What a wonderful three days I had with 13 students at the Friends School in Portland making Galimotos. These kinetic folk toys are made in Africa, especially Kenya, by children who use salvaged wire, cloth, and basic hand tools ingeniously to handmake models of bicyles and cars.
I decided to use 18 gauge wire in this class due to a number of very young children and a worry about their post covid hand strength. I also made new jigs for shaping the aluminum wire. Although the bikes were more fragile with the lighter wire, all the children were able to fabricate the basic parts.
They learned a simple manufacturing process for creating duplicate shapes of parts in the same size, how to use pliers and wire cutters, how to make a moving model, a brief history of bicycle design and facts about bicycle culture. We also talked about how children worldwide make their own toys when they have few resources and how we have a wealth of materials in our own society waiting to be transformed into new items.
They were able to use their imaginations to create the riders for their bicycles, also with recycled material from a local business. I was so thrilled to see their engagement, enthusiasm, creativity and curiosity. They problem solved and asked important questions! Great job kids!
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