Search Results
Showing results 1 to 20 of 26
Build Your Own Wind Turbine
Source Institutions
Learners construct an electricity-generating wind turbine out of a plastic bottle.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-001-801.gif?itok=Nn1wbkVT)
Fan Cart
Source Institutions
If a sailboat is stranded because there is no wind, is it possible to set up a fan on deck and blow wind into the sail to make the boat move?
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-001-785.gif?itok=oVx2aChU)
Laser Lissajous: PVC Version
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use a laser pointer and two small rotating mirrors to create a variety of fascinating patterns, which can be easily and dramatically projected on a wall or screen.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-002-322.png?itok=koOK-mvw)
Plugged in to CO2
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners investigate various appliances and electronics, discovering how much energy each uses and how much carbon dioxide (CO2) is released to produce that energy.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-653.png?itok=69YhohO-)
Kinetic Sculpture: Program the Pico Cricket to Make Your Art Light Up or Spin
Source Institutions
Use a Pico Cricket (micro-controller) to animate your art! You can program a Pico Cricket to make your art spin, light up, or make music.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-001-650.gif?itok=icGlDqOX)
Gel Electrophoresis
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners simulate the process of DNA fingerprinting by using electricity to separate colored dyes.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-655.png?itok=f9FudK0l)
Smart Domino Tricks
Source Institutions
In this activity, you take regular dominoes, and turn them into conductive switches that can turn on a LEGO RCX block or Pico Cricket (micro controller). LEGO RCX block or Pico Cricket is required.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-651.png?itok=ZrukUpPQ)
Musical Sculpting Machine: Squeeze Play-Doh to Make Music
Source Institutions
Play-Doh is conductive! Use the semiconductive qualities of Play-Doh to make your own squeezable instrument. Pico Cricket is required.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-650.png?itok=81KFdKMO)
Fruit Xylophone: Fruit Salad Instrument of the Future!
Source Institutions
This is a perfect summertime lunch activity! Pico Cricket is required (micro controller). First, get a bunch of cut up fruit, line them up, then plug a piece of fruit with a Pico Cricket sensor clip.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-652.png?itok=QPvv497U)
Interactive Pencil Drawings: Drawings That Tell a Story!
Source Institutions
Margaret Pezalla-Granlund, a Minnesota artist, came up with this really fun and surprising activity using graphite from a pencil, connected with a Pico Cricket to tell a story: "The first time I saw s
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-979.png?itok=gb7ksbyI)
Pickle-oh!: Musical Pickle Instrument
Source Institutions
What's a Pickle-Oh? Two pieces of pickle on a stick are connected to a Pico Cricket (micro controller). When you slide the pickles apart the note changes.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-616.png?itok=F72uVQjA)
Social Fireflies: Pico "Firefly" Communication
Source Institutions
Make two firefly lanterns, then program them to blink to one another and change colors.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-001-786.gif?itok=_W-FGo6g)
Laser Lissajous: Binder Clip Version
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use a laser pointer and two small rotating mirrors to create a variety of fascinating patterns, which can be easily and dramatically projected on a wall or screen.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-003-361.jpg?itok=f6CnoXhr)
Wind Turbine
Source Institutions
Learners build a wind turbine and test it to see how much energy is created.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-004-124.png?itok=x7tA2SlQ)
Dough Creatures
Source Institutions
In this technology activity, learners light up the room with electrifying play dough creations. Learners use conductive and insulating homemade play dough to build simple circuits.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-004-125.png?itok=N-Rt0dbZ)
High Tech Fashion
Source Institutions
In this technology activity, learners build simple circuits, design soft circuits using conductive thread, and then sew switch-activated circuits.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-003-990.png?itok=BAgO4zhA)
Arduino Blink Challenge
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore computer programming and the impact of computers on society. Learners build and test a program to turn a light on and off using an Arduino board.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-003-945.jpg?itok=2wxKy4fZ)
Using Ohm's Law to Build a Voltage Divider
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners apply Ohm’s Law to construct voltage divider circuits. Learners discover how to read resistor codes and calculate resistor values.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-000-654.png?itok=dpFMApYW)
Musical Ice: How to Make an Ice Theremin
Source Institutions
Build a musical ice theremin by programming a micro controller, like a Pico Cricket to respond to resistance generated by the ice melting, or the ice being touched.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/square_100/public/resource_images/smile-000-000-003-096.jpg?itok=0pDtM4_z)
Racing with the Sun: Creating a Solar Car
Source Institutions
Learners use engineering design principles to construct and test a fully solar-powered car. Solar car kits usually include a photovoltaic cell and motor; some include a chassis as well.