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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.

Design and Build a Wind Vane
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In this activity, learners design and build a simple wind vane —one of the oldest kinds of weather tools— and use it to show wind direction.

Invent a Plant
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In this activity, learners construct models of plants that are adapted to living under specific environmental conditions.

Catch the Wind
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In this weather activity (page 1 of the PDF), learners will construct their very own anemometer to measure wind speed.

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

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.

Identifying Erosion
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In this environmental science activity (page 3 of the PDF), leaners will identify and explain the causes of erosion.

Does the Moon Rotate?
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This fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity lets learners make 3-dimensional models of the Earth and Moon.

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

Erosion
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In this activity, learners model erosion using a clear shoebox and sand or soil.

Sled Kite
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In this activity, learners build a sled kite that models a type of airfoil called a parawing.
Up, Up and Away with Bottles
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In this activity, learners make water rockets to explore Newton's Third Law of Motion. Learners make the rockets out of plastic bottles and use a bicycle pump to pump them with air.

Pollen Tracks
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In this activity (on pages 30-36), learners simulate a dig for ancient pollen, to experience how paleobotanists study fossilized pollen in rocks to learn about early geological and climatological even

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.

Biodomes Engineering Design Project
In this design-based activity, learners explore environments, ecosystems, energy flow and organism interactions by creating a model biodome. Learners become engineers who create model ecosystems.