Activities
These design challenges and science experiments cover topics like physics, chemistry, engineering, the environment and more! Need help getting started? Check out our Parent Tips.
Check out these activities in Spanish on our En Casa page.
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10 Days of Design Challenges
The educators and scientists at The Tech Interactive have created 10 different design challenges for you to try. Some will make you think. Some are a little silly. But if you stick with us, in just 10 days we promise you’ll be a more confident builder! A more ingenious innovator! And a more creative ... creator!
Duration: 10+ minutes each day
Create with Cardboard
For this design challenge, look around for some cardboard- any kind will do! Boxes, recycled packages, paper tubes, whatever you have on hand. Then see what you can prototype! Try building a tall tower or something strong enough to hold weight. Test out your prototype and see how it performs. Make changes and keep experimenting!
Duration: 20+ minutes
Subject: Engineering
Design for All: Face Masks for Friends Sponsored by Stanford Children's Health
In this activity, you will play the role of a product designer, identify a user (like a favorite stuffed animal or person!) and get to know their individual needs. You will create a design concept for a face mask, focusing on its fit and comfort.
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Design Thinking
Making with Microbes
Ever wanted to grow your own paper or plastic? Or create leather that doesn’t use animals? All these can be done at home by collaborating with microbes — tiny microscopic organisms — to grow a custom biomaterial.
Duration: 30+ minutes to create; one week to grow
Subject: Biodesign
Roller Coasters
In this design challenge, you will create your own roller coaster, using a marble or small ball as your cart. This activity is a great introduction to hands-on engineering for children 6 and up, and it can be used to introduce connections of energy and friction for older children.
Duration: 20+ minutes
Subject: Engineering, Physics
Algae String
Who needs boring old plastic? Get creative and use simple at-home chemistry to transform natural materials from living seaweed into flexible, colorful string! What will you create?
Duration: Make algae gel: 20 min
Let gel rest: 1 hr- overnight
Make calcium bath: 5 min
Make string: 30 min
Subject: Biodesign, Chemistry, Materials Science
Cupcake Delivery
Imagine you want to deliver a yummy cupcake (or precious package) to someone special. It's a very windy day, so you've decided to build a wind-powered device to carry your gift. But you're going to have to think carefully to make sure your gift is delivered safely without getting smashed or broken!
Duration: 30+ minutes
Subject: Hands-on engineering
Engineering for Earthquakes
Build a structure to take on an earthquake. Our latest activity sizes up your seismic safety. You’ll make a simple shake table and then construct a building that can withstand your shakes, rattles and rolls.
Duration: DIY Shake Table: 5-30 min
Earthquake-Safe Structure: 45+ min
Subject: Engineering Design Challenge
Gyroscope Dancing
How smooth are your dance moves? Can you spin like a gyroscope without falling over? Gyroscope dancing involves keeping one part of the body completely still while dancing with the rest. In this experiment, dancers will see if they can keep the accelerometers on their smartphone from detecting motion while they move and groove. All you need is a smartphone, the Arduino Science Journal app, an armband phone holder and at least two people! Gyroscope Dancing is a fun data challenge for your brain and your body!
Duration: 15 minutes
Subject: Data Science, Physical Education
Linkages
A linkage is created by connecting two or more rigid parts to make a flexible hinge; you can keep it simple or develop complex mechanical motion by connecting multiple linkages to create all kinds of contraptions. (Think flapping wings, dancing robots, chomping sharks!) At The Tech we especially love how linkages inspire the creation of whimsical characters with surprising motions.
Duration: 20+ minutes
Subject: Design Thinking, Engineering
Puzzling Procedure
Have you ever tried to think like a computer? Guess what? You probably do it all the time without even knowing! In this fun activity you’ll apply your computational thinking skills to jigsaw puzzles. In addition to doing a puzzle, you’ll create an algorithm or set of instructions to help someone else solve jigsaw puzzles.
Duration: 30+ minutes
Subject: Computational thinking, algorithms, computer science
Biomimicry Mash-Up
Nature is full of solutions to various problems— whether it be protection from predators, inhabiting harsh environments, or finding a meal. Use biomimicry to learn about unique organisms and be inspired to create something new for human use!
Duration: 20+ minutes
Subject: Design Thinking
Cabbage Inks
Can you make color-changing paint from a simple cabbage? No doubt, sauerkraut. This activity from the scientists behind our BioTinkering Lab brings together biology, chemistry and art for an experience that is all science, and a little bit of magic.
The cabbage inks activity was made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), Grant Number R25 GM129220, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Extract: 1 hour
Mix: 30 min
Create: 30 min-3 days
Subject: Biodesign, Chemistry, Art
Decontamination Algorithm
We know that our hands carry a lot of germs, but seeing is believing! This fun, two-person activity has a friend use colored cornstarch to create a trail of evidence of things they’ve touched. Then, using computational thinking instead of looking, you’ll create a sequence of questions to help you figure out what surfaces are “contaminated.”
Duration: 20+ minutes
Subject: Computational thinking, algorithms, problem-solving
Design for All: Project Playground
Become a playground designer and create a space that is fun, both for you and other kids. Sketch out your plans for the latest and greatest playground, designed for you and a fictional friend, then introduce everyone to the playground of the future!
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Design Thinking
High Tech Hot Potato
In this twist on the classic party game, the “hot potato” is a DIY container for your smartphone to keep it as still (and safe!) as possible. After designing your “hot potato,” load your phone and record the motion detected by the phone’s accelerometers while it’s passed around. Work as a team to analyze the graphs and reduce the amount of motion detected.
Duration: 15-20 minutes
Subject: Data science
Pollinator Pit Stop
Pollinators have one of the most important jobs on earth. One way we can help our pollinator friends is to build them pit stops, or temporary habitats where they can rest and eat. In this activity, you will learn about an insect and then design and build a pollinator pit stop that will meet its needs.
Duration: 60 minutes, 3-4 days to observe
Subject: Biology
Responsible Reservoirs
You’re the mayor of a growing town and you need to decide whether or not to build a new dam to generate electricity. What factors will you consider? Would thinking like a computer help you decide? Play Responsible Reservoirs to find out!
Duration: 20+ minutes
Subject: Environmental Science
