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Linkages
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This design challenge is an open-ended exploration of linkages, a group of parts connected by hinges, and the types of motion they can create.
Tops
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In this activity, learners discover that some things only stand up while they are spinning.
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.
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.
Design a Microexpression Zoetrope
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In this engineering design challenge, learners animate a facial expression and make a machine (zoetrope) that plays the animation back.
Animal House
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The goal of this activity is to design, build and test a house or toy for an animal.
Pop Bottle Whirligig
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Learn about friction and kinetic energy with this cool spinning toy.
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.
Bobbing Eyeballs
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In this activity, learners use simple materials and basic tools to construct a special toy to explore pendulums. As the head of the toy bobs one way, the eyeballs bob the other way.
Push Pull Painter
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In this activity, learners create painting machines that can paint moving forwards and backwards.
Race Around the Black Hole
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In this game, learners cutout a model black hole "cone" and attempt to roll around a marble or other small spherical object without touching the event horizon.
Opti-Top
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In this activity, learners will create an optical illusion top. Learners will explore color mixing, physics and design through this activity.
Clay Bridges
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In this activity, learners make bridges using an oil-based modeling clay (plasticene). The instructions include discussion questions for both before and after bridge building.
Magnetic Seesaw
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In this activity, learners build a seesaw powered by magnets.
Go Fly a Kite
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In this hands-on activity, children create their own kites that can fly indoors. Learners are exposed to basic concepts of gravity and air resistance.
Woodpecker
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In this activity, learners construct a traditional handicraft toy that illustrates a motion commonly associated with violins and earthquakes.
Cranking Bird
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In this activity, learners build a mini crank machine to make a bird "fly." This engineering activity introduces learners to automata, rotational motion, cranks and cams.
Thrill Ride
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In this activity, learners will build a roller coaster for a marble to run on using everyday household materials such as paper towel or toilet paper rolls, cups, boxes, books, buckets, chairs, etc.