Is It a Thingamajig or Thingamabob?

Purpose: To discover that inventing is fun while building a gadget

Background: A thingamajig is any device, contrivance, or gadget. A synonym for thingamajig is thingamabob.

Materials

• discarded "junk"
• string
• tape
• glue

Procedure

1. Place your group's junk on the table.
2. Try fitting the junk together in different ways.
3. Discuss various ideas of how to connect the junk to develop an idea for a thingamajig.
4. Once you have an idea, start to build your thingamajig. As you work on it, don't be afraid to take it apart and start over again if you think of a better way of putting it together. Also, remember that your thingamajig doesn't have to work. You can always use your imagination to pretend that it does.
5. Write a newspaper article announcing your new invention to the public. Be sure to describe its parts, what each one is used for, and the purpose of the thingamajig.
6. Illustrate your article by drawing your thingamajig.

Extension
Look for other thingamajigs around you. Look in attics, basements, garages, and even junkyards. Sketch the ones you find and make a book of thingamajigs. If you don't know what the thingamajig was used for, create a use for it! Create your own categories for the thingamajigs and sort them.