Single SKU: 1824-59

10-Pack SKU: 1824-60

Design and build a hydraulic claw that works just like the games in an arcade. Move the upper cylinder and watch your claw open and close below. We have documents to get you started, but the final claw design up to you. Can you design a claw to pick up specific objects (worms, marshmallows, balls)? Take a look at the photos above for ideas and inspiration.

• Utilize the design and engineering process
• Encourage creativity, problem solving and critical thinking
• Learn about simple machines and fluid power
• Apply the scientific method
• Innovate (design and engineer your own unique claw)

For ages 12 and up, click here

If you are working with ages 5-11, you can choose how to complete the Hydraulic Claw Activity.

• Choice #1 Without Labs: Go straight from the Build Guide to the Engineering Challenges, skipping the Optional Pump It Up Lab . This option works well when you’re doing the activity outside of a classroom, in a Makerspace, as a self-directed activity, or just for fun.
• Choice #2 With Labs: Start with the Build Guide. After the build, an Optional Pump It Up Lab is available along the way to help you understand force and friction. With this choice, you can apply the knowledge of friction and forces to the Engineering Challenge. This option works well when you want to teach this activity to a class or during a class visit to a Makerspace.

MS Word or PDF - Which document format should you download? Always download the PDF document, unless you want to edit/change it. If you want to edit/change the document, download the MS Word (Microsoft Word™) version.

     Build Guide     

Start by creating an example Hydraulic Claw using Build Guide. This will be the design to get you going.

• Basic Build Guide: PDF or MS Word 

     Optional Lab     

• Pump it up Lab: PDF or MS Word-- Explore how to test, design, and build your own water pump mechanism. If you want to know more, download and complete the following labs. If not, move on to the Engineering Challenges. (Suggested Grade Levels: K-5)

     Engineering Challenge     

• Design & Engineering Challenge: : PDF or MS Word -- It’s time to redesign your example Hydraulic Claw to carry the most weight, sort and play some games.

     Optional Resources     

• Optional Scenario: Mariana Trench Deep Dive: Download the PowerPoint Presentation-- You've found it! A buried treasure in the Mariana Trench. How are you going to get back to land safely? Use the following scenario PowerPoint Presentation along with the Build Guide and Design & Engineering Challenge.

Engineering Notebooks

Available at two different learning levels, the TeacherGeek Engineering Notebooks are designed to help students cycle through the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. It is recommended that extra pages are printed and on-hand during activities.

• Simple Engineering Notebook: PDF
• Engineering Notebook: PDF

STEAM Market-It Challenge

Add the STEAM Market-It Challenge to any completed TeacherGeek activity to teach students how to turn their TeacherGeek design into a retail product. Students will learn the 4 'Ps' of marketing - Product, Placement, Price and Promotion. Students have the option of completing a commercial, a billboard or retail packaging as a summative assessment.

•  STEAM Market-It Challenge: PDF or MS Word

For ages 5-11, click here

If you are working with ages 5-11, you can choose how to complete the Hydraulic Claw Activity.

• Choice #1 Without Labs: Go straight from the Build Guide to the Engineering Challenges, skipping the Optional Fluid Power Lab . This option works well when you’re doing the activity outside of a classroom, in a Makerspace, as a self-directed activity, or just for fun.
• Choice #2 With Labs: Start with the Build Guide. After the build, an Optional Fluid Power Lab is available along the way to help you understand force and friction. With this choice, you can apply the knowledge of friction and forces to the Engineering Challenge. This option works well when you want to teach this activity to a class or during a class visit to a Makerspace.

MS Word or PDF - Which document format should you download? Always download the PDF document, unless you want to edit/change it. If you want to edit/change the document, download the MS Word (Microsoft Word™) version.

     Build Guide     

Start by creating an example Hydraulic Claw using Build Guide. This will be the design to get you going.

• Basic Build Guide: PDF or MS Word 

     Optional Lab     

>Fluid Power Lab: Explore how hydraulic and pneumatic power systems work. Want to know more? Download and complete the following labs. If not, move on to the Engineering Challenges.

• Fluid Power Lab (Imperial Units): PDF
• Fluid Power Lab Answer Key: PDF --Password protected.

     Engineering Challenge     

• Design & Engineering Challenge: : PDF or MS Word -- It’s time to redesign your example Hydraulic Claw to carry the most weight, sort and play some games.

     Optional Resources     

• Optional Scenario: Mariana Trench Deep Dive: Download the PowerPoint Presentation-- You've found it! A buried treasure in the Mariana Trench. How are you going to get back to land safely? Use the following scenario PowerPoint Presentation along with the Build Guide and Design & Engineering Challenge.

Engineering Notebooks

Available at two different learning levels, the TeacherGeek Engineering Notebooks are designed to help students cycle through the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. It is recommended that extra pages are printed and on-hand during activities.

• Simple Engineering Notebook: PDF
• Engineering Notebook: PDF

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What tools will you need to do this activity?

Sets of tools can be found here.

Make your claw even better by incorporating recycling bin materials.