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Design a Microexpression Zoetrope
Source Institutions
In this engineering design challenge, learners animate a facial expression and make a machine (zoetrope) that plays the animation back.
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Bubble Tray
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use simple materials to create giant bubbles.
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Straw Kazoo
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make some music by constructing a kazoo out of a simple plastic drinking straw. Use this activity to explore sound, vibrations, and music.
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Why Are Bubbles So Colorful?
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore why they can see colors in bubbles and why they change.
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Dr. Vet: Noses, Ears, Legs and Eyes
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners practice counting and multiplication as they figure out how many animal body parts they have to examine as "Dr. Vet."
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Lever Cowboy
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a figure that moves and "comes to life" when they pull its string.
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Programming Languages: Harold the Robot
Source Institutions
In this activity related to computer programming, learners give directions to a "robot" (either an adult or another learner) and find out which instructions the robot is able to follow, and how their
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Buzzing Bee
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore sound by constructing an instrument toy that buzzes when you swing it.
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Design a Grabbing Tool
Source Institutions
Using simple materials from around the house and recycled materials, learners will engineer a grabber device to pick up and put down objects that are at least 12 inches away.
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Tactile Mazes
Source Institutions
In this activity (15th activity on the page) about the sense of touch, learners use glue and cardboard to construct a maze they use with their eyes closed.
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Oscillating Woodpecker
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will experiment with the physics of forces - kinetic energy and friction while making a moving toy woodpecker.
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Periscope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct a device that allows them to look over ledges or around corners.
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Motion Picture
Source Institutions
During this hands-on activity, learners are briefly exposed to moviemaking and animation, when they create their own thaumatropes.
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Straw Pipes
Source Institutions
Learners build pan pipes out of drinking straws by cutting them to different lengths. Then, learners make music by blowing across the straws and playing some well-known songs.
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Phenakistascope
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners build an animation tool to make mini movies. When you spin a phenakistascope, the pictures move so quickly that your eyes and brain can't separate the images.
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Spinning Tops
Source Institutions
Create your own spinning top, and explore color, shapes and spinning. This activity contains instructions for making your spinning top, and tips on how to design and decorate it.
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Kaleidoscope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners investigate the reflective properties of light and mirrors as they make a kaleidoscope.
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Thaumatrope Illusion
Source Institutions
Design and create an optical illusion toy that makes two pictures appear to become one. This is called a thaumatrope and will allow the learner to investigate the phenomenon of persistence of vision.
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Glitter Slime
Source Institutions
In this activity on page 8 of the PDF, learners make a slimy substance very similar to mucus, and sprinkle it with glitter to imitate the way that allergens are trapped.
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Thaumatrope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make an optical illusion toy from the 1800s to explore persistence of vision.