Just Tinkering
Don't Just Make...Create!
Just Tinkering is the tinkering workshop at the science center, but with a twist—you can do all of these activities at home! Grab a kit during your next visit to the science center, access these step-by-step instruction videos from our amazing Team and tackle unique and fun topics that are perfect for tinkerers of all ages.
Get ready to be creative, go hands-on with science and make something that's all your own.
Videos
Balance & Stability
Can you create an object or structure that balances? Move the location of the center of mass around and see how it affects the object's stability. Try different arrangements. Things that are balanced stably don’t have to “look” balanced.
What can you create?
Boats and Buoyancy
It’s time for you to put your research skills to work and
figure out if an object will sink or float in water. Use your science observation skills to guess (predict) whether an item will sink or float. Use your prediction and then experiment with different materials to answer your questions. Think outside of the box, make changes and try again!
Cardboard Pinball
You will make a pinball machine, out of recycled materials, that can shoot a marble and send it zigzagging down an obstacle course. Learn about pivot points, levers, inclined planes and troubleshooting through redesign to overcome obstacles. This activity is a STEM-rich experience.
Electronic Greeting Cards
Build a circuit with simple materials and use your creativity to design your very own light-up greeting card!
Flipbooks
Flipbooks are animation in its simplest form. Each image advances the scene from the previous page and when you flip through them rapidly, your story becomes animated. Use your imagination and creativity to tell your own story and learn more about what causes the drawings to look seamless, creating the illusion of movement.
Painting with Light
Light painting gives photographers the ability to create unique effects that aren’t possible at certain shutter speeds. This design challenge, experiments with light and movement by exploring how moving a light source while taking a long exposure photo can create striking images and illusions.
Paper Airplanes
Airplanes are very heavy and yet, they can still fly through the air. Discover how weight, drag, thrust and lift work together with this design challenge! Start with a simple sheet of paper, explore some unusual designs and put your engineering skills to the test.
Singing Straws
From the soulful sounds of an R&B singer to the roar of thunder, all sounds are produced by vibrations that travel through the air and to your ears. Dive into the science of sound with your own musical instrument. You’ll be a virtuoso before you know it!
Squishy Circuits
Become an electrician and an inventor as you experiment with dough - it's up to you how you want to make your dough models light up!
Find the supply list here.
Tom-Tom Drums
Drumroll, please...
Using simple materials anyone can become a master musician - or at least pretend to be one. From rhythm and coordination to fine and gross motor development to promoting creativity and self-expression, making your own instrument is fun and promotes learning.
Toothbrush Bots
Design a creature to bring to life! Learn how to use a motor to get your creature moving, then teach your critter to dance, slide, and shake in a way that’s all its own.
Find the supply list here.
Tops
Spin, whirl and twirl with tops!
Using different materials, design your very own spinning top in this fun tinkering workshop! Get creative and learn the science behind the motion.
Trashformations
Plastic grocery bags, we all have them. Instead of throwing them out let's turn them into something cool, useful and precious. Design your own plastic fabric by melting plastic bags together with a common household iron. Once you’ve forged your new fabric you can use other tools to make your creation truly remarkable.
Find the supply list here.
Windchimes
Windchimes are a great way to explore sound. Use different materials and objects that are of different sizes and shapes and discover how each makes a different sound. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different chimes. When you're done, let the wind do the work and enjoy!
Woodblock Automata
Explore simple mechanical elements like levers, cams and linkages in a playful way. This activity is easy to start but becomes more complex as you become familiar with possible motions and imagine ways to decorate your contraption, in a unique personalized way.
World Records
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS are astounding, mesmerizing and all based on science! But you don’t have to be a scientist or professional athlete to be the best. Anyone, anywhere can be a record breaker.
Let’s give it a shot - go ahead, be amazing!