Take any class on a journey through time to distant lands and far off places! The Time Machine group activity is a great way to encourage important social skills and promote creative thought processes. Extend this basic art lesson into months of fun imaginative play for a younger audience. For an older group, turn this activity into a stepping stone for historical and cultural exploration.
Lesson Objectives for the Time Machine Art Activity
- Develop pro-social skills (this includes taking turns, sharing, and communicating with one another).
- Explore art processes and materials. Increase sequencing skills.
- Introduce basic time concepts.
- Learn about different times and cultures (i.e., explore history, world geography, and social studies).
Age/Grade Level
This project can be done with children four years of age and up. Try adapting the specific lessons plans to fit your classrooms needs. An older elementary aged group may focus on different lesson objectives and goals than preschool or kindergarten.
Materials Needed to Create a Time Machine
Choose materials based on reasonable price, availability, general age of class, and space allotted. This list can be used as a basic guide.
- Used large cardboard boxes
- Tape
- Glue
- Markers
- Paints and brushes
- Construction paper
- Large sheets of paper or butcher paper
- Large sheets of foam core board
- Cardboard tubes
Steps to Creating a Time Machine
Pre-planning
Before beginning the building process decide upon specific goals and lesson objectives. For example, a preschool teacher may want to focus on exploring the art materials given, a first grade teacher may want to work on team building and social skills, and a fourth grade teacher may want the students to explore history or even architecture/engineering.
Start with a brainstorming session. Ask each child to draw his or her own picture of a time machine. Afterwards, discuss each of the drawings. Create a list of important parts to a time machine. This may include an on-off button, propellers, a power source, a hand scanner, or time controls.
Divide the children into at least two groups. Have one group start the building, and the other group may individual dials or parts for the time machine. Individual clocks or time dials work well. Half way through, have the two groups switch.
Process Steps
- Use the cardboard or foam core board to create walls. Sturdy tape will be needed to secure the sides. If possible, these may be taped to the classroom walls for support. A corner space works well for this.
- Encourage the children to create additional structures using cardboard tubes and paper. Create a roof or ceiling with butcher paper.
- Use the paints and markers to decorate the time machine.
- Add the individual pieces with tape. These may be taken off when the time machine is disassembled and given back to the students.
Lesson Wrap Up and Conclusion for the Time Machine
After the time machine has been built and has dried, have the children discuss how they built it. Where there problems? What went well? For younger children, discuss new art materials that may have been used. For older students, talk about the process and group effort.
Enrichment Activities for the Time Machine
- Time traveling: This is the most important use of the time machine. Have the class go back (or forward) in time. Discuss historical and cultural contexts.
- Art history: Talk about the art of different time periods. Have the children create similar styles of art to display near the time machine.
Try the Time Machine activity to encourage teamwork, positive social skills, and a growing knowledge of other times and places. Use a variety of art materials and processes to make these modern marvels spectacular.
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