ACTIVITY PROMPT

Your city shouldn’t just look futuristic — it should feel alive! In this step, you'll add simple moving parts using cardboard, paper, and basic joinery techniques.

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

• Sturdy material for the 3D sculpture (thin cardboard, 180g paper).
• Cutting tools (scissors, craft knife, etc.)
• Ruler and pencil for measurements.
• Glue/tape (glue gun or craft glue)
• Rubber bands, zip tie, brads
• Popsicles and white string

ACTIVITY STEPS

1st

30 min

What parts of a city might move in the future — not just for fun, but for purpose?

Think of those question and get inspired.

• Can a part of your building rotate to face the sun?
• Could a roof open and close like a flower?
• Can the building lift up or shift position during a storm or sandstorm?
• Do cars or pods travel along ramps or tracks?
• Can roads rise or split to let people or water pass?
• Is there a moving walkway or slide that helps people move faster?
• Is there a kinetic sculpture that reacts to wind or touch?

ACTIVITY STEPS

2nd

~ 5hrs

Choose and Plan 3 Movements

• Pick 3 movements to prototype.
• What materials will you need (cardboard, pins, string, etc.)?
• Draw a quick diagram of how the movements will work (e.g., spinning, sliding, folding).
• Learn how to recreate those models in the next slides!

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: SHAPING

Bending

Scoring

Curving

Faceting

Layering

Hinging

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: JOINERY

Brads

Flanges

Brace

Skewer

Bend

Hinge

Slots

Butt Joint

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: Mechanism

Gears

Scissor lift

Grabbing

Waving

Tentacle

Curving

Lever

Fanning

Joining:

Skewer

SCISSOR

SLIDER

RAMP

PULLEY

TENTACLE

SPINNER

3rd

15 min

Finalize your city piece!

• Connect your moving part to your building or city base.
• Make sure the movement still works!

4th

Take clear photos and videos of your city model against a white background, and submit them.

Make sure to capture close-up shots of any moving parts, and turn those into GIFs using this website: https://ezgif.com/maker

30 min

5th

Submit your photos/videos/GIFs.

5 min