Search Results
Showing results 1 to 20 of 27
Gravity in Action
Source Institutions
Explore the effects of gravity on a slowly falling object: a parachute you make out of plastic bags, string and stones.
Canine House of Cards
Source Institutions
This simple construction activity teaches the importance of architectural structure. Learners build and test designs for a paper "doghouse" strong enough to hold the weight of a jumbo dog biscuit.
Set It Straight
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners build a simple tabletop seesaw to test how different variables (the position of the fulcrum, distance, weight) affect its balance under increasing weight loads.
Weighty Questions
Source Institutions
In this activity about humans and space travel (page 1 of PDF), learners compare and contrast the behavior of a water-filled plastic bag, both outside and inside of a container of water.
Egg Bungee Jump
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners design a bungee jump for an egg using nylon stockings.
A Pressing Engagement
Source Institutions
In this quick and easy activity and/or demonstration, learners illustrate the effect of the weight of air over our heads.
Clay Bridges
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make bridges using an oil-based modeling clay (plasticene). The instructions include discussion questions for both before and after bridge building.
Clay Beams and Columns
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make or use pre-made clay beams to scale and proportion. Specifically, they discover that when you scale up proportionally (i.e.
Wind Tube
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore moving air and the physics of lift and drag by constructing homemade wind tunnels.
Balloon Flinker
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make a helium balloon "flink"--neither float away nor sink to the ground. Use this activity to introduce physics concepts related to gravity, density, and weight.
Paper Cup Stool
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will explore how and why weight distribution works.
Big Things Come in Little Packages
Source Institutions
As a group, learners investigate three packages which are all the same size and shape, but have different contents. One is filled with foam, one is filled with wood, and one is filled with metal.
How Many Pennies?
Source Institutions
In this math activity, learners pretend there is a special store that lets you pay for toys by their weight in pennies.
Stack 'Em Up
Source Institutions
In this simple and fun activity, learners build a tower of cups to explore distribution of weight. Learners make predictions about their towers and test their designs.
Sticky Structures
Source Institutions
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.
Make a Mobile!
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make mobiles to explore the concepts of balance, counterbalance, weight, and counterweight.
Aluminum Boats
Source Institutions
Test the buoyancy of an aluminum foil boat and an aluminum foil ball. Why does the same material in different shapes sink or float?
Measurement: Sand Babies
Source Institutions
In this math lesson, learners explore and investigate measurement using standard and non-standard units.
Make a Balance / Scale
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a kind of balance device using a wire coat hanger, some string, and paper cups.
Light as Air
Source Institutions
In this physics activity (page 6 of the PDF), learners will demonstrate air has weight by comparing an inflated balloon to a deflated one.