“This setup is a compound pulley, which combine both fixed and moveable pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage.”
Ages 9-16
Compound Pulley | Ages 9-16
Fixed Pulley | Ages 9-16
“This cute little desktop flagpole is a single fixed pulley. A fixed pulley like this one doesn't win you any mechanical advantage, but it can still make things easier to lift since it lets you pull down instead of lift up.”
Ages 9-16
Fabric Parachutes | Ages 2-11
“The Fabric Parachutes made great homemade toys that kept my kids busy all day long! They had a great time practicing their sewing skills and then launching their parachutes from every high surface in the house! Best of all, these were absolutely free since we used leftover material from other projects!
Ages 2-11
Corrugated Cardboard Challenge | Ages 9-16
“Corrugated cardboard is a great and sturdy building material. What’s even better is that it’s super easy to come by--just check your recycling bins! So, here’s your challenge:”
Ages 9-16
Water Well | Ages 9-16
“Have you ever wondered how we get water from a well? Learn about it with this DIY!”
Ages 9-16
Leprechaun Trap | Ages 3-8
“St. Patrick's Day is a great time to learn about myths! Ancient Irish folklore tells a story of a mischievous leprechaun, a fairy who hides his pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. If caught by a human, a leprechaun will grant 3 wishes, in exchange for his freedom. Join us in this design challenge to create the ultimate leprechaun trap! May the luck of the Irish be with you!”
Ages 3-8
Jell-O Building Blocks | Ages 3-8
"Can you really make edible building blocks? Yes! They're pretty, fun, and require no specialized skills (unless you count heating and pouring). They're a great rainy day activity, and they make really fun party favors. The biggest challenge is keeping them uneaten long enough to play with them!”
Ages 3-8
Bunny Automaton | Ages 9-16
“Have a hoppy time with this do-it-yourself bunny automaton. With help from our templates and a bit of tinkering, you'll be able to create a bunny that hops along with a single push.”
Ages 9-16
Bow and Arrow | Ages 5-16
“Build your own bow and arrow and see if you can hit a target! Host a competition and see who can get the most points. “
Ages 5-16
Solar Oven | Ages 5-16
“Have you ever tried to harness the power of the sun to create some s'mores? Camping is the perfect time to do it. During the day, I set up my DIY solar oven and stacked up my ingredients inside. Then, I just let it sit while I went for a quick hike around the campsite. When I returned, I had a delicious, melted snack that was ready to eat thanks to my solar oven!”
Ages 5-16
Paper Circuit Menorah | Ages 6-16
“My kids recently experimented with the paper circuits project from Tinker Crate. So we decided to put our newfound knowledge to the test by creating a menorah using copper tape and LEDs. This can be an interesting challenge for kids to tackle. We definitely found ourselves designing one thing, trying it, and then optimizing with another design. It was tinkering at its best, which was really neat to see and very fun to watch!”
Ages 6-16
DIY Phone Speaker | Ages 5-16
“Make a rockin' customizable speaker for you and your friends to enjoy with just a few household items! Understand how sound vibrations can travel through different mediums and how the shape of the mediums can cause the sounds to be amplified!”
Ages 5-16
Archery | Ages 3-11
“I was so inspired by this Tiny Bow & Arrow set that I saw on the Brooding Hen... My six-year-old is fascinated with bows and arrows, so this craft stick/Q-Tip combo seemed liked the perfect starter set for my little knight.”
Ages 3-11
Tick-Tock Timer | Ages 5-16
“When you twist up this timer and let it go, the rubber band starts to unwind and swing a bead. But wait — the bead suddenly wraps around a pole, and the machine stops in its tracks! And then just as suddenly, the bead unwraps, and the machine starts moving again. The way it starts and stops is really similar to how clocks and watches tick and tock to keep time. Give this timer a spin below!”
Ages 5-16
Confetti Poppers | Ages 5-16
“For our New Year's Eve get-together, we created little confetti treat pop party favors to pass out. They were super simple to make and even simpler to pop! They're perfect for any celebration. We plan on making another set for an upcoming birthday party too.”
Ages 5-16
Light-Up Valentine | Ages 9-16
“This card is sure to be the highLIGHT of your Valentine's day! Conductive paint makes this an easy, but impressive, circuitry project.”
Ages 9-16
Pop-Top Rockets | Ages 12-16
“Celebrate the 4th of July with a pop and a bang! These mini rockets are so easy to make and so fun to set off, you’ll want to launch them again and again.”
Ages 12-16
Mini Snow Machine | Ages 9-16
“Create the magic of snow without all the cold! With a set of simple electronics, we created a mini snow machine to mimic a winter blizzard.”
Ages 9-16
Water Bottle Lantern | Ages 9-16
“When the sun goes down and the stars come out, a campsite can get pretty dark if you don't have a lantern. I made my own lantern with a water bottle. That's right, a DIY lantern. You can make one, too, and share the light with friends and family during your next camping trip.”
Ages 9-16
Cork Animal | Ages 3-9
“Sculpting, building and creating with new materials is a fun way to be creative and use the wonderful power of imagination. Putting a few new things in front of my children always surprises me in the best way. I love seeing what they create.”
Ages 3-9