I emailed our district warehouse manager and asked if he had any old equipment that I could tear up. He was intrigued! I did some research so I knew what items would be "safe" to take apart. Tape players and VCRs are the best. The warehouse had plenty of those so I ordered 10-12 assorted items and then ended up driving over and picking up more because the kids were really tearing through them!
Word of advice: Make your students wear safety goggles. They will complain but it is for their safety. Buy a #1 screwdriver (it has to be skinny to get in some tight places). Splurge on pliers because they LOVE them. Cut the electric cord before they begin so they are not tempted to plug it in while they're dismantling the equipment. This was one of the most popular Maker Space activities all year!
Word of advice: Make your students wear safety goggles. They will complain but it is for their safety. Buy a #1 screwdriver (it has to be skinny to get in some tight places). Splurge on pliers because they LOVE them. Cut the electric cord before they begin so they are not tempted to plug it in while they're dismantling the equipment. This was one of the most popular Maker Space activities all year!