Hands-On Activities

Hands-On Activities for Every Environment

Inspire the problem-solver in every student with easy-to-implement activities that inspire students to tackle real-world challenges while developing fundamental understanding of the world around them.

Fun with Adhesives

Fun with Adhesives

K–2

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Immerse students in a sticky real-world problem for which they will invent an original solution using everyday household items.

In The Mix

In The Mix

K–2

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Students will learn how to sort objects by their properties and discover how properties like size can be useful for separating mixtures.

Light and Shadow

Light and Shadow

K–2

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Students learn about the interaction of light with objects by collecting data focusing on objects that are transparent, reflective, and opaque.

Oil Spill Clean-up

Oil Spill Clean-up

K–2

Classroom Activity

Give students a proactive opportunity to learn about oil spills with an activity exploring the science of environmental preservation.

Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Make Ice Cream in a Bag

K–2

Family Activity

Dig into the chemical properties and reactions involved in concocting a beloved dessert with a fun look at changing states of matter.

Recycling: Old Made New

Recycling: Old Made New

K–2

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Get students started on the path to understanding scientific classification as they investigate the properties that determine an object’s recycling potential.

Slippery Soil

Slippery Soil

K–2

Classroom Activity

Kickstart conversations about deforestation with a hands-on activity that lets students step into the roles of environmental engineers.

Don’t Slip!

Don’t Slip!

3–5

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Students will investigate the power of friction as they test the force needed to move, gather data on their findings, and inspire home safety ideas.

How Strong Is It?

How Strong Is It?

3–5

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Students will collaborate on an investigation into the sticky factor of Post-it® Notes with an activity exploring adhesion.

Interaction at a Distance

Interaction at a Distance

3–5

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Take students inside the science of magnetic attraction as they collect data about the magnets they commonly interact with.

Numbers in Nature

Numbers in Nature

3–5

Family Activity

Unlock the mathematical mysteries of our complex natural world with an exploration into the intersection of science and math.

Tornado in a Bottle

Tornado in a Bottle

3–5

Family Activity

Find out how tornadoes work by creating your own simulation! This activity immerses students in weather science—without the wet clothes!

Strong as Newspaper!

Strong as Newspaper!

3–5

Classroom Activity

Show students how crucial good design and engineering are to the strength and durability of a structure as they take on the role of architects.

The Everyday Science of Eggs

The Everyday Science of Eggs

3–5

Classroom Activity

Crack into the anatomy of an egg with an experiment that lets students test a hypothesis and explain their findings visually.

The Everyday Science of Sound

The Everyday Science of Sound

3–5

Classroom Activity

Tune into the physics of sound and music with a hands-on activity that lets students analyze the behavior of soundwaves.

Cushion It!

Cushion It!

6–8

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Go inside the dynamic science of collisions with an activity that lets students practice their inquiry skills as they learn about the protective power of cushioning.

Create a First Aid / Emergency Preparedness Kit

Create a First Aid / Emergency Preparedness Kit

6–8

Family Activity

Reinforce the importance of safety and preparedness as students use research to design their own homemade first aid kit.

DIY Detective Lab - Book ‘em and Print ‘em

DIY Detective Lab - Book ‘em and Print ‘em

6–8

Family Activity

Students can step into the role of forensic scientists investigating evidence and solving household whodunits as they learn the science of fingerprinting.

Make a Model Windmill

Make a Model Windmill

6–8

Family Activity

Breathe new life into students’ understanding of energy production as they build their own miniature windmill—featuring both easy and advanced options.

Solar Cooking

Solar Cooking

6–8

Family Activity

Harness the amazing energy emitted by the sun with a hands-on activity that lets students build their own solar cooking device.

Drive It Green

Drive It Green

6–8

Classroom Activity

Bring green energy innovations into the classroom with a three-part lesson in which students imagine greener transportation solutions for their families.

It’s Getting Hot in Here

It’s Getting Hot in Here

6–8

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Take students inside the science of home energy sources as they learn about solar energy through research and collaboration.

It’s Too Loud!

It’s Too Loud!

6–8

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Students investigate and collaborate to discover the ways that sounds can be measured and influenced in order to create the most safe and pleasant volume levels for listening.

Make It All Better!

Make It All Better!

6–8

Classroom Activity

Empower students with a three-part lesson in which they will identify real challenges in their communities and prototype innovative solutions.

Right Back at You!

Right Back at You!

6–8

Family Activity & Classroom Activity

Students investigate the reflectivity of light as they learn how to make a DIY reflectivity tester out of common everyday items.

The Everyday Science of Sports

The Everyday Science of Sports

6–8

Classroom Activity

Discover the aerodynamics of golf balls as students work in teams to evaluate the physics and engineering used in sports equipment design.

The Everyday Science of Sports Your Brain

The Everyday Science of Sports Your Brain

6–8

Classroom Activity

Uncover the amazing capabilities of the human brain as students harness the science of memory to find lifehacks that they can apply daily.

Student Activities

Balloon Electroscope

Balloon Electroscope

K–2

Student Activity

Give students a closer look at the science behind static electricity as they construct a simple device capable of measuring static charges.

Balloon Rocket

Balloon Rocket

K–2

Student Activity

Students can harness the same scientific principles that power space travel with an activity in which they build a multistage rocket.

Charged Fingers

Charged Fingers

K–2

Student Activity

Embrace the subtle magic of static charges in students’ everyday environment as they explore how our bodies interact with electricity.

Disappearing Glass

Disappearing Glass

K–2

Student Activity

Examine the optical illusions created when glass objects are submerged in cooking oil, with an activity that illuminates the basics of light refraction.

Gelatin Optic Fibers

Gelatin Optic Fibers

K–2

Student Activity

Give students an up-close look at the effects of light refraction in their environment using gelatin dessert and a laser pointer.

Pie Pan Accelerometer

Pie Pan Accelerometer

K–2

Student Activity

Investigate the formula for gravity as students get a chance to demonstrate gravitational acceleration using a simple but effective method.

Salt Engineering

Salt Engineering

K–2

Student Activity

Reimagine engineering mechanics by exploring the way salt crystals can be used to transfer forces in a directional way.

Sandwich Bag Dart Board

Sandwich Bag Dart Board

K–2

Student Activity

Dive into the power of polymers with an activity that lets students test the limits of plastic, one of the most common types of polymers.

Triboluminescence

Triboluminescence

K–2

Student Activity

Ignite a small (and totally safe!) flash of light using a commonly consumed food product, as students learn about the interactions of electrical charges.

Water Jug Race

Water Jug Race

K–2

Student Activity

First one to empty the jug wins! And it's not as easy as it sounds...