About Little Smith
Heat steel in the forge, hammer and press it into shape, quench it in oil and polish it on the grinder to make a pancake flipper. A free blacksmithing science game for grades K–3.
Skills Practiced
- Real-world science of metalworking: steel has to be heated until it glows bright orange before it can be shaped, and cold metal resists or cracks.
- Cause and effect with heat: players read the metal’s color to judge when it is ready, too hot, or too cold.
- Quenching: dunking hot steel in oil makes it stronger, shown by how big the sizzle is.
- Following a multi-step process in order: heat, hammer, press, dunk, and grind to match a target shape.
