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.

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?

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.

Electric Paddle Boat
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build an electric two-paddle boat using paint paddles, plastic knives, and empty water bottles.

Creepy Crawlers
Source Institutions
Trick your family and friends with this creepy crawler that moves up and down. In this activity, learners construct a circuit and motor device that will move a homemade spider in a spooky way.

Build a Bubble Circuit
Source Institutions
In this engineering design challenge, learners make a bubble maze that allows bubbles to move through a series of “on” and “off” switches.

Bottle Cars
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore motion, energy, and electricity by constructing bottle cars that run on motors.

Pico Cricket Compass
Source Institutions
Learners can program a compass to draw a circle by itself using a Pico Cricket, some Legos, and lots of tape! Pico Cricket is required.

Motor Effect
Source Institutions
In this activity about electricity and magnetism, learners examine what happens when a magnet exerts a force on a current-carrying wire.

Motor Bird
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a bird that flies in place with help from a motor, wire, and some straws.

Speedboat
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a speedboat using paint paddles, a propeller, and film canister. Learners attach a simple circuit and motor to the boat to power the propellers.

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.

Push Pull Painter
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create painting machines that can paint moving forwards and backwards.

Wind Turbine
Source Institutions
Learners build a wind turbine and test it to see how much energy is created.

Personal Fan
Source Institutions
Cool off in the heat with this project! Learners use simple materials to build a fan that runs on a motor.

Scribbling Machines
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore electronics and motion by making a Scribbling Machine, a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path.

Simple Spinner
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a tiny electric, motorized dancer. Learners use the interactions of magnetism and electric current to make a wire spin, while displaying the Lorentz Force in action.

Cup Draw (Low Tech)
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct drawing machines using a cup, some markers, and a battery pack. The markers act as "legs" for the machine, making a drawing that records as it moves.

Cup Draw
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct drawing machines using a cup, some markers, and a cricket to control the movement. A programmed LEGO RCX or Cricket is required for this high-tech version.

Paper Tape Motion Timer
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a recording timer made from simple materials (e.g., small dc motor, sharpie pen, craft sticks, adding machine paper tape, etc.).