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Cupcake Delivery
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In this design challenge, learners will create wind-powered contraptions to transport a load, such as a cupcake or another small object, and test to see if they work.
Building Tetrahedral Kites
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Working in teams of four, learners build tetrahedral kites following specific instructions and using specific materials.
Balloon Car
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In this physics activity, challenge learners to make and race a balloon-powered car. Learners construct the body out of a paper cup, wheels out of wooden spools. and fuel tank out of a balloon.
Magnetic Marble Run
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Learners explore magnetism and motion as they build a simple marble run. Learners test different arrangements of plastic and cardboard tubes, bottles, and cups on a magnetic board.
Float My Boat
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In this activity, learners use tinfoil to build and test their own boats - which designs will float, and which will sink?
Lever Cowboy
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In this activity, learners build a figure that moves and "comes to life" when they pull its string.
Stop the Stretching
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Learners work with plastic sheeting, masking tape, and string to design the perfect material for plastic chair webbing, and then construct their webbing.
3-2-1 POP!
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In this physics activity, learners build their own rockets out of film canisters and construction paper.
Paper Airplane Contest
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In this fun physics activity (page 9 of the pdf), learners take part in a paper airplane design challenge.
Chain Reaction II
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In this hands-on activity, learners use an assortment of (mainly household) items to complete Rube Goldberg-type challenges.
Marble Ride
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In this activity, challenge learners to design a roller coaster ride for a marble using cardboard and other simple materials.
Trebuchet Toss
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In this activity, learners explore trebuchet design. Teams of learners construct trebuchets from everyday materials.
Water Rocket Launch
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In this activity, learners explore rocketry and the principals of space flight.
Give Me a Brake
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In this activity, learners explore the concept of how brakes can stop or slow mechanical motion.
Build a Borneo Glider
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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
Puff Mobile
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In this engineering activity, challenge learners to design a car using only 3 straws, 4 Lifesavers™, 1 piece of paper, 2 paper clips, tape, and scissors.
High Rise
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In this design challenge activity, learners build a tower that can support a tennis ball at least 18 inches off the ground while withstanding the wind from a fan.
The Squeeze is On
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Each group of learners uses everyday materials, such as paper, toothpicks, and tape to design and construct a structure intended to support the weight of a cinder block for 30 seconds.
Leaning Tower of Pasta
Learners build structures from spaghetti and marshmallows to determine which structures are able to handle the greatest load.
Solve The Fall
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In this twist on a classic design challenge, learners will try to stop a bouncy ball from bouncing as they explore how to control the fall of an object.