Just Tinkering
Don't Just Make...CREATE!
Anytime. Anywhere.
Do you like getting creative? Working with your hands? Making something unique that's all your own? If you answered yes, this is the experience for you!
Just Tinkering is just like the tinkering workshops 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 step-by-step instruction videos with our amazing Team and tackle unique and fun topics that are perfect for tinkerers of all ages!
Have questions? Email our Tinkering Team at tinkering@istscience.org.
Find Your Activity Video Below!
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!
Transformations
Windchimes
What's that sound?
Make whimsical music that will enhance all of your backyard experiences this spring and summer!
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!
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.
Use your imagination and see what you can create!
Share your photos with us on social media!
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!
Electronic Greeting Cards
Build a circuit with simple materials and use your creativity to design your very own light-up greeting card!
World Records
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS are astounding, mesmerizing and all based in 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!
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 objects stability. Try different arrangements. Things that are balanced stably don’t have to “look” balanced.
What can you create?!
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.
Need to purchase your supplies?
Tom-Tom Drums
Drumroll, please...
We're making our own drums to celebrate music this month!
Using simple materials anyone can become a master musician - or at least pretend to be one. Making your own instrument is not only fun, but it has its learning benefits, too! From rhythm and coordination, fine and gross motor development to promoting creativeness and self-expression.
Woodblock Automata
Need to purchase your supplies?
Flip Books
Make your own cartoon using the same principles as the professionals with Flipbooks!
Flip books 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.
Tops
Spin, whirl and twirl with tops!
Using different materials, design your very own spinning top and in this fun tinkering workshop! Get creative and learn the science behind the motion.
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.
Cardboard Pinball
Squishy Circuits
Become an electrician and the inventor as you experiment with dough - it's up to you how you want to make your dough models light up!!
Need to purchase supplies?
Get your list here!