Imaginative machines have always fascinated curious people. During the Renaissance, the world's great thinkers spent their creative moments designing machines to handle almost every imaginable task. For examples of some fantastic machines, look at Leonardo da Vinci's sketchbooks. You'll see the beginning of ideas that led to machines such as airplanes.

To invent your own machines, collect recycled objects such as small boxes, paper towel rolls, bottle caps, and plastic candy-box inserts. What kind of machine will you design?

Pick one item, such as a box, as the base for your machine. Use Crayola Crayons or Gel Markers to color it. Use different colors to show various sections, gears, or other parts.

Choose other recycled objects, such as robot parts or wheels, to add to your base. Cut parts to fit with Crayola Scissors and color with crayons. Use Crayola School Glue to attach them. Dry.

Add details, such as on and off buttons, with beads and other decorative items. Crumple aluminum foil to create fixtures such as hydraulic hoses. Can you explain how it works?