Good too see your kids are keen on making things !

I think you need projects that are fairly quick to make and not too complex so i would start with a simple wobbler engine and you could make it from wood or metal.

If you make such an engine you could then make a very rudimentary traction engine from wood then mount the engine on that and use an airline from a compressor to run the engine ( no boiler ) the drive system is just a rubber band as a drive belt to drive one wheel.

Ian

Things that move are always popular.

What about roman-style catapults? Use multiple twisted rubber bands to suspend the arm.

A simple yacht is good project as well, loads of simple designs about and as long as the keel is heavy enough they cannot fail!

In the old days cranes were popular.

That gyroscope video was well worth watching, as a beginner I struggle a bit cutting recesses in flywheels, the guy in the video made a tool that seemed to solve all the problems I have when doing it.

I've just bought a grinder so it looks like I'll be having a go making a flywheel tool shortly.

Peter.

I'v got a book that you may be able to get ,or something similar, it's called "Metalwork design" by T. Petit, craft education. T. petit was head of the dept of craft and design Aireville Secondary School, Skipton, Yorkshire. I got it about twenty years ago in a second hand book shop in Christchurch NZ. It has a number of types of things to make, from tools, kitchen ware. It generally leaves the construction methods to the children to work out. For example, how many designs can be thought up for a candle stick/holder.

Ian S C

I like the Stirling Engine in the video link, might have a go myself.

Ian S C