The Exploratorium

In this activity, learners build bridges out of newspaper and tape to explore how structures are designed to bear loads.

This perception trick focuses on conflicting information to the brain...instead of trying to see two images, you're trying to get a bright spot by overlapping the image you see through two tubes.

Do you have an extra portable cassette tape player hanging around?

Can you deceive your eyes? When your eyes work normally, you see a nice 3 dimensional picture, but what happens when each eye sees something different?

In this activity related to music and sound vibrations, learners make a phonograph or record player out of simple materials. First, learners assemble the turntable, arm, and sound cone.

In this optics activity, learners explore why the sky is blue and the sunset is red, using a simple setup comprising a transparent plastic box, water, and powdered milk.

In this group activity, learners make multi-sided polygons with string.

In this activity, learners construct a simple electrolysis device. With this device, learners can decompose water into its elemental components: hydrogen and oxygen gas.

In this activity, learners simulate Otto von Guericke's famous Magdeburg Hemispheres experiment.

This activity is an investigation of static electricity. What happens when you get "static cling?" Basically, you pile up electrons on one thing, which attracts the protons in something else.