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How to Build Miniature Wheel & Axle Car

The wheel and the axle provide basic movement elements on an automobile. The axle is a shaft on which the wheel turns and also connects two wheels under the body of the car. A low-cost miniature version of a wheel and axle car can be made with vegetables. This rainy-day activity could amuse a child while he or she learns a simple lesson about car engineering.

Things You'll Need

Cucumber
Spoon
Carrot
Knife
Wooden skewers
Garden shears
Corn kernels
Toothpicks

Instructions

- 1
  Scoop out the top section of the cucumber with the spoon to create a convertible car's front and back seat.
- 2
  Slice the carrot into four 1/2-inch thick rounds with the knife for wheels.
- 3
  Pierce one carrot round with the end of a wooden skewer. Insert the long section of the skewer into the cucumber near the rear of the chassis and push it through the cucumber to the opposite side. Cut the excess length of skewer with the garden shears so that it extends 1 inch beyond the cucumber and attach another carrot round. Repeat for front wheels.
- 4
  Attach corn kernels for headlights and taillights to the front and back of the chassis with toothpicks.
- 5
  Cut a small 1/2-inch thick carrot round from the tip end of the carrot for the steering wheel and attach it to the dashboard area with a toothpick.

Construction Toys