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Make your own toy washing machine
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What you will need• A cardboard box
• Styrofoam board
• Two empty plastic• mineral-water bottles that can hold 600ml of liquid
• Mahjong paper or any kind of paper that is white
• Yellow corrugated paper or any other colour you wish
• Laminated plastic sheets or overhead projector sheets
• A pair of scissors or a penknife, UHU glue, scotch tape, double-sided tape
• A mobile phone or digital camera
Method
1. Choose a cardboard box for the toy washing machine. The one here was made using a box that is 57cm high, 38cm long and 26.5cm wide.
2. Start with the door. Draw the outline of a circle (diameter 26cm), leaving a rim of about 5cm. Cut out most of this circle, but leave some space to make a hinge. Cut and tape the plastic sheet over the hole to form the glass door.
3. To make the detergent compartment, cut a rectangle (the dimensions here are about 15cm x 8cm) in the top left-hand corner of the cardboard box.
4. Use the styrofoam board to make the detergent compartment (dimensions 22cm x 14cm X 7cm). You will need one rectangular piece for the base and two long rectangular pieces and two shorter pieces for the four sides. Join the five pieces together with UHU glue and tape. Slot the compartment into the washing machine.
5. Take a photo of the display panel on your washing machine at home, which shows the wash settings and temperatures. Enlarge the photo if desired, print it and laminate it. Stick this display panel next to the detergent compartment.
6. Cut two smaller holes (diameter 3cm), one above the other, near the top right-hand corner of the box for the washing machine knobs. Cut the tops of two empty plastic mineral-water bottles that can hold 600ml of water. Push the top of the bottle out from the inside of the toy washing machine and screw on the cap.
7. Wrap the toy washing machine in mahjong paper or any paper that is white. Add other trimmings as desired.
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• Information provided by Mrs Pauline Ngerng and Preschool Resources, an online community that provides resources for children to learn through play.