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Showing results 41 to 60 of 115
Glass and Mirrors: An Inside Look at Telescopes
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This hands-on astronomy activity allows you to create a “cutaway” telescope to clearly show how reflector and refractor telescopes work.
Paper Bridges
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In this activity, learners build bridges using paper and explore how much weight each bridge design can support.
Straws and Pins
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In this activity, learners build bridges and cantilevers in a series of "building out" challenges with straws and pins.
Full of Hot Air: Hot Air Balloon Building
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In this activity, learners create a model of a hot air balloon using tissue paper and a hairdryer. Educators can use this activity to introduce learners to density and its role in why things float.
Wind Turbine
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Learners build a wind turbine and test it to see how much energy is created.
Cook Up a Comet
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In this activity (on page 5 of PDF), learners use dry ice and household materials to make scientifically accurate models of comets.
Clay Beams and Columns
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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.
Wingin' It
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Learners explore the Bernoulli effect by building an airfoil (airplane wing) and making it fly.
The Parachuting Egg
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In this activity, learners work in groups to design a parachute out of household items that keeps an egg secure when dropped from a certain height.
What's the Buzz?
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In this activity, learners construct a playable kazoo from inexpensive materials. They will experience how vibration creates sound waves and music.
Leaves: Designing Leaf Arrangements on a Branch
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In this hands-on activity, learners investigate the functional design of leaves on a tree.
Marble Run!
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This activity (on page 2 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Luge) is a full inquiry-based challenge related to motion and design optimization.
Nosedive
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This is a great activity for investigating the basics of lift and drag as they pertain to flight. Learners will discover how to avoid "taking a nosedive" by building their own paper airplane.
Bridge the Gap
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Learners work in groups to construct bridges using stale marshmallows and toothpicks.
Draggin' Boats
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Learners design, build, and test models of "dragon boats" made from up to three milk cartons.
Vectoring: Steering a Plane
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In this two part activity, learners work in pairs or individually to discover how vectoring the thrust from a jet engine affects movement of an airplane.
Prepare for a Dock Shop Field Trip
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In this activity, learners explore what makes a boat float and sink. They examine and test various objects to determine why objects float or sink.
Sky Glider Challenge
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In this design challenge activity, learners use two helium-filled balloons to build a blimp that can travel in a straight path across the room.
Garden Poles
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In this activity, learners build large-scale structures and cantilevers in a series of "building out" challenges with garden poles and tape.
Thrill Ride
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In this activity, learners will build a roller coaster for a marble to run on using everyday household materials such as paper towel or toilet paper rolls, cups, boxes, books, buckets, chairs, etc.