DOWNLOADS
The activity downloads listed below are organized by theme. Getting Around, Robots and People, Design Process, and Curriculum Resources
Activity downloads support local and national science, math, and technology literacy standards. You can view the educational standards related to a given activity by clicking the link. Educator downloads are appropriate as either classroom or at-home family activities. They are ideal for children in grades 3 - 8, but can be modified for other audiences.
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- DESIGN CHALLENGE: CREATE THE STRONGEST ELECTROMAGNET
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Design, test, and improve an electromagnet to find out how strong you can make it.
An electromagnet is a magnet that can be turned on and off using electricity. These types of magnets are commonly used in cranes to pick up and move metal objectsby turning the magnet on and off. Electromagnets also lift and propel magnetic levitating trains. In this activity you will create your own electromagnet using a battery, wire, and a nail. Then you will make modifications to try to make your electromagnet stronger.
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- PLEASE PASS THE SALT: CREATING A FLOATING VEHICLE
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Construct your own floating vehicle that can transport salt across a table.
Hovercraft are vehicles that float above the ground by forcing a cushion of air under the vehicle. In this activity you will create your own hovercraft with a balloon, a water bottle top, and an old CD.
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- MYSTERY BOXES: USING YOUR SENSORS
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Use your senses of sight, smell, touch, and hearing to discover as much as you can about a hidden object.
We use our senses to perceive and make sense of our environment. A robot uses electronic sensors to perceive and make sense of its environment. In this activity, you will use your senses other than sight to figure out what object is hidden from view. In this way, you will learn how a robot might investigate a similar situation.
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- IN THE BALANCE: MODELING A WALKING ROBOT
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How would you balance a moving object such as a human or a robot? Take on these challenges and learn how well you can balance.
An object can balance only if its center of gravity is supported by a base. If the object's mass is not centered over its base, it will fall over. Try these balance challenges to gain a better understanding of the difficulties associated with balancing oddly shaped moving objects such as robots or people. What skills or sensors would a robot need to be able to balance?
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- ROBOT PROGRAMMING: IT’S AS EASY AS 1,2,3
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Challenge yourself to break down the ordinary task of putting on a jacket into simple steps that a robot could follow.
Giving instructions to a robot might be more complicated than you think! In this activity, you will try to instruct a "robot" how to do an ordinary task by breaking it down into simple steps. Make sure that you give enough detail so that the robot doesn't get confused!
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- BACK-TO-BACK GAME: COMMUNICATION CHALLENGE
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Find out how difficult it is to give directions without using visual clues.
It's harder than you think to communicate without using visual information. You might not realize how often you rely on your sense of sight when giving and getting directions. In this activity, you will explain to a partner what to build or draw and see if their creation matches yours when you are both done.
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ENGINEERING DESIGN
- CHAIN-REACTION CONTRAPTION
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Create an imaginary contraption that takes multiple steps to complete a simple task.
In a chain-reaction contraption, one action triggers another action, which triggers another action in sequence, and so on and so on. This game uses pictures of everyday objects and challenge cards to create an imaginary chain-reaction contraption. Engineers and designers in the real world and in Star Wars begin by using imagination. Play this game and imagine your own crazy and creative contraptions.
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BRAINSTORMING
Some helpful hints for brainstorming sessions.
Whether you are an engineer or a filmmaker, brainstorming is a key part of the design process, and can be a lot of fun! There are lots of ways to brainstorm. Some people like to generate a lot of ideas in a few minutes. Other times people brainstorm for an entire day. Try out these tips and find out what works best for you!
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CURRICULUM RESOURCES
CONNECTION TO EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS
Technological literacy standards supported by the exhibit include: developing an understanding of the relationship between technology and science, the effects of technology on the environment, and aspects of transportation, construction, and robotics; and practicing abilities to apply the design process and to assess the impacts of products and systems.
Our downloadable document highlights how each section of the exhibit maps to Educational standards.
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ENGINEERING DESIGN CYCLE
An example of the design process that an engineer might follow.
There are many steps between an initial engineering design and the final product. Engineers use a process that might include the steps: imagine, plan, create, test, and improve. This allows an engineer to assess and redesign their creation to ensure that it fulfills its design purpose.
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