D4E1 Chinese Plate Toolkit

The chinese plates toolkit is a box with different adapted chinese plates. They were made, for people with disabilities, to make the learning process easier. We divided this process into different parts: learning the movement, learning how to spin in the air, learning tricks.

For learning the movements, different tracking pattern were made. These consist of of plate with a double edge, plate with a spiral form and a plate with interruptions. To learn the movement in the air, a slide-in-system was made.

To learn the spinning, a plate with a bigger edge was made. This edge ensures that the plate doesn't fall that easily.

To learn different tricks, a plate with a toll system and bearing was made. This plate cannot fall and makes it easier to do various tricks.

The toolkit also includes a document that clarifies the learning process. This document can be used by the teachers (occupational therapist, circus people,...) to adapt the learning process to the client. By adding pictures, the document can also be used by cliënt individually.

Also normal plates can be put in de toolkit for a full experience.

Material

• Chinese circus plates and sticks
• PVC pipe (thickness: 12,5 cm):
• Adhesive velcro (thickness: 1,5 cm, length: 1m)
• Cutter knife
• Scissors
• Laser cutter
• Elastic file holder A4 (34,5 cm x 24,2 cm) (Elastomap A4 | Action.com)
• Wood glue
• Electrical multitool with a small cutting disc
• Sawing machine
• Mdf plate (thickness: 3mm)
• Bearing
• (Black) permanent Marker
• pencil

The edge is made with a PVC pipe with a thickness of 12,5 cm. By using a saw machine the PVC pipe can be cut to a length of 9,5 cm.

With a electrical multitool with a small cutting disc you can cut out 3 parts. This ensures that the stick is more visible. It also makes it weigh less. The measurement are:

• distance from the border of the edge: 4,5 cm
• thickness: 7 cm
• Height: 1,5 cm
• Apart from each other: 3 cm

Adhesive velcro can be used to attach the edge to the plate.

Cut two strip of 7 cm from the hook side of the adhesive velcro. Attach those strip to the inside of the edge of the plate, across eachother. Cut away the excess velcro.

Cut a strip of the loop side of the velcro, with the same size as the circumference of the PVC pipe. Attach it to the top edge of the pvc pipe, closes to the cutt out parts.

Now you can attach the edge to the plate.

With a lasercutter the different parts of the learning plates (spiral, double edge, dashed line) can be made. In the attachment the used file is included. Use the elastic file holder as material to lasercut.

At the end you should have:

• a long strip with hooks
• 3 short strips with hooks
• 2 spiral forms (left and right)
• 2 round plate with cut outs

In the round plates holes are included. Use those to insert the laser cut strips in the round plates. The hooks ensure that the two parts are firmly put together. Now you can push the plate into the chinese plate (under the edge). This ensures that the tool is stuck in the plate.

Take the spiral form. Put a small piece of adhesive velcro to the middle of the bottom of the plate. Add the other side to the middle of the spiral. Now you can put the spiral form in the plate. Push the spiral form completely under the edge of the plate.

Use a permanent marker to indicate the movement the person has to make (see picture).

For the spiral the person has to follow the spiral form. With a marker you can also put a L and R, to clarify whether it's from left-handed of right-handed people (see picture).

For the double edge, the person has to stay in between the edge of the plate and the extra edge.

For the dashed edge, the person must move from the border of the plate to the middle.

The toll system is lasercutted, using a mfd plate with a thickness of 3mm. In the attachment you can find the used file.

At the end you should have:

• 7 small circle
• 4 big circle
• 1 circle for the bearing

Glue all the 7 small parts together. For the bigger parts make 2 set of 2 parts.

Put the bearing inside the other part.

Glue the big circles to each side of the small circles. Glue the circles with the bearing on top of that.

Put 4 strips of velcro to the toll system, closes to the bearing. Put the other side of the velcro to the bottom of the plate.

Now you can attach the toll system to the plate.

Attached you can find the learning document of the different plates. This document was made to clearify the learning process and make it easier or more difficult. This document can be used to adapt the activity to the person.