How to Build a Tin Can String Phone for Children to Play With

This can string phone will show children how a radio or telephone works. Your children can use this experience of building this phone as a science project or a fun game that can be played with at parties or just for fun in the backyard of a tree house.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Approximately 100 feet of kite string or non stretchable thread
• Plyers,
• Two tin vegetable cans, with the lid cut out(please make certain that all rough edges have been smoothed or bent down with plyers) (please note that 2 large paper cups can be used instead of tin cans
• hammer
• hole punch or screw driver with a sharp point
• tape that will stay in place when attached to tin can or paper cup

1. First assemble all of your items that are needed to create the tin can or paper cup phones. two tin cans, opened, emptied, and cleaned, if you use paper cups you will not need the tin cans and vice versa, thread or kite string, hammer, hole punch or screw driver with sharp point, tape that will stick to tin can or paper cup

2. If you use tin cans you must empty the contents. open the can, empty the contents, if you use a can that has no self opening tab, and you use a can opener, please use the plyers to ensure that the insides of the cut edges are smoothed by bending them down inward inside of the can. You may avoid the tin can and use paper cups if you are making this for small children.

3. Punch a small hole in the tin can or paper cup, in the middle end of the can or cup bottom using the hammer and the hole punch or sharp screw driver. Once you have punched the small hole in the middle end of the can or cup bottom. Repeat this step for each can or cup used.

4. Slide the thread or kite string through the hole from the outside in. Repeat this step for each can or cup used.

5. Cut or tear a small piece of tape and secure the kite string or thread to the inside of the tin can or paper cup. Repeat this step for each can or cup used. NOTE: you may make the string in between the can or cup as long as you like, it may be as long as 100 feet.

6. Have the children each take a cup and stretch the string out as far as it will go, make the string tight, but not so tight that you will break it. Then all that is needed now is something to talk about. Each child will take turns talking into the can or cup with the other places the can or cup to their ear to hear.

Tips & Warnings

• Caution the children that the thread will break if it is stretched too tight.
• Plyers can be used to smoothe the edges downward inside of the can or you can use the cans that have the self opening flip tab on the top.
• Paper Cups can be used and you do not have to worry about the rough edges of the tin cans(note they may not last as long as the tin cans)
• Use good judgement in the amount of sting length according to the age of the children and if they can actually handle the longer string or if shorter string is needed to make this an enjoyable toy if used as a party game.
• Tin cans can have rough edges and can cause cuts and abrasions.
• Hammers and hole punch or sharp ended screw driver can cause injury when used unsupervised.
• Plyers can pinch small and big hands and fingers use care when using these.
• Adult supervision is advised with small children and they should not be allowed to make this without adult supervision.

[teresawilson]

on 5/4/2009 I made this with my children and they had hours of fun with it in the back yard.