2013 Volume 37 Issue 4 Pages 271-282
An important subject of for science education today is to make pupils and students take a growing interest in advanced science and technology, such as robots. In this paper we report a back-and-forth swing type bipedal passive walking model made up of commercially available Kent paper for drafting at low cost, and its possible use as a teaching tool for science. We examined the optimum condition for the model to walk with two legs and which grade in elementary school the model is suitable for. As a result, the following five points were clarified: (a) A sponge plate was selected as an effective slope material and the best slope angle was 25 degrees. (b) When a weight of 1.5g was stuck to the buttocks, the model walked on two legs slowly and dynamically. (c) All pupils over the fourth grade were able to make the model within an average of 38 minutes. (d) Fifth and sixth graders could think about the principle of the model to walk. (e) It is difficult for pupils to understand the principle (the movement of the center of gravity) of the model to walk with two legs. However, many fifth and sixth graders apprehended the principle, because they explained the model's walking phenomenon by metaphorical expressions, associating the model with toys and playground equipment with which they are familiar. Taken together, it is suggested that the present model is useful as a teaching tool for pupils of upper grades in elementary school.
