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In this activity, learners will create their own percussion instrument with recycled materials. Learners will explore design, fabrication, cause and effect and sound through this activity.

In this activity, learners construct drawing machines using a cup, some markers, and a cricket to control the movement. A programmed LEGO RCX or Cricket is required for this high-tech version.

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

In this engineering activity, learners explore simple machines and then build cardboard automata using cams.

During this hands-on activity, learners are briefly exposed to moviemaking and animation, when they create their own thaumatropes.

Learners trace, cut out and fly a boomerang, outdoors or in a large indoor space.

Learn how to make and fly a paper helicopter! This simple activity includes a template (for the copter "blades") and instructions for folding, flying, and testing designs.

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

In this hands-on engineering project, kids use two simple machines, levers and inclined planes, to construct their own pinball machines.

In this activity, learners build a simple tabletop seesaw to test how different variables (the position of the fulcrum, distance, weight) affect its balance under increasing weight loads.

In this activity, learners build small animated toys that move.

In this project, students explore how levers work, by making a puppet with moving limbs.

In this activity, learners build a mini crank machine to make a bird "fly." This engineering activity introduces learners to automata, rotational motion, cranks and cams.

In this hands-on activity, children create their own kites that can fly indoors. Learners are exposed to basic concepts of gravity and air resistance.

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

Experiment with friction and make bearings for a whirligig! This activity is a nice introduction to friction and bearings and demonstrates why bearings are useful for spinning.

In this activity, learners build a figure that moves and "comes to life" when they pull its string.

In this simple and fun activity, learners discover the relationship between vibration and sound by making a squeaky toy instrument out of simple household materials.

Make your own "Dance Dance Revolution" dance pad! In this design challenge activity, learners work in teams to build a dance pad that lets you use your feet to sound a buzzer or flash a light.

In this activity, learners will build a roller coaster for a marble to run on using everyday household materials such as paper towel or toilet paper rolls, cups, boxes, books, buckets, chairs, etc.