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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.

Visitors add drops of copper sulfate solution onto a steel nail. They observe the nail change color from silver to brown as the copper plates onto the nail.

Visitors prepare six solutions combining vinegar and ammonia that range incrementally from acid (all vinegar) to base (all ammonia).

Construct a simple battery that's able to power a small light or motor out of foil, salt water, and charcoal. A helpful video, produced by the Exploratorium, guides you along on this activity.

Learners set up three different bowls, each with a different mass of oatmeal. Learners monitor the temperature of the oatmeal and find that larger masses take longer to cool.

Perform this classic inertia demonstration to illustrate the transfer of potential energy to kinetic energy.

In this engineering design challenge, learners build an air-powered spinning machine.

In this activity, learners build a hot air balloon using just a few sheets of tissue paper and a hair dryer.

Visitors observe a bottle with a balloon attached around the mouth. The bottle contains a solution of yeast, sugar, and water.

In this activity, learners make a miniature greenhouse or "terrarium" to explore the greenhouse effect.

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.

In this activity, learners discover how solar energy can be used to heat water.

In this activity, learners make a model of a power plant that uses steam. Learners use simple materials like foil, a tin can, and a pot of water to model a geothermal power plant.

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

This trick from Exploratorium physicist Paul Doherty lets you add together the bounces of two balls and send one ball flying.

In this activity (on page 2 of PDF), learners create a low-tech refrigerator that requires no electricity to keep food from spoiling.

In this activity, learners take apart a used zinc-carbon dry cell battery.

In this activity, learners explore the concept of friction and how ball bearings reduce friction.

In this activity, learners explore how engineers work in a team to solve problems.

Make a model city happier with LEDs, circuits, motors, and batteries! Groups can think, discuss, design, and build what would make a community happy. Kids can work as part of a team or on their own.