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This is a web page that helps informal educators brainstorm on how to use a Pico Cricket (tiny computer) in an informal activity.

In this outdoor activity, learners explore UV rays from the Sun and ways to protect against these potentially harmful rays.

Learners follow directions to construct a water-powered electrical generator using a turbine made from plastic spoons.

In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

In this activity about scale, learners investigate the world of the very small by cutting a 28 centimeter strip of paper in half as many times as they can.

In this activity, learners explore the many uses of periscopes and how this simple device was designed and is used in many applications.

In this activity, learners use clear nail polish to create a beautiful iridescent pattern on black paper. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

In this activity, learners cut out and fold their own collapsible origami starshade, an invention that shields a telescope's camera lens from the light of a distant star so that NASA scientists can ex

In this activity (posted on March 14, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a camera projector to explore lenses and refraction.

In this activity, learners explore computer programming and the impact of computers on society. Learners build and test a program to turn a light on and off using an Arduino board.

In this activity, learners light an LED with five cents. Learners use two different metals and some sour, salty water to create a cheap battery.

Learners build a solar oven from a cardboard pizza box, aluminum foil and plastic. Learners can use their oven to cook S'mores or other food in the sun.

This activity requires a Pico Cricket (tiny computer). Learners work on designing and building a sound sensor out of household materials, like plastic wrap and cardboard.

In this activity, learners carry out a scientific investigation of dust in their classroom. Learners produce an analysis on graph paper of the dust they collect over the course of a few days.

In this activity, learners explore how infrared technology is used by engineers to create equipment and systems for a variety of industries.

In this activity, learners discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.

In this activity, learners are challenged to design, build and test a birdhouse that will stay cool in the sun.

In this activity (posted on April 18, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a zoetrope, a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures, using a 16" bik

This activity models the way Landsat satellites use a thermal infrared sensor to measure land surface temperatures.

Learners follow directions to construct a solar oven that really cooks! The solar oven uses aluminum foil to reflect sunlight into a cooking chamber, which is painted black.