Riveting stuff

how many people have a tub of old nuts and bolts hidden in some dark and dusty crevice at the back of the garden shed or garage? Furthermore, how many refuse to throw them out because one day they know they will come in useful for something? That day has come!

Here are some games and activities for children to try using all those assorted nuts and bolts.

Construction

You will need:

* Wide variety of nuts and bolts J Selection of materials (woods, metals and plastics)

* Selection of appropriate tools (spanners, vice, drill)

Nuts and bolts provide a basic but secure method for children to join materials together, particularly wooden, metal or plastic objects.

Engineering play can be very flexible because children can construct, deconstruct and reconstruct objects over and over again.

Children will surprise you with the elaborate structures they build, as long as a variety of nuts and bolts and basic construction materials are freely available. Creations can include houses, bridges, boats, planes, go-karts, windmills, wheelbarrows, guns, dolls, cars - just about anything!

GAMES

Nut and bolt race

You will need:

* Wide variety of nuts and bolts * Plenty of floor space * A whistle

What to do:

1 For this fast and energetic game, split the children into two even-numbered teams and then divide the teams into two groups, facing each other at opposite ends of the room.

2 One group from a team hold a selection of nuts, while the other group from that team have a selection of corresponding bolts. Both teams have the same type and quantity of nuts and bolts.

3 When the whistle is blown, a player from each 'nut' group skims a nut across the floor to their fellow 'bolt' group. From here the 'bolt' group have to match the nut to one of their bolts by screwing them together before they then have to skim a bolt back to their fellow 'nut' group members, who likewise match a nut and bolt.

4 Each team continues to do this until the first team to match all their nuts and bolts correctly win the game.

CRAFTS

Nut jewellery

You will need:

* A wide variety of nuts * Elastic *Enamel paint * Metal spray paint * Paint brushes (fine tipped)

What to do

:

1 Pre-spray the nuts with a base colour so that children can then decorate them with enamel paint.

2 Allow the nuts to dry before threading on to lengths of elastic.

3 Tie the elastic to the correct length for a bracelet or necklace.

Extension activity:

Children could also make decorative keyrings.

Model people

You will need:

* A wide and varied selection of nuts and bolts * A soldering iron with solder

* Fireproof safety mat/surface * Enamel paints (or spray paints) * Paint brushes (medium and fine tipped) * Safety goggles

What to do:

1 Support children in soldering nuts and bolts together to make a 'person'

involved in some pose, activity or position. This could be a person doing some form of sporting activity, or perhaps a hobby.

2 Advise children to lay out their model before starting soldering, and make sure safety mats are used to avoid burning the work surface.

3 Allow each item to cool down before adding the next nut or bolt to make sure you get a good bond.

4 Once fully cooled, the models can be painted and mounted on a board.

Extension activity:

Instead of soldering, superglue or a mini-welding torch can be used.

EXPERIMENTATION

Magnetism

You will need:

* A variety of nuts and bolts * A selection of magnets * Plastic storage tray

Allow children to experiment and discover the properties of magnets by using nuts and bolts and building magnetised structures. Through this basic experimental play, children will be learning core scientific principles, including how magnets attract and repel.

Philip Waters is a freelance playwork trainer and consultant based in Cornwall