Search Results

In this engineering activity, learners examine bicycle mechanics and gear ratios. Learners determine which gears will help them bike a set course in the shortest amount of time.

In this activity, learners build a figure that moves and "comes to life" when they pull its string.

In this activity, learners explore electronic communication, the Morse Code system, and advances all the way through text messaging. Learners build a simple circuit, send messages to one another.

This activity explores the basic workings of a siphon, which is the core technology that makes toilets work.

In this activity, learners explore watercraft engineering and sailing.

This quick demonstration (on page 11 of PDF) allows learners to understand why scientists think water ice could remain frozen in always-dark craters at the poles of the Moon.

In this activity, learners explore the function and engineering of dams and how dams have many uses and solve many problems in the world.

In this activity, learners explore engineering package designs that meet the needs of safely shipping a product.

In this pencil and paper activity, learners work in pairs and simulate how astronomical spacecraft and computers create images of objects in space.

In this engineering design challenge, learners build an air-powered spinning machine.

In this activity, learners explore the history, design and motion of spinning tops. Learners work in teams of "engineers" to design and build their own tops out of everyday items.

In this activity, learners build a hot air balloon using just a few sheets of tissue paper and a hair dryer.

In this activity, learners work in NASA teams to build balloon-powered rockets using identical parts and compete to launch the greatest number of paper clips to "space" (the ceiling).

Margaret Pezalla-Granlund, a Minnesota artist, came up with this really fun and surprising activity using graphite from a pencil, connected with a Pico Cricket to tell a story: "The first time I saw s

In this activity, learners build helicopters and launchers using wooden dowels and scrap paper. Use this activity to explore rotational motion and kinetic and potential energy.

In this activity, learners mix milk, vinegar, baking soda, and water to create sticky glue. Use this activity to explain how engineers develop and evaluate new materials and products.

This demonstration (on pages 9-11) uses gelatin and lead pellets to model how aerogel, a technology used by NASA spacecrafts, is used to capture comet particles.

In this environmental activity (page 16 of the PDF), learners will calculate the amount of energy they save by recycling paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum materials over the span of a week.

This fun activity uses simple materials such as milk cartons and mirrors to introduce the ideas of optics and visual perception.

In this optics activity, learners make a simple telescope using two lenses and a cardboard tube. Learners construct the telescope and then calculate its magnification.