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    Home » Science Experiments for Kids » How to make a DIY steady hand game

    How to make a DIY steady hand game

    January 11, 2023 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

    A steady hand game is a brilliant mini electricity or design project and great for working on hand-eye coordination too!

    I made a reindeer themed game just before Christmas, but you can twist the copper wire into any shape you want.

    If this isn’t quite what you’re looking for I have lots more simple electricity projects for kids.

    You’ll need

    Insulating tape

    Tape

    Shoebox lid or other shallow box or cardboard tray.

    Copper wire

    Battery holder pack with leads – ours used 2 AA batteries

    Mini light bulb and bulb holder

    Crocodile clip leads

    3V round buzzer

    Wire cutters

    I buy my electricity project items from somewhere like Maplin in the UK.

    How to make a steady hand game

    Carefully cut a 20-30 cm strip of copper wire and bend it into a shape. If the wire has an insulating coating, you will either need to scrape this off ( ask an adult to help ), or I covered mine in copper tape.

    Push one end of the copper wire through the shoebox lid and tape it in place. This forms the main part of the steady hand game.

    Cut a 10cm strip of copper wire and create a loop. Attach a crocodile clip and wire to the end. Wrap some insulating tape around the end to make a handle. This will be what you try to move around the main shape without letting the two pieces touch.

    Set the inside of the shoebox up like the image below.

    DIY steady hand game circuitry

    The top of the steady hand game should look like this. Ignore the LED light; we will add that to the circuit later.

    Steady hand game image top down

    When the copper loop touches the copper shape, the buzzer should make a noise. This is because the two pieces touching completes the circuit.

    Quick circuit refresher

    Electric current is the flow of charge around a circuit. Current only flows is the circuit is complete. This is why the buzzer only make a noise when the copper wire loop touches the copper wire shape in the steady hand game. It is only when the two touch that the circuit is complete!

    A battery acts like a pump, pushing the electric charge around the circuit. The force is called voltage. The higher the voltage the more current flows.

    A steady hand game with the copper wire shaped like reindeer antlers

    Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa Mulloy

      January 12, 2023 at 2:40 pm

      Hi! Can’t wait to try this project! I remember playing these type of games when I was a child! Super nostalgic! Anyway, currently waiting for supplies. In the mean time is there more directions (lightbulb placement etc) as they sort of just stop short of that! Any more info/directions would be greatly appreciated so we can set this up seamlessly and with confidence!
      Thank you in advance for any assistance you r able to provide.

      Reply

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