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Showing results 21 to 40 of 44
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Puppet Play
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will make a marionette puppet and put on a show. Learners will explore color, design, fabrication and storytelling through this activity.
Build a Borneo Glider
Source Institutions
In this inquiry-based activity, learners investigate the basic forces of flight as they construct their own paper glider that represents a rainforest creature from Borneo (large, tropical island in So
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Hang Time
Source Institutions
Learn how to make and fly a paper helicopter! This simple activity includes a template (for the copter "blades") and instructions for folding, flying, and testing designs.
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Thrill Ride
Source Institutions
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.
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Speed, Eggs and Slam!
Source Institutions
In this fun hands-on activity, learners create a safety device to protect an egg "passenger" in a toy car crash. Learners experiment with different solutions to this very problem.
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Spinning Illusions
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct three optical illusion toys to examine how our brains play tricks on what we see.
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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.
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Balancing Sculptures
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will use a variety of household and/or natural objects to design a sculpture that balances from a single point.
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Tall Tower Challenge
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will use their chosen material to build the tallest tower possible in under three minutes. This activity uses problem solving and fine motor skills to challenge learners.
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Echo Base Bobsleds
Source Institutions
The goal of this activity is to build a miniature bobsled that is either the fastest or the slowest. Learners use recycled materials to design, build, and test their bobsled on a bobsled track.
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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.
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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.).
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Zipline
Source Institutions
In this design activity, learners create a vehicle that can transport a load, like a favorite toy or as a recycled object, from the top of a zipline to the bottom using only gravity.
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Airboat
Source Institutions
In this activity related to Newton's Laws of Motion, learners build a boat powered by a propeller in the air.
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Engineering Ups and Downs
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore the engineering and principles behind working elevators.
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Let's Make Music
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will create their own percussion instrument with recycled materials. Learners will explore design, fabrication, cause and effect and sound through this activity.
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Roller Coasters
Source Institutions
In this design challenge, learners will create their own roller coaster using household objects for the track and a marble or small ball as their cart.
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Sail Car Design
Source Institutions
This activity (on page 3 of the PDF under GPS: Sailboat Design Activity) is a full inquiry investigation into design optimization.
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Invent on the Spot
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners design a device to solve a problem: how to get a ball out of a drain pipe.
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Cardboard Automata
Source Institutions
Cardboard Automata are a playful way to explore simple machine elements while creating a mechanical sculpture.