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In this activity, learners use simple materials and basic tools to construct a special toy to explore pendulums. As the head of the toy bobs one way, the eyeballs bob the other way.

What's a Pickle-Oh? Two pieces of pickle on a stick are connected to a Pico Cricket (micro controller). When you slide the pickles apart the note changes.

This activity requires a Pico Cricket (tiny computer). Learners work on designing and building a sound sensor out of household materials, like plastic wrap and cardboard.

Molecular gastronomy is the scientific study of food preparation. Learners use self-assembly techniques to create edible capsules of chocolate syrup (food grade ingredients are required).

In this activity, learners listen to songs and decode hidden messages based on the same principle as a modem. As a final challenge, learners decode the binary messages in a music video.

In this activity (pages 13-14), learners investigate the properties of smart materials, which are materials that respond to things that happen around them.

In this three-part activity, learners use paper to explore Bernoulli's Principle — fast-moving air has lower pressure than non-moving air.

How many colors make black? Gather as many water soluble black markers as you can find.

In this activity, learners use a nail and magnet wire to build an electromagnet, which controls the movements of a paper dancer.

In this activity, learners build unique yo-yos, which spin round and round without moving up and down.

Play-Doh is conductive! Use the semiconductive qualities of Play-Doh to make your own squeezable instrument. Pico Cricket is required.

In this activity, learners explore trebuchet design. Teams of learners construct trebuchets from everyday materials.

In this activity, learners are challenged to design and construct a trophy for prize-winning sports equipment.

In this activity, learners construct three optical illusion toys to examine how our brains play tricks on what we see.

A magic lantern is a light that projects an image onto a screen.

In this activity, learners create a marble maze that contains sensors. As a metal marble triggers the sensors, the Pico Cricket turns on lights or spins motors.

In this activity, learners explore how musical instruments are engineered.

Build a musical ice theremin by programming a micro controller, like a Pico Cricket to respond to resistance generated by the ice melting, or the ice being touched.

In this activity, learners make a Benham Top to explore visual illusions and optics.

In this "game," learners explore and relate the evolution of stars to a Navajo creation story. The story is written on a series of cards, which are laid on a table as the story is told.