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This activity lets you program your 'robot' (a willing friend) to pick up and dispose of some 'toxic waste' using as few commands as possible.

This activity explores the main algorithms that are used as the basis for searching on computers, using different variations on the game of battleships.

In this activity (on pages 41-47 of PDF), learners explore tesselating geometric patterns (repeated shapes, similar to the art of M.C. Escher).

Learners test their "light-smarts" by playing a game called "Light Quest!" The game board represents an atom and each player represents an electron that has been bumped into the atom's outer unstable

In this tabletop activity (on pages 32-40), learners make Möbius strips -- 3D surfaces with only one side.

In this activity, learners help a poor cartographer color in the countries on a map, making sure each country is colored a different color than any of its neighbors.

In this activity (posted on March 27, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a mini zoetrope, a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures.

In this activity, learners will measure the length of a shadow and use the distance from the equator to calculate the circumference of the earth.

In this activity about tangrams, learners print and cut out their own tangram shapes and solve puzzles by fitting these geometric pieces together in a variety of ways.

Wheels aren't the only things that can "roll" objects that are placed on top of it. Make non-intuitive shapes from cutouts and a compass to demonstrate this.

See what force a magnet has on a wire that has current running through it: will it push it, pull it, or will nothing happen? This is the foundation of a simple electric motor.

What's a more compelling problem to solve than being stranded on a deserted island?

In this two-part activity, learners map a navigation plan to get from Earth to Mars and back. In activity one, learners represent the orbital paths of Earth through dance and dramatic movement.

Design a vessel that tests the limits of wind power given a set of off the shelf and recycled materials.

A design challenge that takes paper airplanes into an entirely different direction: a magnus glider uses cups and and rubber bands to create a glider that uses the same forces that a curveball (from b

In this activity (on pages 49-54 of PDF), learners play with tangrams, a set of triangles, squares and a parallelogram that can combine into a larger square as well as all sorts of other shapes.

In this design challenge, learners will use computational thinking to design their own board game.

If you have lights, cardboard, scissors, and some brass fasteners, you can make shadow puppets! Create a story-telling and design challenge for your learners with this simple and creative activity.

Make a cuíca (“kwee-ka”), a traditional Brazilian musical instrument that originated in Africa. Played primarily in Brazil, now you can play it at home, too, with this Exploratorium produced activity.

If you have 3-foot dowels and rubber bands, you can can started on this fun and open design challenge. You can make structures big and small: make it so you can fit your parent into it!