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The Tinkering Studio Projects

 

Projects

The Tinkering Studio is primarily an R&D laboratory on the floor of the Exploratorium, but whenever possible we try to share our projects, activities, and developing ideas following an “open source” model. Learn how you too can enjoy our activities in your kitchen, garage, classroom, and community.

Masking tape and clothespins
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 52
Three people arrange sound makers on a magnetic surface
An Open Kit for Making Rhythms
Tinker with a set of open-ended materials and mechanisms to create sound patterns.
A series of colorful shapes are balanced on a wire
An Open Kit for Tinkering with Balance
This kit of reusable parts supports participants in building kinetic sculptures that balance on a single point.
Visitors tinkering with rollers on a ramp
An Open Kit for Tinkering with Rollers
Build rollers that move in whimsical ways or make surprising sounds as they scoot, wobble, and tumble down a wide wooden ramp.
A person interacts with coded animations of crabs
Animate Your World
Bring digital animations into the real world using Scratch and video sensing.
Polaroids of Balance Explorations
Balance Explorations
A varied collection of starting points and artistic expressions on ideas around balance.
Colorful mobile sculpture with geometric shapes suspended from a central pole.
Balancing Sculptures
Design whimsical kinetic sculptures by tilting, sliding, and suspending everyday objects in surprising arrangements.
A group of smiling adults sitting around a table, engaged in tinkering
Balancing Sculptures: Tinker for Yourself
Tinkering isn't just for kids—it’s a powerful learning tool for adults too. Try building balancing sculptures as a way to get started tinkering for yourself.
A person opens a book and an octopus jumps out
Bring a Book to Life!
Tinker with the video sensing blocks in Scratch to create animations that respond to actions in the physical world.
carboard_automata
Cardboard Automata
Explore mechanical elements such as cams, levers, and linkages to create your own moving sculpture.
chain_reaction_thumbnail.jpg
Chain Reaction
Rube Goldberg-inspired cause and effect contraptions using everyday materials and found objects.
Polaroids of chain reaction explorations
Chain Reaction Explorations
See the expansiveness of cause-and-effect, and how to make experiences like these at home.
circuit_boards_thumbnail.jpg
Circuit Boards
Tinker with electricity using common objects: batteries, lights, buzzers, motors, switches, etc.