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Exploring Materials: Nano Gold
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.
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Exploring Tools: Special Microscopes
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use a flexible magnet as a model for a scanning probe microscope (SPM). They learn that SPMs are an example of a special tool that scientists use to work on the nanoscale.
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Exploring Materials: Thin Films
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.
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Exploring Shadows
Source Institutions
This activity guide features three related explorations to help learners ages 3-6 investigate shadows via the following science concepts: A shadow is made when an object blocks the light; you can chan
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Audio Boggle: Make a Sound Track
Source Institutions
Audio Boggle is an activity that lets you listen to a track (that you make yourself) and see what you can hear!
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Eye Spy
Source Institutions
This fun activity uses simple materials such as milk cartons and mirrors to introduce the ideas of optics and visual perception.
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Do Plants Need Light?
Source Institutions
In this food science activity, learners conduct an experiment that demonstrates the importance of light to plants.
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Build a Soundscape
Source Institutions
This is a virtual representation of a sound mixer containing pre-looped sounds of animal, insect, and environmental noises.
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Mirror Messages
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use mirrors to write secret messages to a friend. Use this activity to explore letters, optics, and/or symmetry.
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Super Sleuths
Source Institutions
In this physical sciences activity, learners use science to solve a "crime." Learners collect trace evidence (glitter) and explore its characteristics, such as color, size, shape, and light reflection
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Dance Pad Mania
Source Institutions
Make your own "Dance Dance Revolution" dance pad! In this design challenge activity, learners work in teams to build a dance pad that lets you use your feet to sound a buzzer or flash a light.
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What's the Buzz?
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners construct a playable kazoo from inexpensive materials. They will experience how vibration creates sound waves and music.
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Globe at Night
Source Institutions
In this international citizen science activity, learners measure their night sky brightness and submit their observations into an online database.
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Motion Picture
Source Institutions
During this hands-on activity, learners are briefly exposed to moviemaking and animation, when they create their own thaumatropes.
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Kaleid-o-mania
Source Institutions
In this hands-on activity, learners build their own kaleidoscopes and explore how light can reflect of off surfaces such as mirrors, to produce beautiful patterns.
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Build a Band
Source Institutions
In this design challenge activity, learners build a four-stringed instrument that can play a tune.
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Make a Shaker
Source Institutions
This hands-on activity shows you how to make a shaker -- a small instrument with a big sound! Fill it with beads or even pennies for a cool sound.
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Paper Chromatography with Leaves
Source Institutions
In this activity on page 5 of the PDF (Plants—The Green Machines), learners use chromatography to separate and identify pigments within various leaves.
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Screaming String Thing
Source Institutions
In this simple and fun activity, learners discover the relationship between vibration and sound by making a squeaky toy instrument out of simple household materials.
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House Warming
Source Institutions
In this physical sciences activity, learners explore how passive solar design increases energy efficiency.