Why set K'NEX challenges?

All K'NEX sets, in common with other construction kits, provide detailed pictorial instructions showing how specific models may be built.

These are fine for getting started, and building models step-by-step from instructions does initially provide some enjoyment and satisfaction to K'NEX users. Such an approach in our view, though, only scratches the surface of the potential of the K'NEX construction kit.

In 1996 the founder of the K'NEX User Group, Andy Shercliff, introduced the much more exciting concept of "K'NEX challenges", in which a K'NEX model must be built to meet a stated objective, without any instructions being provided. An example would be "build a K'NEX mousetrap that can catch a mouse without hurting it".

In completing such a "challenge", we encourage participants (children, adults or families) to adopt the following "product development cycle":

1. Understand objectives
2. Design product
3. Build prototype
4. Test prototype
5. Improve prototype and re-test (repeat this stage as often as required)
6. Product completion

This is a more challenging approach than simply following instructions, but properly done it is more educational, and gives a greater sense of achievement.

All the "Traditional" K'NEX challenges in this website are based on this approach. We define the Objective of the challenge, and then give some Handy Hints that may help the children as they proceed to complete a finished product to their own design.

We find the Design stage is usually done in the children's heads, plus discussion if children are working in pairs. Some teachers prefer a more formal design stage using paper and pencil, and this can certainly encourage children to think through their design before they start.

Prototyping is critical - no-one should expect to produce a perfect finished model first time, and sometimes it is even necessary to 'go back to the drawing board' if a design idea simply does not work well enough.

Teachers (and at home, parents) can be particularly helpful in this process:

a. To help the children get started with design and then with construction

b. To offer advice and assistance upon request

c. To help the children ensure that the model really does meet the original objectives (eg that the mouse caught in the mousetrap challenge is not hurt)

We recommend delivering K'NEX challenges in five phases:

1. Preparation

2. Introduction

3. Designing and Building

4. Conclusion

5. Follow-on

These five phases are described lower down this page. Please note that 60-90 minutes is usually sufficient to complete a Challenge, but some may take longer than others, particularly if all the suggested 'Conclusion' activities are used.

Educational settings

Note we refer mainly to "children" completing challenges, in school.

However, K'NEX challenges are also widely used in many other Educational settings, such as at home, in family learning and in adult education.

Layout of challenge sheets

Each of the 20 challenge sheets in this website has the sections shown below. View the Mousetrap challenge to see an example of a Challenge sheet.

Title: The best title is one that is short and meaningful, and maybe also amusing (depending on your sense of humour!).

Aim: A short description of the aim of the challenge, using language which should be appropriate to the age of the participants attempting the challenge.

Levels of difficulty: K'NEX challenges are nearly always completed by groups of children and/or adults of mixed ability, and often also of mixed ages. The purpose of the three levels of difficulty is to ensure that all challenge participants can enjoy success by completing the first level of difficulty, whereas more able participants can also be stretched by attempting level 2 and level 3.

Equipment: List of K'NEX and any other equipment required.

Safety: Any particularly important safety issues that must be considered in delivering this challenge. Note that we would strongly recommend that you carry out your own risk analysis before attempting any K'NEX challenges.

Test Area: Any area that is required to test the challenge at level of difficulty 1, 2 or 3.

Approach: Some ideas on how to approach the challenge, at each level of difficulty.

Handy Hints: Assistance with specific building techniques that may assist participants to complete the challenge. (see Handy Hints)

The following sections are for the staff delivering the challenge, and are not usually shown to participants.

Educational objective: The objective in setting the challenge from an educational point of view.

Before starting: Any activity that can usefully be carried out with participants before they start the challenge (eg looking at real-life examples)

Conclusion: Follow-on activities that can be provided to participants after the challenge is completed, either immediately at the conclusion of the challenge, or in the following days or weeks.

Note for educationalists: We suggest that, once you have chosen the challenge(s) that best meet your needs, you "fine-tune" the challenges. (eg to make the wording more appropriate for the age and background of your participants).

Preparation

In preparing for your K'NEX challenge we would suggest the following three steps:

1. Select a challenge that:

a. meets your educational objectives

b. is within the capabilities of your children (including any children with Special Educational Needs)

c. Can be completed with the K'NEX you have available

Challenges are typically selected from this website; from our 101 K'NEX Challenges guide; or by inventing them yourself.

2. Use the Challenge Sheet to:

a. Ensure that you have the necessary equipment

b. Set up any Test Area required

c. Look through the Handy Hints and Troubleshooting Tips for the Challenge

d. Attempt the Challenge yourself, perhaps by using the photo as a guide

Introduction

Your introduction to the challenge will depend upon factors such as the Educational setting in which you are working, the age of the children, their existing knowledge of the Key topics, and the teacher's own style.

The following checklist may assist:

1. We suggest you carry out any "Before starting" activities before you allow the children to open their boxes of K'NEX.

2. Ask which children have used K'NEX before (this helps identify the children who will need most help to get started with completing the challenge)

3. Explain that K'NEX is easy to use, and demonstrate the three ways of connecting K'NEX rods to K'NEX connectors (see Handy Hint A2).

4. Demonstrate any other Handy Hints listed for the Challenge which you think would help the children to get started

5. Explain Level 1 of the Challenge in your own words, using the Challenge Sheet as a guide

6. Tell the children that you will be coming around to help them if they are not sure how to get started, and ask them to put their hand up if they get stuck at any time

7. Allow the children to open their sets, and experiment with the contents until they are confident enough to make a start on the Challenge

Note that we do not ourselves usually give copies of the Challenge Sheets to the children, but rather we use the Sheet as a 'crib sheet' for the teacher. Some teachers may prefer though to print the top half of the Challenge Sheet for their children.

Designing and Building

The next phase is to allow the children to design and build a model that will meet the objectives of the challenge.

The amount and type of help given to the children during this Designing and Building phase is at the discretion of the teacher. In general, we find it is best to choose a balance between giving too little help (and causing frustration) and giving too much help (and losing some of the educational benefit).

We find most help is needed in getting the children started with using K'NEX (particularly if it is new to them), and in planning the design of their model.

Thereafter, constantly circulating around the tables to give assistance when requested works well. The Handy Hints listed on the Challenge Sheet may help.

As the pairs of children progress, they will eventually reach a point where they believe they have completed Level 1 of the Challenge. If you are happy that they have done so, Level 2 of the Challenge can be explained to them, and if they complete that, Level 3.

One concern that children often have is whether they are allowed to copy good ideas which other children in the class have built into their models. We tend to encourage this - it is in any case very difficult to prevent - provided that the pair have first attempted to solve the design issue for themselves. An example is level 3 on Windmills - making a hammer go up and down as the sail turns. This involves both a lever and a cam, and the children learn nearly as much by copying a successful solution as they would have by coming up with the idea themselves.

Conclusion

The purpose of the Conclusion phase is to use the models the children have built to carry out further tasks, thereby extending the educational value of the session.

There usually comes a point after (say) 80% of the session when the state of progress around the classroom means that the Building phase can be brought to a close, and the Conclusion phase can commence.

The teacher is then able to call a halt to building, review with the class what has been achieved, and start the Conclusion activities. The ones shown on the Challenge Sheets are only guidelines - the teacher may well have other ideas for conclusion activities that fit in better with the children's current level of knowledge, the themes being followed, and the specific educational objectives.

It is also worth noting that in most Challenges the Designing and Building phase is primarily a Design and Technology activity, whereas the Conclusion phase is often the stage at which:

1. the Science underpinning the Challenge can be discussed and reinforced

2. investigative science experiments can be carried out using the models that have been built

3. diagrams, tables of results, graphs and written descriptions can be prepared

For example, the Crane challenge requires Designing Skills and Making Skills, and develops the child's knowledge and understanding of Structures. The principles of Balanced and Unbalanced forces underpin this Challenge, in that unbalanced forces cause unsuccessful models to fall over when they pick up a weight, whereas in successful ones the forces are balanced.

It is therefore important not to let the Designing and Building phase go on too long, if the opportunity to gain maximum educational benefit from the Challenge is not to be lost.

Once the Conclusion activities are complete, we would recommend that the children are asked to dismantle their models, and put all the pieces back in the box. This will probably take about five minutes, unless the models are very complex.

Don't be afraid that the children will damage the K'NEX components in taking their models to pieces too vigorously. This is a rare occurrence.

Follow-on

The benefit from the K'NEX Challenge will not necessarily end with the Conclusion phase.

Many Challenge Sheets suggest one or more follow-on activities, which can be used in class in the days and weeks following the K'NEX Challenge.

An example from the Windmill challenge is discussing where windmills are best sited, and finding examples of gears, pulleys, levers, and cams in bikes and cars.