Science Snackbook

From the Exploratorium’s famed Teacher Institute comes a unique, hands-on activity book that provides instructions for creating junior versions, or “snacks,” of many of the museum’s amazing exhibits. Designed by science teachers, these snacks can be used as classroom demonstrations, labs, science projects, or just for fun. All of the projects are easy to build with common materials.

This new edition includes updated activities plus several new snacks, illustrations, references, tips from teachers, and correlations to national science standards.

Using The Exploratorium Science Snackbook as your guide, you can construct an anti-gravity mirror, create electrical “fleas,” duck into a kaleidoscope, or build a bicycle wheel gyro. Discover how to create exhibits that explore the mysteries of energy and matter, light and color, force and motion, vision and perception, sound and hearing.

Sample Activities

Here are a few sample activities from The Exploratorium Science Snackbook.

Water-Bottle Membranophone
Staff member Vivian Altmann presents the "Snack" Water-Bottle Membranophone." Make some noise with simple materials
VIEW IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Bird in the Cage
Getting used to looking at one color can lead you to perceive an entirely different color.
MAKE IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Center of Gravity
Staff member Don Rathjen presents the “Snack” Center of Gravity. Find the center of gravity of almost any object just by using your fingers.
MAKE IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Charge and Carry
Staff member Paul Doherty presents the “Snack” Charge and Carry. Get a shock from a pie pan and some socks.
MAKE IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Colored Shadows
Staff member Modesto Tamez presents the "Snack" Colored Shadows. See how many colors you can make with only red, green and blue bulbs.
MAKE IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Descartes' Diver
Staff member Eric Muller presents the “Snack” Descartes Diver (Condiment Diver). Make an object sink and float by adjusting its density.
MAKE IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Hand Battery
Use your hands, metal plates, and few other materials to make a battery.
MAKE IT | WATCH THE VIDEO

Buy This Book

The Exploratorium Science Snackbook is available in the Exploratorium store.
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