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This is a web page that helps informal educators brainstorm on how to use a Pico Cricket (tiny computer) in an informal activity.

In this activity, learners create painting machines that can paint moving forwards and backwards.

Learners shred used paper, add water, and blend it into pulp. They then strain and roll the pulp out to make new paper.

In this activity, learners explore the question "What is paper?" Learners discover the processes and materials required to make paper while experimenting with different recycled fibers and tools.

In this activity, learners create a traditional Mexican noisemaker (a matraca) using cardboard, craft sticks, and a wooden dowel.

In this activity, learners create night lights using a plastic cup, programmable PICO Cricket, tri-color LED, and sensor.

Cardboard Automata are a playful way to explore simple machine elements while creating a mechanical sculpture.

In this activity, learners are challenged to design and construct a jointed figure that moves in a motion (something like jumping jacks) when a string is pulled.

Learners can program a compass to draw a circle by itself using a Pico Cricket, some Legos, and lots of tape! Pico Cricket is required.

From this How To slide show, you create an Audio Tape Bow that can play distorted audio sounds by running it across a tape head.

In this activity, learners explore how pens have been engineered and re-engineered over time. Learners work as a team to develop a working pen out of everyday items.

In this activity, learners explore the concept of rotational equilibrium. Learners work in teams to estimate and determine the force within a mobile design.

In this activity (page 95 of the PDF), learners create Escher Staircase models similar to those that were used by Neurolab's Spatial Orientation Team to investigate the processing of information about

In this activity (posted on March 27, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a mini zoetrope, a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures.

In this two-part activity, learners map a navigation plan to get from Earth to Mars and back. In activity one, learners represent the orbital paths of Earth through dance and dramatic movement.

A design challenge that takes paper airplanes into an entirely different direction: a magnus glider uses cups and and rubber bands to create a glider that uses the same forces that a curveball (from b

Learners explore the endless possibilities of cardboard engineering in this open-ended STEAM activity. Practice being creative by building structures with no glue, only cardboard and scissors.

Learners will follow a specific process to make their own paper using scrap paper, newspaper, or junk mail.

In this design challenge activity, learners explore the concept of biomimicry by using a natural organism's special features to design a new human object.

In this activity, learners design and build a NASA rover using raw pasta and candy with a limited imaginary budget.