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Learners trace, cut out and fly a boomerang, outdoors or in a large indoor space.

In this activity, learners use a flexible magnet as a model for a scanning probe microscope (SPM). They learn that SPMs are an example of a special tool that scientists use to work on the nanoscale.

In this activity, learners explore how salt water freezes in comparison to fresh water.

In "Exploring the Universe: Exoplanet Transits," participants simulate one of the methods scientists use to discover planets orbiting distant stars.

Learners cut and fold a paper helicopter from the template in this PDF. They practice twirling the helicopter and observe what happens as they modify their tries.

In this activity, learners make a paper model of a polymer, then make Silly Putty, an actual polymer.

The "Rocket Reactions" activity is an exciting way to learn about how materials interact, behave, and change.

This quick demonstration (on page 11 of PDF) allows learners to understand why scientists think water ice could remain frozen in always-dark craters at the poles of the Moon.

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

In this activity, learners build helicopters and launchers using wooden dowels and scrap paper. Use this activity to explore rotational motion and kinetic and potential energy.

In this activity (on page 8), learners model how marble statues and buildings are affected by acid rain.

In this activity, learners imitate the way vocal cords work by building a model from a plastic cup, rubber band, and a straw.

In this activity/demo, learners investigate biobarcodes, a nanomedical technology that allows for massively parallel testing that can assist with disease diagnosis.

In "Exploring the Solar System: Stomp Rockets," participants learn about how some rockets carry science tools—not scientists—into space, and how a special kind of rocket called "sounding rockets" can

In this activity, learners build bridges and cantilevers in a series of "building out" challenges with straws and pins.

In this activity, learners create a model of a hot air balloon using tissue paper and a hairdryer. Educators can use this activity to introduce learners to density and its role in why things float.

In this activity (on page 5 of PDF), learners use dry ice and household materials to make scientifically accurate models of comets.

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.

This activity encourages visitors to build an electroscope—a simplified version of one of the tools scientists use to study the invisible forces on Earth and in space.

This is a great activity for investigating the basics of lift and drag as they pertain to flight. Learners will discover how to avoid "taking a nosedive" by building their own paper airplane.