Students at Franklin Regional Middle School don't need to make their own toys, but this year they've see what it would be like to do so.

Chatham University professors Christy Heid and Karen Lynn Williams have been working with sixth-graders to study African culture based around Williams' book "Galimoto," named after toy cars that children make out of spare wire.

Middle school teacher Margie Ritson thought the concept of making working toys could be put to good use in the classroom.

Heid first saw the subject of Williams book in Malawi when a child was playing with one.

"He was just walking along, pushing this toy and I was amazed by his creation," Heid said.

The children's creation was used by the district in science and English lessons. Students were required to make their own toy that could demonstrate movement and then write a description of their toy.

Williams said her goal with the book was to present the culture of Malawi through the galimotos. The resourcefulness of children in the country and their ability to use whatever objects they could find amazed her the most.

"You never saw trash," she said.

Ritson, also a professor at Chatham University, began working with Heid last summer to find a way to bring the galimoto concept to Franklin Regional.

"I thought, well, we could have students make them and learn about science," she said.

Williams was brought in to work with students on the writing aspect of the project and hold workshops with them. Their reaction was similar to her own when she first learned about the toys and the response from other students she has worked with.

"Generally, the kids are as impressed and amazed as I was," Williams said.