Scrapheap Challenge

Like making something out of nothing? How creative are you with using items?

The world around you is full of creativity and inspiration. Products you use can become anything that your mind can design! This challenge encourages you to release your inner engineer and reuse the objects around you. Scrapheap Challenge was a 1998 game show where teams worked together to build something using only junk from a scrapyard. In a period of time where we are being encouraged to recycle and reuse, this it the perfect kind of activity to test your eco-friendly skills in a creative way.

What you will need:


  • find a tool to draw with - pen, pencil, chalk, paint, old lipstick, old mascara... think outside of the box.

  • find something to draw on - paper, cardboard, inside of a cereal box, old shopping receipts, paper labels off food packaging, etc.

  • make a collection of items which have been used but can be easily reused (make sure that they are all clean and sanitised if required).

  • something to safety cut with - scissors, nail clippers, ruler, etc.

  • something to be able to adhere things together - glue, sticky tape, masking tape, duct tape, elastic bands, string, ribbon, wire, etc.

Your challenge is to build something which can transport people from one place to another safely and with the least effort.

  1. Create a mind map of transportation ideas - you could even do some small doodles of each idea.

  2. Pick your top three ideas and sketch them out using your chosen drawing tools.

  3. Ask somebody close to you to choose the best of the three sketches.

  4. Draw the chosen sketch in detail labelling the material that you will use for each part. Think really carefully about what you are going to use to attach everything together. You don't need to buy expensive things - how about trying to tie things together using the products themselves? What might that look like?

  5. Now include sizes! What would the size be if it was made to do the job it is designed to do? How can you scale this size so that it can be held comfortably by you?

  6. Create your model. This is where the engineering really comes in to things! Can you make it to scale? How will you measure it accurately? What are you going to use to support it in the places it might need supporting so that it can move?

  7. Finally, now that you have finished, show the people around you and get them to give you some feedback. How can it be improved? Why not upload it using the form below and let other people see your masterpiece?

Tell us about it!

How you can support your child:

Proud of what you have created and want to share it? If you want to share a picture of what you have produced, you can submit it using the form found in the navigation bar titled "Tell us about it." You can also tweet us and tag @OGATrust on twitter, don't forget tagging your academy twitter account as well!

You can help too! How?

  • Make sure that you are happy with the materials being used both to draw with and to build with.

  • Check for items which are sharp or dangerous - these should always be avoided.

  • Maybe you could join in and have a competition? Siblings? Maybe you could work in teams. If you are making the items moveable, you could even have a race. Potential competitions could even be based on different criteria: whose looks the nicest? Whose has been assembled in the strongest way? Who has used the most items? Who has used the least items? Whose drawing is labelled the best? Who has used the most unique item? The list is endless...