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Blow-and-Go Parachute
Learners make a skydiver and parachute contraption and launch it. They see that the drag created by air resistance slows the descent of skydivers as they travel back to Earth.

Breaking Beams
Learners investigate stress and strain by designing, building, and testing beams made from polymer clay.

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

Gumdrop Dome
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In this activity (located on pages 23-24 of the PDF), learners are introduced to structural engineering and encouraged to practice goal-oriented building.

Exploring the Solar System: Mission to Space Board Game
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In this tabletop board game, players will represent a team of scientists and engineers sending a spacecraft on a mission to space.

Whirling Windmills
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In this activity, learners are challenged to design and construct a windmill to harness the power of wind.

Roving on the Moon
Add to list DetailsIn this design challenge activity, learners build a rubber band-powered rover that can scramble across the room.

DNA From an Onion
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In this genetics activity, learners extract DNA from an onion, using detergent solution, a food processor, and rubbing alcohol. They will also discuss genetic engineering of plants.
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.

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

Bird Feeder Challenge
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In this activity, learners are challenged to build a bird feeder using recycled materials from home and are encouraged to problem solve during the extensions.

Physics Tug of War
Learners set up books with rubber bands stretched between the books. When two identical books are stretched apart and released, they move back toward each other an equal distance.

Swing in Time
Learners build and investigate pendulums of different lengths. They discover that the longer the string of the pendulum, the longer the time it takes to swing.

How Do Things Fall?
Learners engage in close observation of falling objects. They determine it is the amount of air resistance, not the weight of an object, which determines how quickly an object falls.

Moving Without Wheels
In a class demonstration, learners observe a simple water cycle model to better understand its role in pollutant transport.

Cupcake Delivery
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In this design challenge, learners will create wind-powered contraptions to transport a load, such as a cupcake or another small object, and test to see if they work.

Build An Aqueduct
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In this activity, learners use the design thinking process to design and build their own aqueduct, or water bridge.

What Gives?
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In this activity, learners design, build and test a model suspension bridge for sturdiness and strength.

Roller Coasters
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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.

Build a Bridge
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In this activity, learners use design thinking to design and build their own bridge out of household materials including adhesives and/or connectors.