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Small Worlds
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This is a simple activity fully driven by imagination. Using materials from the home, toys, or items from nature, learners create their own world to play with.
Edible Model of the Sun
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In this activity, learners make "solar cookies," edible models of the Sun's outer layers using sugar cookies and toppings.
From Polliwog to Frog
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In this activity, learners discover how frogs' bodies change while growing from a tadpole to a frog. Learners create a simple craft that gives a visual display of the metamorphosis process.
Pyramids and Triangles
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Straws and pipe cleaners are terrific materials for building models of pyramids and cubes.
Butterfly Life Cycle
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In this activity, learners will explore the insect life cycle by making a model.
Engineer an Octopus Suction Pad
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In this engineering design challenge, learners build an octopus-inspired suction pad that can grab an object and hold it tightly in the air.
Engineer an Aeolipile
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In this engineering design challenge, learners build an air-powered spinning machine.
Soaring Towers: Building with Recycled Materials
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In this activity, learners will build the highest tower they can out of recycled materials.
As Straight as a Pole
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In this engineering activity (page 3 of PDF), young learners investigate how a pole can be made stable by “planting” its base in the ground or adding supports to the base.
Morning Star and Evening Star
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This demonstration activity models how Venus appears from Earth.
Designing a Wall
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In this engineering activity (page 5 of PDF), young learners investigate how materials and design contribute to the strength of a structure, particularly walls.
Thirsty Candle
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In this activity, learners will explore the dynamics of air pressure by using a candle, a cup, and a dish of water.
My Insect
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In this activity, learners use information gathered from a variety of sources to design and make their own insect.
Lego Mania
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In this activity, learners will put together towers using building bricks, then take the tower apart and challenge themselves to use the same bricks used to build a bridge.
Paper Bridges
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In this activity, learners build bridges using paper and explore how much weight each bridge design can support.
Straws and Pins
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In this activity, learners build bridges and cantilevers in a series of "building out" challenges with straws and pins.
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.
Clay Bridges
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In this activity, learners make bridges using an oil-based modeling clay (plasticene). The instructions include discussion questions for both before and after bridge building.
Clay Beams and Columns
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In this activity, learners make or use pre-made clay beams to scale and proportion. Specifically, they discover that when you scale up proportionally (i.e.
Modeling the Night Sky
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In this two-part activity, learners explore the Earth and Sun's positions in relation to the constellations of the ecliptic with a small model.