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Heavy Lifting: Design Squad
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In this engineering challenge, learners design and build a crane out of cardboard to see how heavy a load it can lift.
Building Tetrahedral Kites
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Working in teams of four, learners build tetrahedral kites following specific instructions and using specific materials.
Zig Zag Bopper
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In this activity, learners build a machine made of craft sticks to multiply the levering motion of their hands and create a device that bends and extends.
Lever Cowboy
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In this activity, learners build a figure that moves and "comes to life" when they pull its string.
Rubber Band Racer
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In this activity, learners construct speedy vehicles made out of paper plates and powered by twisted rubber bands.
Chain Reaction II
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In this hands-on activity, learners use an assortment of (mainly household) items to complete Rube Goldberg-type challenges.
Magnetic Seesaw
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In this activity, learners build a seesaw powered by magnets.
Catapult
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In this activity, learners build mini catapults using paint paddles and a spoon. Use this activity to introduce learners to forces and projectile motion.
The Squeeze is On
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Each group of learners uses everyday materials, such as paper, toothpicks, and tape to design and construct a structure intended to support the weight of a cinder block for 30 seconds.
Leaning Tower of Pasta
Learners build structures from spaghetti and marshmallows to determine which structures are able to handle the greatest load.
Solve The Fall
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In this twist on a classic design challenge, learners will try to stop a bouncy ball from bouncing as they explore how to control the fall of an object.
Homemade Rube Goldberg Machine
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In this fun and, at times, hilarious force and motion activity, learners will use household objects to build a crazy contraption and see how far they can get a tennis ball to move.
Simple Spinner
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In this activity, learners create a tiny electric, motorized dancer. Learners use the interactions of magnetism and electric current to make a wire spin, while displaying the Lorentz Force in action.
Balloon Drive
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In this challenge, learners make a helium balloon hover in one spot and then move it through an obstacle course using air currents.
Breaking Beams
Learners investigate stress and strain by designing, building, and testing beams made from polymer clay.
Digger
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In this activity, learners build their own construction cranes using tongue depressors and pushpins.
Weather Vane
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In this meteorology activity, learners build weather vanes using straws, paperclips, and cardstock.
Spaghetti Bridge
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Learners explore the field of civil engineering by making a bridge using spaghetti as their primary building material.
Cable Car
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In this activity, learners string a line across the room and build cable cars that can move from on end to the other.