Activity
PBS

Primary Source Set: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What did Jo write her stories with? How did the March sisters dress? A primary source set designed for Louisa May Alcott's Little Women prompts learners to look over images of household items and clothes from the 1860s before...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Watt Meters to Measure Energy Consumption

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
It used watt amount of energy? This resource investigates the power usage of small household appliances. Using a watt meter, groups measure the actual wattage used by an appliance and then calculate the energy used daily. 
Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Red Cabbage Chemistry

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Using the natural pH indicator of red cabbage juice, groups determine the pH of different everyday liquids. As they work, pupils gain an understanding of pH that may help deal with contaminants in the water supply. 
Activity
IMAX

Hubble

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore what it takes to service the Hubble telescope. In the set of three activities, groups investigate several aspects of the Hubble telescope, including robotic arms used during repairs, spacesuits, and extravehicular activity (EVA)...
Lesson Plan
Space Race

Sensory Detectives

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
Test your learners' sensory awareness with three hands-on activities that ask pupils to use their other senses to identify and describe everyday objects hidden from sight.  
Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Density Column Lab - Part 2

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Groups suspend objects within layers of liquids to determine the densities of different liquids and compare them to the densities of objects calculated in Part 1. The groups then carefully test their calculations by layering the...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Where There Is Charge, There Can Be Sparks!

For Students 9th - 10th
In this short science project you will learn how to build a capacitor using common household items. By testing different charge cycles, you will work to discover how much charge is stored in a Leyden jar capacitor.
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenge: Build a Blooming Flower

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Can you create a blooming flower that would attract pollinators? This Curiosity Machine project challenges students to make this flower using common household items. Site includes a place for students to document their process as well as...
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Design a Wind Up Mars Rover

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Using common household items, students are challenged to build a Mars rover that can travel using elastic energy. Site includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their design process.
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Engineer a Space Tool

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Using common household items, make a tool that an astronaut could use to pick up an object in space. This site also includes tips, lesson plans, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Build a 3 D Object Out of Tetrahedra

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Can you build a 3-D object out of tetrahedra that is as big as you are? With this challenge, students will be using common household items to build their tetrahedra structure. Site contains the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place...
Activity
Technovation

Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Balance a Dinosaur

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Using common household items, students are challenged to build a dinosaur at least 6" tall that can balance on two legs using counterbalances. This website contains the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document...
Activity
Physics Central

Physics Central: Physics in Your Glass: Racing Molecules

For Students 6th - 8th
An easy experiment for demonstrating and exploring molecule movement requiring common household items: two glasses, two dark colors of food coloring, and warm and cold water. A few variations to the experiment will have students using...
Activity
Center of Science and Industry

Cosi Columbus: Cabbage Patch Chemistry [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Make your own indicator by using red cabbage leaves and common household items. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of how to determine if a substance is acidic, basic, or neutral based on the colors...
Activity
Teachers TryScience

Teachers Try Science: Let It Roll

For Students 3rd - 8th
Here's an easy experiment, using common household items, that will show you all ball bearings work.
Activity
NASA

Nasa: Paper Comet Model With a Deep Impact [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
If you're interested in making a comet model from common household items, check out these instructions.