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Magnets on the Move
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In this activity, learners investigate the behavior of magnets. Learners create a "wonder wand" with a magnet so they can move a skater around.

Spinning Blackboard
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Create beautiful spirals by drawing a straight line. This sounds crazy, but you can with a turntable (a record player or lazy susan), paper, and pen.

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

Graph Dance
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In this activity, learners "dance" (move back and forth at varying speeds) by reading a graph. This is a kinesthetic way to help learners interpret and understand how motion is graphed.

Hang Time
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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.

Set It Straight
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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.

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

Canine House of Cards
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This simple construction activity teaches the importance of architectural structure. Learners build and test designs for a paper "doghouse" strong enough to hold the weight of a jumbo dog biscuit.

Bearings for Your Whirligig
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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.

Screaming String Thing
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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.

Building a 3-D Space Maze: Escher Staircase
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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

Fishy Observations
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In this activity (page 1 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Rabbits), learners will visit a zoo, aquarium, or pet store to view a variety of fish.

Zoom-A-Rang
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In this activity, learners design and build a Zoom-a-rang using everyday materials. Experiment with different materials and Zoom-a-rang designs to see how they fly.

Helicopters
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In this activity, learners will observe how air interacts with a paper helicopter. Learners will test different variables of weight, size, and shape.

Mini Zoetrope
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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.

Getting There!: Navigation and Trajectory
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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.
Shadow Puppets
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If you have lights, cardboard, scissors, and some brass fasteners, you can make shadow puppets! Create a story-telling and design challenge for your learners with this simple and creative activity.
Magnus Glider
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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

Spider Glider
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In this fun activity about spiders, learners build and design a spider from cardstock, straw, string, and pipe cleaners.

Spinning Tops
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Create your own spinning top, and explore color, shapes and spinning. This activity contains instructions for making your spinning top, and tips on how to design and decorate it.