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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.
Paper Cover Up
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In this activity on page 11 of the PDF, learners use candle wax to make "invisible" designs that are revealed with watercolor paints.
Cupcake Delivery
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In this design challenge, learners will create wind-powered contraptions to transport a load, such as a cupcake or another small object, and test to see if they work.
Draft Detectives
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In this two part activity, learners become draft detectives by constructing their own draft catchers to detect drafts around windows or doors.
Boomerang
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Learners trace, cut out and fly a boomerang, outdoors or in a large indoor space.
Matraca
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In this activity, learners create a traditional Mexican noisemaker (a matraca) using cardboard, craft sticks, and a wooden dowel.
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.
Marble Game
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In this activity, learners construct a simple game to test their hand-eye coordination and steadiness of hand.
Pinball Wizard
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In this hands-on engineering project, kids use two simple machines, levers and inclined planes, to construct their own pinball machines.
Canine House of Cards
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This simple construction activity teaches the importance of architectural structure. Learners build and test designs for a paper "doghouse" strong enough to hold the weight of a jumbo dog biscuit.
Fused Plastic Wallet
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In this up-cycling activity, learners recycle plastic bags and repurpose them into useful wallets.
Exploring Materials: Thin Films
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In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.
Make a Garbage Bag Kite
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Make a kite out of a garbage bag, shower curtain, painting tarp--anything light, thin, flexible and plastic!
Set It Straight
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In this activity, learners build a simple tabletop seesaw to test how different variables (the position of the fulcrum, distance, weight) affect its balance under increasing weight loads.
Designer Ears: Make “better” ears!
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Find out what it would be like to have ears shaped differently from your own! Design and make different animal ears then try them out.
Pop Bottle Whirligig
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Learn about friction and kinetic energy with this cool spinning toy.
NEWspaper: Make Your Own Paper
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Learners make their own paper using old newspaper. Learners can make their paper colorful by adding construction paper.
Micro Automata
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In this activity, learners build small animated toys that move.
Lever Cowboy
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In this activity, learners build a figure that moves and "comes to life" when they pull its string.
Hot Air Balloon
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In this activity, learners build a hot air balloon using just a few sheets of tissue paper and a hair dryer.