Wacky Cars

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Design and draw or build a wacky car.
• Name and describe their wacky car's features.

Resources:

Materials

For children:

• Drawing paper
• Crayons or markers
• (Optional) An assortment of

For the leader:

• Computer, laptop, or tablet with internet access
• Printouts of some wacky cars (see Preparation section)

Resources:

Preparation

• Read and familiarize yourself with the activity.
• Preview the YouTube video linked below.
• Plan to show children the YouTube video linked below, or print a few copies of still images from the video, showing the race cars.
• Write the names of several race cars and their drivers on the board:
  
  • The Turbo Terrific driven by Peter Perfect
  • The Buzz Wagon driven by Rufus Ruffcut, a lumberjack, and Sawtooth, a beaver
  • The Convert-a-car driven by Professor Pat Pending
  • The Boulder Mobile driven by the Slag brothers, Rock and Gravel
  • The Creepy Coupe driven by the Gruesome Twosome

Resources:

YouTube Video: Wacky Races (1968) - Intro

Activity Steps

1. Show children the cartoon "Wacky Races Introduction," or show them images of some of the cars from the cartoon. Invite children to talk about the cars. Discuss the features that distinguish the cars from one another.
2. Have each child design and draw their own wacky car. Or, children can build a wacky car out of the available construction materials.
3. Circulate among the group and assist them as needed. You may want to suggest these ideas for a wacky car:
   
   • A long car with a large number of wheels; the wheels could be made of buttons or cardboard paper tubes
   • A flying car with cardboard strips for wings, or a twirling straw with split ends that acts like a propeller
   • An animal-powered car, or a car in the shape of an animal
   • A car with adjustable wheels mounted on all sides, so it can travel in many directions
   • An inconvenient car with doors, windows, and steering wheel located in unconventional places
4. Next, have children decide on a wacky name for their car, and possibly, the car's driver or drivers.
5. Reconvene the whole group, and have children introduce and describe their cars to the group. Then post the drawings or arrange the models to simulate a wacky race.
6. Wrap up the activity with these questions. Ask:
   
   • How are our wacky cars like real cars? How are they different?
   • What other kinds of wacky objects should we make next time?

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Variations

1. Have children help you write dialogue for an adventure involving the wacky cars, similar to the adventures in the cartoon. Then use the drawings or models to stage the race car adventure, and record it with a video camera.

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