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Grades: K-2

Anti-Gravity Mirror
Learn how to fly with this neat mirror trick.
Science activity that demonstrates the angle of repose
Avalanche
Find order in well-mixed chaos.
A science activity to discover the diversity of insect life in your neighborhood
Backyard Bug Bonanza
Step outside and discover the diversity of insect life in your neighborhood.
Science activity using a balancing ball to demonstrate the Bernoulli principle
Balancing Ball
Suspend a ball in a stream of air.
Science activity demonstrating balance and the center of gravity
Balancing Stick
Does it matter which end is up?
Science activity to create a toy that sounds like a swarm of buzzing bees
Bee Hummer
Make a stick, rubber band, and index card sound like a swarm of bees.
Science activity demonstrating the physics of bubbles
Bubble Tray
Create giant bubbles!
Science activity that demonstrates center of gravity
Center of Gravity
Balance a checkbook using the physics method.
Science activity that demonstrates temperature perception
Cold Metal
"Cold" metal and "warm" wood may be the same temperature.
Science activity that demonstrates color perception illusion
Color Contrast
A colored object may look different against different-colored backgrounds.
Science activity that demonstrates effect of color filters on perception
Color Table
Color your perception.
Science activity that demonstrates perception of additive color mixtures
Colored Shadows
Not all shadows are black.
Science activity that demonstrates fluid pressure and buoyancy
Condiment Diver
To paraphrase French philosopher René Descartes: "I sink, therefore I am."
Science activity to demonstrate the Magnus effect by launching cups with rubber bands
Curveball Demonstrator
Give flight a spin with the Magnus effect.
Science activity that demonstrates how differently shaped ears affect your hearing
Designer Ears
Make “better” ears!
Science activity that demonstrates perception of camouflage and movement
Disappearing Act
If you want to stay hidden, you’d better stay still.
Science activity to investigate earlobes
Ear Sort
Do your ears hang low—and what do textbooks know?
Science activity demonstrating static electricity
Electrical Fleas
Start your own electric flea circus.
Science activity that demonstrates an image formed by a lens
Giant Lens
A lens creates an image that hangs in midair.
Science activity that explores heat absorption by different-colored materials
Give and Take
Dark-colored materials both absorb and emit energy more readily than light-colored materials.
Science activity that demonstrates use of nonstandard measurements and simple ratios for estimating sizes or distances
Handy Measuring Tool
Measure the height of an object indirectly using your hand and a ratio.
Science activity to play music by wrapping a string around your head
Head Harp
Learn a little string theory.
Science activity experimenting with a frozen water balloon
Ice Balloons
Chill out with a frozen water balloon and explore some beautiful science.
Science activity to investigate convection
Inverted Bottles
Watch the rise and fall of hot and cold fluids.
Science activity that demonstrates differences in density
Klutz-Proof Density Column
Gravity doesn’t care if you trip.
Science activity that investigates reflections
Look into Infinity
Images of images of images can repeat forever.
Science activity to make an instrument that creates the sound of rain falling
Make Your Own Rainstick
Listen to the sound of rain falling—anytime, anywhere.
Science activity that demonstrates force and acceleration of marshmallows
Marshmallow Puff Tube
If you blow harder, will it go farther?
Science activity that demonstrates finding the approximate masses of very small things
Microbalance
For a few hundredths of a dollar, you can weigh a few thousandths of a gram.
Science activity that demonstrates light wave interference
Moiré Patterns
Imperfect alignment can lead to interesting patterns.
Science activity that demontrates pendulums of different lengths swinging to their own rhythms
Pendulum Snake
Pendulums dance in a shifting series of patterns as they swing to their own rhythms.
Science activity that demonstrates persistence of vision
Persistence of Vision
Your eye and brain can hold on to a series of images long enough to form a single complete picture.
Science activity that demonstrates resonance of sound waves
Pipes of Pan
When you hold a seashell to your ear, you can hear a steady roar.
Science acitivity that explores decomposition with worms
Productive Poop
Turn your kitchen trash into garden treasure.
Science activity that demonstrates proprioception
Proprioception
Wiggle where you're at.
Science activity that investigates the pupil
Pupil
Your pupil changes size to control how much light enters your eye.
Science activity that transmits sounds through your body instead of the air
Radiohead
Listen to the radio in an unconventional way.
Science activity that demonstrates electrostatics
Remote-Control Roller
Wield electrons and protons to roll a can.
Science activity that produces musical sounds only you can hear
Secret Bells
Create your own personal sound system with a coat hanger and string.
Science activity to explore a developing plant embryo
See Inside a Seed
Examine the baby plants inside the seeds we eat.
Science activity to observe the process of plant development
Seed Germinator
Watch the life of a plant embryo unfold.
Science activity that uses color chromatography to discover the secret colors hidden in black ink
Separation Anxiety
Use water to learn about black magic…markers.
Science activity that demonstrates depth perception
Size and Distance
So close, yet so far away.
Science activity that demonstrates sound conduction
Sound Bite
Tune in to tunes with your teeth.
Science activity that encourages participants to ask questions and carry out investigations
Sound Cups
Use your senses and science skills to figure out what’s inside your Sound Cup.
Science and art activity that demonstrates pitch and vibration
Sound Sandwich
Make beautiful music with sticks, straws, and rubber bands.
Science activity that demonstrates sound localization
Stereo Sound
Locating the source of a sound is mostly a matter of timing.
Science activity that demonstrates resonance in a musical instrument
Straw Oboe
Two lips make sound.
Science activity that demonstrates depth perception
Thread the Needle
Using two eyes gives you depth perception.
Science activity to create an instrument that produces sound from a vibrating stretched membrane
Water-Bottle Membranophone
This surprising instrument is fun to make—and even more fun to play.
Science activity that demonstrates the force of inertia
Whack-a-Stack
Conduct a hard-hitting investigation into Newton's first law.
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Attribution: Exploratorium Teacher Institute