Search Results

In this activity, learners will use a variety of household and/or natural objects to design a sculpture that balances from a single point.

In this engineering activity, learners design parachutes to give toy figures safe landings. This activity is great for practicing an important STEM skill--changing only one variable at a time.

Learners investigate weight by building a spring scale. They observe and record how it responds to objects with different masses.

Learners examine collisions between two skateboards carrying different masses. They learn about conservation of momentum in collisions.

Learners build at least two different spinners (tops) to investigate how mass distribution, size, and shape affect the length of time the spinner spins.

In this activity, learners engineer a flying glider using paper hoops and a drinking straw.

In this activity, learners will build a stomp-powered launcher to blast off paper rockets they design. Materials can be found at a local hardware store or you may already have them at home.

In this engineering design challenge, learners animate a facial expression and make a machine (zoetrope) that plays the animation back.

Learners act as engineers and design mini submarines that move in the water like real submarines.

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 design challenge, learners build a boat that paddles itself using a rubber band as its power source.

In this activity, learners explore the concept of friction and how ball bearings reduce friction.

In this activity, challenge learners to design a roller coaster ride for a marble using cardboard and other simple materials.

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 activity, learners build a mini dancing robot. This engineering activity introduces learners to electricity, circuits, switches, conductivity, and motors.

In this engineering/design activity, learners make a kite, fly it, and then work to improve the design. Learners explore how their kite design variations affect flight.

In this activity, learners explore the concept of how brakes can stop or slow mechanical motion.

In this design challenge, learners will create their own roller coaster using household objects for the track and a marble or small ball as their cart.

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