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The Size and Distance of the Planets
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In this activity, learners investigate the concepts of relative size and distance by creating a basic model of the solar system.

Balloon Impacts
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In this activity, learners measure the diameter of their water balloons, model an impact, measure the diameter of the “crater” area, and determine the ratio of impactor to crater.

Jump to Jupiter
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In this activity, learners help create and then navigate an outdoor course of the traditional "planets" (including dwarf planet Pluto), which are represented by small common objects.

The Thousand-Yard Model
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This is a classic exercise for visualizing the scale of the Solar System.

As the Rotor Turns: Wind Power and You
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In this engineering activity, learners will get acquainted with the basics of wind energy and power production by fabricating and testing various blade designs for table-top windmills constructed from

Strong Shapes
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Is a square stronger than a triangle? Use tongue depressors to build simple shapes. Then apply a little weight to them and see what happens!

Solar Water Heater
Learners work in teams to design and build solar water heating devices that mimic those used in residences to capture energy in the form of solar radiation and convert it to thermal energy.

Straws and Airplanes
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Create airplanes from straws and geometric shapes. Test them out to see how far they can fly, or how accurately they can be aimed.

Build a Solar System
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In this activity, learners make a scale model of the Solar System and learn the real definition of "space." Learners use the online calculator to create an appropriate scale to use as a basis for thei

Sled Kite
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In this activity, learners build a sled kite that models a type of airfoil called a parawing.

Floodplain Modeling
In this design-based lesson, learners study flood dynamics as they modify a riverbed with blockages or levees to simulate real-world scenarios.

Dunking the Planets
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In this demonstration, learners compare the relative sizes and masses of scale models of the planets as represented by fruits and other foods.

Saguaro Nest Cavities
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This activity (on page 3 of the PDF under GPS: Cactus Activity) is a full inquiry investigation into how some desert birds keep their cool.

Construction and Destruction
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In this three/four-day lesson, learners calculate perimeters and areas and draw the castle plan to scale.

Rocket Wind Tunnel
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In this activity, learners evaluate the potential performance of air rockets placed inside a wind tunnel.

Lift Off!
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This activity (on page 2 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Lift Off) is a full inquiry investigation into the engineering challenges of sending scientific sensors into space.

Garden Poles
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In this activity, learners build large-scale structures and cantilevers in a series of "building out" challenges with garden poles and tape.

Solar System in My Neighborhood
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In this activity, learners shrink the scale of the vast solar system to the size of their neighborhood.

Milk Carton Boats
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This activity (on page 2 of the PDF SciGirls Activity: Milk Carton Boat) is a full inquiry investigation into boat hull design.

Exploring Strange New Worlds
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This fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity lets learners explore model planets (that they or an educator will create), using methods NASA scientists use to explore our Solar System.