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New
New
Year 2

Card slider mechanisms

I can explore and create slider mechanisms using paper and card.

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New
New
Year 2

Card slider mechanisms

I can explore and create slider mechanisms using paper and card.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mechanisms are systems that make something move and include sliders.
  2. Sliders are rigid bars which move backwards and forwards along a straight line.
  3. Sliders have a guide, which is used to keep it in place.
  4. When constructing sliders, it is important to cut and measure accurately.

Keywords

  • Slider - a bar which moves backwards and forwards along a straight line

  • Guide - a piece of material used to keep mechanisms in place and control movement

  • Slot - the hole through which a lever or slider is placed to enable movement

Common misconception

Slider mechanisms have a pivot points.

Slider mechanisms do not have pivot points and therefore do not use split pins. Slider mechanisms use a guide and a slot. They move in a straight line, rather than turning or pivoting.


To help you plan your year 2 design and technology lesson on: Card slider mechanisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Rather than using the cover method of creating a slot, the teacher could encourage the children to cut a slot to hide the mechanism behind. Lollypop sticks can be used for the slider mechanism as an alternative to card. This would provide a stronger, rigid bar for the mechanism to move.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Card, card templates, scissors, glue

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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4 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is an example of a lever?
roundabout
Correct answer: seesaw
bike wheel
Correct answer: scissors
Q2.
What does the word 'rigid' mean?
Correct answer: unable to bend
bendy
has a pivot
Q3.
What can be used to create a pivot point when making a lever out of card?
sticky tape
Correct answer: split pins
sticky tack
Q4.
The movement on a lever mechanism is from the ...
An image in a quiz
bar
Correct answer: pivot point
base

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their meaning:
Correct Answer:slider,a bar which moves backwards and forwards along a straight line
tick

a bar which moves backwards and forwards along a straight line

Correct Answer:guide,piece of material that keeps mechanisms in place and controls movement
tick

piece of material that keeps mechanisms in place and controls movement

Correct Answer:slot,the hole through which a lever or slider is placed to enable movement
tick

the hole through which a lever or slider is placed to enable movement

Q2.
Choose the correct sentence below:
Correct answer: The slot needs to be a bit longer than the slider bar.
The slot needs to be a bit shorter than the slider bar.
The slot needs to be the same size as the slider bar.
Q3.
What part of the slider mechanism keeps the slider in place?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: guide
slot
slider
picture
Q4.
What sort of motion does a slider have?
Correct answer: back and forth
round and round
swinging in an arc

Additional material

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