We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own, but will need a partner to help with a few steps.

Prepare Straws

Each student needs a piece of plastic straw that is about 1-inch long. If the straw is too long, the turkey models won't dance. We suggest that you prep straws prior to class to make distribution easier.

Prepare Yarn

Each student needs a piece of yarn about 3 feet in length. Cut enough pieces of yarn prior to class.

Younger vs Older Student Versions

Both versions of the activity have students build a standard Gobble Wobbler. The only difference is that the younger student version uses Post-It tabs as additional feathers instead of paper feathers attached with paper clips.

Teacher Background

Gravity and friction work together to make the Gobble Wobbler dance.

Gravity pulls the turkey and straw downward, but the weight of the turkey pulling on one side of the straw makes the straw tilt so that one end hits the string.

Friction between the straw and the string stops the turkey from dropping — but only for a moment. When the straw pushes on the string, the string pushes back, making the turkey bounce up. That straightens the straw, so it can fall a bit before the pull of the turkey tilts the straw again, and the cycle repeats.

This toy is based on an old toy that physicists call the oscillating woodpecker. You can read more about the physics of the oscillating woodpecker here.