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Make a Sun Clock: Tell Time with the Sun
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Before there were clocks, people used shadows to tell time. In this outdoor activity, learners will discover how to tell time using only a compass, a pencil, a handy printout, and a sunny day.
Graph Dance
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In this activity, learners "dance" (move back and forth at varying speeds) by reading a graph. This is a kinesthetic way to help learners interpret and understand how motion is graphed.
Cup Speaker
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Make your own speaker with a magnet, wire, and paper cup! If you have a radio with a headphone plug and an old pair of headphones, this is a great tinkering activity.
Shell Shifts
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Ocean acidification is a big issue due to the amount of carbon dioxide humans release. CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed into the ocean thus changing its acidity.
Scaling Cubes
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In this activity, learners explore scale by using building cubes to see how changing the length, width, and height of a three-dimensional object affects its surface area and its volume.
Tired Weight
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Yes, you can weigh your car by figuring out your wheel's tire pressure combined with the "tire's footprint." You'll need someone with a car, driver's license, and safety in mind.
Throwing Pi
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In this calculus activity, learners use a classic problem of geometrical probability to find an important mathematical constant (pi).
Solving Playground Network Problems
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In this activity, learners use cooperation and logical thinking to find solutions to network problems on the playground.
Coffee-Can Cuíca
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Make a cuíca (“kwee-ka”), a traditional Brazilian musical instrument that originated in Africa. Played primarily in Brazil, now you can play it at home, too, with this Exploratorium produced activity.
Make Your Own Rainstick
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In this activity, leaners build their very own rainsticks, an instrument filled with pebbles and seeds that create sounds like falling rain. Save costs by using material found around the home.
Vocal Visualizer
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With a bit of PVC, a laser, a can/cup, and a small mirror, you can make a device that visualizes you voice or any sound transmitted into the cup/can.
Indicating Electrolysis
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Electrolysis is the breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen. This Exploratorium activity allows learners to visualize the process with an acid-based indicator.
Life Size: Line 'em up!
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In this activity on page 1 of the PDF, learners compare the relative sizes of biological objects (like DNA and bacteria) that can't be seen by the naked eye.
Polarized Light Mosaic
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In this activity, learners use transparent tape and polarizing material to create and project beautifully colored patterns reminiscent of abstract or geometric stained glass windows--no glass required
Inverse Square Law
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In this math activity related to light, learners explore why a light, such as a candle or a streetlight, looks dimmer the farther away from it we get.
Polarized Sunglasses
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In this activity, learners explore how polarizing sunglasses can help diminish road glare.
Handy Measuring Ratio
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In this activity, learners use their hands as tools for indirect measurement.
Penny Battery
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In this activity, learners light an LED with five cents. Learners use two different metals and some sour, salty water to create a cheap battery.
Oil Spot Photometer
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In this math activity related to light, learners assemble a photometer and use it to estimate the power output of the Sun.
Traveling Networks
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In this geometry activity, learners explore networks painted on playgrounds, such as a four square court, and draw their own.