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Exploring Materials: Nano Gold
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In this activity, learners discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.

Collect Oxygen Over Water
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In this activity, learners use a pneumatic trough (see related activity) to generate and collect pure oxygen.

The Power of Words
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This simple, yet surprising physics demonstration challenges preconceptions about forces, and demonstrates the strength of atmospheric pressure.

Exploring Materials: Liquid Crystals
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In this activity, learners discover that the way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale.

Smelly Balloons
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In this activity, learners sniff out scents hidden in balloons! After investigating, learners discover we sometimes can use another sense (smell) to detect things too small to see.

Cartesian Diver
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In this demonstration, learners observe the effects of density and pressure. A "diver" constructed out of a piece of straw and Blu-Tack will bob inside a bottle filled with water.

Amazing Marshmallows
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In this demonstration, learners observe the effects of air pressure. They will watch as marshmallows inside a bottle expand as a vacuum pump removes air from the bottle.

Morphing Butterfly
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In this activity, learners explore how nanosized structures can create brilliant color.

Gravity Fail
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In this activity, learners try pouring water out of a regular cup and a miniature cup. It’s harder than it sounds! Learners discover that different forces dominate at different size scales.

Gummy Shapes
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In this activity, learners use chemistry to “self-assemble” gummy shapes. Learners discover that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures.

Waterproof Hanky
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In this physics demonstration, learners will be surprised when a handkerchief holds water in an upside-down glass.

An Ice Lens
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In this optics activity, learners discover basic lens-making techniques by using a tennis ball to make a lens out of ice.

Whose Fault Is It?
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In this seismic simulation, learners play a "who-dunnit" game to explore earthquakes.

Jem's Pykrete Challenge
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In this activity, learners make pykrete by freezing a mixture of water and a material like cotton wool, grass, hair, shredded paper, wood chips, or sawdust.

Introduction to the New Chain Gang
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In this activity, learners use pop-beads to understand the characteristics and properties of polymer chains.

Rubber Band Thermodynamics
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In this demonstration, learners explore the thermal properties of rubber. Learners investigate whether a rubber band contracts or expands when heated.

What Smart Metal!
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In this activity (pages 3-4), learners investigate the properties of smart materials, which are materials that respond to things that happen around them.

Sound Dampeners
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In this activity, learners will experiment with water- and air-filled balloons as a way of dampening sound before it reaches their ears.

Salts & Solubility
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In this online interactive simulation, learners will add different salts to water and then watch the salts dissolve and achieve a dynamic equilibrium with solid precipitate.

Lava Lamps
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Learners observe working lava lamps to understand how they work (included in PDF link).