SPARKmakers LLC

A Harbor for Wondrous Ideas | A Thinkering Portable Lab

Category: Spring

  • Balloon Cars!

    Balloon Cars!

    General Topics: Kinetic Energy, Mechanics, Physics, Simple Machines Grade Level: 2-3 In this activity we explored the process of how forces work and how a force in one direction can cause motion in the opposite direction (Newton’s third law). The exercise had the students learning how to make a car powered by a balloon to be blown…

  • Making Motors!

    General Topics: Electromagnetic Energy, Electronics, Physics, Simple Machines Grade Level: 2-3 In this activity we explored the process of how electromagnetism works and how electromagnetism is used to create motors! The exercise had the students learning how to make a very basic motor using a copper wire, magnets, and a battery passing current through the device. The…

  • Making a Lens Camera!

    Making a Lens Camera!

    General Topics: Optics, Physics, Visual Perception Grade Level: 2-3 In this activity we explored the process of building a lens camera. This exercise was used to teach how lenses work, from a camera to our own eyes. The students were given the materials to assemble and asked to explain various observations they made with their lens cameras.…

  • Making a Wooden Box!

    Making a Wooden Box!

    General Topics: Building, Energy Transfer, Physics Grade Level: 2-3 In this activity we explored the process of building a wooden box with a lid, held together with a fabric hinge. This exercise was used to teach the fundamentals and begin an easy introduction to building and creating. Students were then allowed to get creative and decorate…