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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.

The Shape of Floatation
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In this activity (on page 2 of the PDF under GPS: Sailboat Design Activity), learners will discover how the shape of an object, not just its weight, determines whether it floats or sinks.

Spaghetti Bridge
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In this engineering activity, learners investigate the differences between the strength of bridges made from flat and round building materials.

What Smart Metal!
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In this activity (pages 3-4), learners investigate the properties of smart materials, which are materials that respond to things that happen around them.

Brick Drop Challenge
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In this design challenge, leaners attempt to build a strong structure out of LEGO® bricks that can withstand a 4-foot drop.

Spaghetti Bridge
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Play with your food while learning about engineering! Build a spaghetti bridge, then test its strength by piling on the marshmallows, raw spaghetti, raw linguine and coins.

Exploring the Nanoworld with LEGO Bricks: Probing the Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale
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In this activity (pages 17-31), learners are introduced to techniques that are used to determine the structures of solid materials.

Strengthen a Paper Bridge
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In this quick activity (page 1 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Tug O' War), learners will test how many pennies a flat paper index card bridging the gap between two stacks of books is able to supp

As Straight as a Pole
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In this engineering activity (page 3 of PDF), young learners investigate how a pole can be made stable by “planting” its base in the ground or adding supports to the base.

Designing a Wall
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In this engineering activity (page 5 of PDF), young learners investigate how materials and design contribute to the strength of a structure, particularly walls.

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.

Foam Tower
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In this activity (page 1 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Water Slides), learners will whip up some suds with a cup of water and a tablespoon of dish soap until the bubbles are stiff enough to star

Three Little Pigs Construction Company
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In this activity about problem-solving, learners build a house for the Three Little Pigs using twenty straws and two index cards.

Build A Treetop Walkway
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Build and test a scale model of a rainforest canopy walkway.

Critical Load
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In this activity, learners explore the concepts of structural engineering and how to measure the critical load, or the maximum weight a structure can bear.

Hail Storm House
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In this activity, learners construct hail-proof houses using recycled materials to discuss storm readiness and safety.
Dowels and Rubber Bands I
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If you have 3-foot dowels and rubber bands, you can can started on this fun and open design challenge. You can make structures big and small: make it so you can fit your parent into it!

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.

Sticky Structures
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In this engineering/design/arts and crafts activity, learners design and build "platforms" or "bridges" that can hold weight, and test which glue makes the strongest structure.

Build A Dome
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In this activity, learners explore the structural strength of triangles by creating their own free-standing geodesic dome out of plastic straws.