setup

Print or handwrite the four Prosthetics and Performance Lab challenge steps and place common paper supplies on one table. Prepare one small sample, dataset, scenario, or recycled-material model drawn directly from the project description; no device, paid tool, room decoration, or purchased kit is required.

Activity

  1. Read the Prosthetics and Performance Lab challenge aloud, then study how a real prosthetic hand grips objects and predict what mechanism—strings, hinges, levers—could copy that motion cheaply.
  2. Use paper, index cards, recycled objects, or facilitator-provided sample data to build a functional version using straws and string as tendons, focused only on making it actually grip.
  3. Run one tabletop trial and test the functional version picking up different objects and discover it fails on a specific shape or weight, then adjust the mechanism.
  4. Finish by build a quick movie-prop version focused on looks instead of function, and present both side by side explaining what each version trades away; record the evidence that supports the decision.

Done when: The group completes a defensible Prosthetics and Performance Lab solution, records at least one test result or comparison, changes one claim or design in response, and supports its final decision with that evidence.

Materials

craft foam sheets, flexible drinking straws, string, hot glue, fabric scraps

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

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Study how a real prosthetic hand grips objects and predict what mechanism—strings, hinges, levers—could copy that motion cheaply.
  2. Build a functional version using straws and string as tendons, focused only on making it actually grip.
  3. Test the functional version picking up different objects and discover it fails on a specific shape or weight, then adjust the mechanism.
  4. Build a quick movie-prop version focused on looks instead of function, and present both side by side explaining what each version trades away.