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In this activity, learners will use a variety of household and/or natural objects to design a sculpture that balances from a single point.

In this activity, learners of all ages will design a functional bird feeder using familiar, every day materials.

In this design challenge activity, learners invent a convenient way for someone using crutches or a wheelchair to carry small personal items.

In this activity, learners design and build a Zoom-a-rang using everyday materials. Experiment with different materials and Zoom-a-rang designs to see how they fly.

In this activity, learners use things from the kitchen as building materials to explore how shapes contribute to the strength of different structures.

In this twist on a classic design challenge, learners will try to stop a bouncy ball from bouncing as they explore how to control the fall of an object.

In this activity, learners explore how boats are engineered to achieve speed.

In this activity, learners explore how engineers design tire treads to increase safety and reliability.

In this design challenge activity, learners use tubes of newspaper to make a table that’s at least eight inches tall and strong enough to hold a heavy book!

In this design challenge activity, learners build a car that can travel at least four feet using rubber band power and use the design process to debug problems.

Learners explore the endless possibilities of cardboard engineering in this open-ended STEAM activity. Practice being creative by building structures with no glue, only cardboard and scissors.

In this activity, learners construct three quick and simple mechanisms to start building a pop-up book. Learners fold, cut, and glue paper to make a bird beak, parallelogram, and V-fold.

In this activity, learners construct a home-made journal with simple, everyday materials.

Learners use engineering design principles to construct and test a fully solar-powered car. Solar car kits usually include a photovoltaic cell and motor; some include a chassis as well.

In this activity, learners will explore engineering concepts to construct a blanket fort using materials sourced from home.

In this activity, learners use simple, everyday materials to experiment with balls and ramps.

In this design challenge activity, learners add a jet-propulsion system (i.e. a balloon) to a blimp so it flies straight and far under its own power.

In this challenge, learners make a helium balloon hover in one spot and then move it through an obstacle course using air currents.

In this design challenge activity, learners add headphones to a previously built instrument (see "Build a Band" activity) to make it easier to hear.

This activity (on page 2 of the PDF under GEMS Activity) is a full inquiry investigation into technology design and testing.