Resources for museums
Let’s hear!
In this workshop the participants build a very simple string instrument. They discover what sound is and the difference between a high pitched a low pitched sound. With this knowledge they can improve their simple string instrument.
Plane Crazy
In this workshop activity participants are introduced to the Engineer Design Process (EDP) as well as some basic information about how paper aeroplanes fly. The participants are introduced to a variety of different designs for aircraft and are then challenged to build/adapt their designs in order to create a paper aircraft capable of flying through one or more hoops.
A fine balance – Building a hanging sculpture
Balancing and cycling are everyday experiences for most children. Buteven so, they are not aware that they are constantly dealing with the physical aspects of balance and force. In this museum activity, the children have the possibility to learn the background with the aid of various experiments.
How can we measure the volume of an inflated balloon? From medical problem to engineering solution
The workshop How can we measure the volume of an inflated balloon? From medical problem to engineering solution will broaden participants’ awareness on how engineers work.
Suck it up
The challenge is to design a device that sucks up debris and then to improve the design. Through this activity, participants explore concepts like electric circuits and air flow. The museum activity is designed to introduce pupills and visitors to the engineering design cycle.
The strength of the soil
The aim of the activity is to realize a system to avoid the tilt of a building during an earthquake in a sandy soil. Participants investigate soil liquefaction, a phenomenon in which the strength and stiffness of a soil is reduced and that occurs in soils saturated with water.
The Engineering Challenge
Design your own shoes which can insulate you against the hot ground in the Sahara desert. Come and learn about insulation, undertake experiments with ice cubes and test if your shoes really can be used in the desert
“The castaways”- Build your own raft
Children are asked to imagine that they are castaways who need to find a way to leave a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. In order to do that they need to build a raft using available materials . By responding to this challenge, children become acquainted with the field of ocean engineering and learn about the scientific principles of floating and sinking.
Popular mechanics: Becoming a designer of machines
Each participant becomes an engineer and transform a cardboard box into a mechanical toy. After working with some mechanicals objects and understanding the function of the cams, each participant chooses a character and determines its motion. The participants then create their toy.
Water flow through plants
With the instructor pupils discuss the importance of plants for people and the overall dependence of our civilization on plants and water resources. Together, they revise ideas on the structure of plants, how to care for the plants, and what plants need to live.