Gears Tinker Set
What happens when gears are connected? Do they rotate together, at the same speed, direction or with similar force? Truly experience gears through this activity; growing understanding through tinkering, experimentation and even engineering amusement park rides.
This activity comes with downloadable engineering challenges and optional labs. Optional activities teach about fractions, ratios, proportions and mechanical advantage.
This activity was updated 10/29/2020! If you ordered before this date, The TeacherGeek Maker Tool Set is required for construction.
Scroll down to "Things You'll Need" for more info.
Age Range
Customize this activity for the highlighted ages with tons of free labs and challenges!
This is an educational product and not a toy. Adult supervision is required.
Videos
Documents
Click on the flowchart to view documents from each category.
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Set Up Guide: English: PDF DOCX Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Get started with Gears by creating your base and adding gear shafts. Once this part is done, use and re-use your base and gears year-after-year for different labs and challenges! |
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Fraction Lab: English: PDF DOCX Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Students use gears as a manipulative to learn about fractions. Covers all 3rd grade CCSS fraction standards; recommended for Grades 3-4. |
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Ratio & Proportion Lab: English: PDF DOCX Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Students investigate gear ratios, proportions, and how the number of gears affects the direction they spin. Recommended for Grades 6-8. |
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Mechanical Advantage Reference Sheet: PDF DOCX |
Students feel mechanical advantage and have the option of calculating it. This is a great resource to use concurrently with a challenge. |
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Obstacle Course Challenge: English: PDF DOCX Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Students design a moving, spinning obstacle course! Recommended for Grades 1-3. |
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Kinetic Sculpture Challenge: English: PDF DOCX Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Students use gears to make interactive art or dioramas. Recommended for Grades 1-5. |
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Amusement Park Challenge: English: PDF DOCX Spanish: PDF DOCX |
Students design as many amusement park rides as possible. Recommended for Grades 3-8. |
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Engineering Notebook: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, 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. We recommend keeping extra copies of this on-hand for kids during activities. |
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Mechanical Advantage Reference Sheet: PDF DOCX |
Students feel mechanical advantage and have the option of calculating it. This is a great resource to use concurrently with a challenge. |
Other Resources:
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STEM Rubric: PDF | DOCX |
Use the STEM Rubric to assess any TeacherGeek project. |
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Classroom Overview: PDF DOCX |
See the CCSS for Math, CCSS for ELA, and NGSS standards, plus a couple tips to help get you started in your classroom. |
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Mechanical Advantage Reference Sheet: PDF DOCX |
Students feel mechanical advantage and have the option of calculating it. This is a great resource to use concurrently with a challenge. |
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STEAM Market-It Challenge: PDF DOCX |
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. |
|
Engineering Notebooks: Simple Version Full Version |
Available at two different learning levels, 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. We recommend keeping extra copies of this on-hand for kids during activities. |
Things You'll Need
You're going to need some stuff, but don't sweat it! You probably have it already.
Click a tab below to choose how you will complete this activity - that determines what you'll need.
You're in the right tab!
TeacherGeek Tools
optional
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
optional
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- Scissors
- Recycling Bin Materials (for challenges)
- Sculpture Supplies (if doing Kinetic Sculpture Challenge)
- Dry Erase Marker (if doing Fraction Lab)
You're in the right tab!
You will need to pre-cut the dowels for this activity, or your kids can cut them (with adult supervision).
TeacherGeek Tools
optional
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
REQUIRED
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- Recycling Bin Materials (for challenges)
- Sculpture Supplies (if doing Kinetic Sculpture Challenge)
- Dry Erase Marker (if doing Fraction Lab)
You're in the right tab!
Make sure you have the right components - check the Go Guide (see above).
You will need to pre-cut the dowels for this activity, or your kids can cut them (with adult supervision).
TeacherGeek Tools
optional
Screw Driver
Drive screws into holes.
optional
Slip Joint Pliers
Grab nuts, bend
wires, etc.
REQUIRED
Multi-Cutter
Cut dowels, strips,
recycling bin items, etc.
optional
Reamer
Ream splines (teeth),
from holes so
dowels spin freely.
optional
Mini Hammer
Tap dowels into
other components.
Other Supplies
- Scissors
- Recycling Bin Materials (for challenges)
- Sculpture Supplies (if doing Kinetic Sculpture Challenge)
- Dry Erase Marker (if doing Fraction Lab)
Activity Pack Components
What comes with the Gears Tinker Set?
The table shows what comes in each single kit. To see what comes in a 10-pack, just multiply by 10.| Component | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
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Connector Strip | 2 |
 |
Dowel - 30 cm (12 in) | 2 |
|
Dowel - 15 cm (6 in) | 2 |
|
Dowel - 10 cm (4 in) | 2 |
|
Dowel - 8 cm (3 in) | 4 |
|
Dowel - 5 cm (2 in) | 12 |
 |
Hole Plate | 2 |
 |
Mixed Gear | 2 sets |
 |
Perpendicular Block | 10 |
 |
Slide Stop - 8 cm (3 in) | 1 |
Science, Math & Engineering Standards
TeacherGeek products fit proposals, grants or lesson plans with ease! Explore more resources below:
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NGSS Standards Spreadsheet: PDF DOCX |
NGSS standards matrix for all TeacherGeek activities. |
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ITEEA Standards Spreadsheet: PDF DOCX |
ITEEA standards matrix for all TeacherGeek activities. |
