This activity consists of two parts: an experiment and a design challenge. The experiment is designed to teach concepts of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, and how we can learn from hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions in nature to design materials with these distinct properties. The design challenge is a building competition, where …

In the hospital, doctors use endoscopic tools to perform minimally invasive surgeries on patients. These tools are developed by biomedical and mechanical engineers, who consider the difficulties that might arise for the surgeon, such as tight spaces or limited movement. Students will recreate this design process through erector sets or …

In this activity, students will build paper airplanes to learn about flight and what makes objects aerodynamic. They will then test their planes using a launcher: a cardboard ramp and a motor attached to a long piece of string. Building a launcher will emphasize the importance of consistent testing when …