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Great Openings: Slots, 35 Sense, and Hole In One
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These three short activities challenge groups to fit objects through paper and index cards: "Slots" presents the challenge for one learner to figure out which objects fit through a hole cut by another
Family Fort Challenge
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In this activity, learners will explore engineering concepts to construct a blanket fort using materials sourced from home.
Water Engineering
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In this activity, learners will engineer a water irrigation system. Learners will create a ditch irrigation system -- or an acequia-- to move water with the help of gravity.
Build a Better Roof
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In this activity, learners will engineer a roof using simple materials to protect a construction paper person from a rainstorm.
Copter Engineering
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In this activity, learners engineer a paper helicopter that spins to the ground when dropped.
Low-Tech Water Filter for High-Impact Clean
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In this activity, learners consider the water features they might enjoy at a community park--a pond, brook, water playground (or "sprayground"), or pool--and what happens to the water over time.
Mechanical Grabber
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In this engineering activity, challenge learners to make a "grabber" that can pick up trash. Learners use simple materials to create pinchers that can grab small items.
Gumdrop Dome
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In this engineering activity, learners construct sturdy geodesic structures out of gumdrops and toothpicks. Use this activity to explore engineering principles as well as sturdy shapes and triangles.
Levers at Play
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In this activity, learners consider how a simple machine, a lever, turns a small push or pull (a small force) into a larger--or stronger--push or pull (a larger force).
Puff Mobile
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In this engineering activity, challenge learners to design a car using only 3 straws, 4 Lifesavers™, 1 piece of paper, 2 paper clips, tape, and scissors.
Water Filter
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In this engineering activity, challenge learners to invent a water filter that cleans dirty water.
Chain Reaction II
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In this hands-on activity, learners use an assortment of (mainly household) items to complete Rube Goldberg-type challenges.
Exploring the Universe: Pack a Space Telescope
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Space telescopes can offer us better, clearer views of the universe (and of our own planet) than Earth-based telescopes can, but getting these large, delicate pieces of equipment into orbit is tricky.
Paper Cup Stool
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In this activity, learners will explore how and why weight distribution works.
Tessellations
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In this activity, learners will engineer a new shape and use it to create a new pattern with no wasted space.
Zoomers
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In this activity, learners build their own rockets from paper, coffee stirrers, and tape. Learners discover that when anything flies, air pressure is always involved.
Design a Seed
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In this activity, learners will design a seed and test how it travels. Learners will use the Engineering Design Process to create a seed which can move from place to place.
Tall Tower Challenge
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In this activity, learners will use their chosen material to build the tallest tower possible in under three minutes. This activity uses problem solving and fine motor skills to challenge learners.
Lego Mania
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In this activity, learners will put together towers using building bricks, then take the tower apart and challenge themselves to use the same bricks used to build a bridge.
Roller Coasters
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In this activity learners will build roller coasters and test them using small balls or marbles.