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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.

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 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 explore electronics and motion by making a Scribbling Machine, a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path.

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.

This activity requires a Pico Cricket (tiny computer).

In this activity, learners discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.

In this activity (posted on April 18, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a zoetrope, a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures, using a 16" bik

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 activity, learners will discover how to make butter from scratch. One optional tips includes adding marbles to speed up the process.

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

In this activity, learners will reuse plastic bags in an interesting way.

In this activity, learners complete a series of drawing activities to explore scale and powers of 10. Learners first trace each other on 1-meter-square pieces of paper.

This is an online game about the complexities of farming. Learners will "draw" cards and make decisions about how to take care of their farm.

In this activity, learners construct wands that play different notes depending on information from light sensors programmed via a PICO Cricket.

In this activity, learners make their own binary code bracelets by translating their initials into 0s and 1s represented by beads of 2 different colors.

Have you ever heard of a camera without a lens? In this activity, learners create a pinhole camera out of simple materials. They'll see the world in a whole new way: upside down and backwards!