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In this Engineering Design Challenge activity, learners will use balloons to investigate how a multi-stage rocket, like that used in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, can propel a sat

In this quick activity, learners use a toaster to investigate the source for the Earth's wind. Learners hold a pinwheel above a toaster to discover that rising heat causes wind.

This lesson focuses on molecular motion in gases. Learners compare the mass of a basketball when it is deflated and after it has been inflated.

In this activity, learners use simple materials and basic tools to construct a special toy to explore pendulums. As the head of the toy bobs one way, the eyeballs bob the other way.

Use this model to demonstrate the goal of NASA's Kepler Mission: to find extrasolar planets through the transit method.

In this activity, learners model ancient lunar impacts using water balloons.

In this activity, learners construct speedy vehicles made out of paper plates and powered by twisted rubber bands.

In this activity, learners model directed evolution by making paper fly. Learners construct and fly paper airplanes.

In this activity, learners build a bird that flies in place with help from a motor, wire, and some straws.

In this activity, learners build an old-fashioned paddle boat out of simple materials.

In this engineering/design activity, learners make a kite, fly it, and then work to improve the design. Learners explore how their kite design variations affect flight.

In this activity, learners build a speedboat using paint paddles, a propeller, and film canister. Learners attach a simple circuit and motor to the boat to power the propellers.

Build your own version of a favorite carnival game, in which a marble races down a maze consisting of rows of nails.

Using paper, paper clips, an index card, and tape, teams of learners design flying devices to (1) stay in the air as long as possible and (2) land as close as possible to a given target.

In this activity, learners prepare four polymer elastomers and then compare their physical properties, such as texture, color, size, and bounce height.

Learners drop two different masses of play dough and observe how long it takes them to hit the ground.

In this math activity (Page 17 of the Play Ball! PDF), learners play a game of "baseball" and analyze the results of the game.

Learners build a pendulum from a yo-yo, and then design their own experiment to determine what affects the pendulum's period of swing.

In this design challenge activity, learners invent a pinball-like game where a kick stick hits a ping pong ball into a target that buzzes.

In this engineering activity, learners design their own board games.