NON FICTION

Edel Wignell's articles for children and adults have been published in magazines in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and the UK.

Read Playful Inventions, an article for children 8-12 years.

She also writes non-fiction books for children, some being commissioned by publishers. The latest titles are Christina's Matilda and Bilby Secrets.

NON-FICTION BOOKS

Click on a title to read the book's introduction and view the cover.
ISBN numbers indicate books in print.

Bilby Secrets Christina's Matilda The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Three-toed Sloths Chinese New Year Kangaroos Elephants First- Aid Handbook Japanese Kites Russian Dolls Bison

Pandas Meet the Beasties! Marvellous Horses Mischief Makers A Bogy Will Get You! Battlers of the Great Depression Saving Wildlife The Portland Fairy Penguins What's Your Hobby? Born to Lead Swagmen and Sundowners

 

PLAYFUL INVENTION: A BICYCLE CLOCK

Edel Wignell ©

Some things are invented to be useful; some are just for fun. If you have a playful, inventive mind you probably invent something new every week, just to entertain yourself, your family and friends.

A French invention

In 1920, a French inventor made an enormous clock from bicycle parts. It was 3.66 metres high.

He used a huge bicycle wheel for the framework. Then he took twelve smaller wheels (with tyres) and fitted them around the clock face for the hours.

Next he made the hands from steel tubing. The tubing was the framework of a bike.

Finally, the inventor made some machinery to drive the clock. He added bike bells to the clock mechanism to chime the hours.

This clock worked. It was so unusual, that it was described in newspapers all around the world. The only thing we don't know now is the inventor's name!

Illustrate!

If you draw the Frenchman's clock you will see how amazing it is.

Draw it on paper first. Then draw it in a large space outdoors. You may have a sealed play area of concrete or asphalt where you can draw with chalk.

If you want to make it the exact size of the Frenchman's clock, you will have to do some calculations. This is a project for mathematicians. You can work on it with a friend or in a group, helping each other with the calculations.

If you use your own bike as a starting point, first measure the diameter of its wheels. Then work out the diameter of the big wheel you will need for the outside framework.

If you do not have a large outdoor space, make a model with circles of cardboard. If your bike wheel is sixty centimetres in diameter, cut cardboard circles six centimetres wide. Don't forget - when you measure, multiply your answers by 10.

How big is this clock?

Invent again!

You may like to work together on a new invention. It can be another kind of clock or a totally different idea.

The Frenchman thought, 'clock/bike'. This is a way of being creative. Think of two things which don't usually belong together. It is called 'lateral thinking'.

Use your imaginations to get started and you may be inspired to create your own Wacky Inventions.