| Toy Science |  |
General
Energy and toys - from South Australia Science Teachers Association. A classroom unit in which children investigate different energy sources to develop their understanding of the concepts of force, energy and transfers of energy. Includes lesson plans and teacher notes
From Windmills to Whirligigs - from Science Museum of Minnesota. A unique science and art connection to wind. Includes activity ideas
Toys and Science - from Didactics of Physics Group, Department of Physics, University of Trento (Italy). Contains brief explanations and media on the scientific workings of common toys
The science toy maker - from Slater Harrison, technology teacher, Jersey Shore Middle School, Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania. The non-commercial, teacher-created site for people who like to roll up their sleeves and make fun, mysterious science toys and projects that entice scientific investigation. It is a resource for inspired parents, kids, teachers, teenagers, home schoolers, science fair participants and citizen scientists everywhere.
Classroom Science Activities - printable lesson plan; includes fishing game, kaleidoscope and more, from Powerhouse Museum, Scitech Discovery Centre, Perth, Western Australia and Scienceworks, Museum Victoria (pdf, 876kb)
Paper Aeroplanes
Paper Airplanes - from Ken Blackburn, with folding instructions, teacher's resource book and elements of aerodynamics
Alex's paper airplanes - instructions for creating and flying a range of paper aeroplanes, gliders and helicopters
The best paper airplane in the world - instructions to create 'The best paper airplane in the world'
Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplanes - instructions to create various paper planes
Kool Paper Airplanes - instructions to create various paper planes
Spinning Blimp - from the Exploratorium. Instructions for making and modifying a spinng blimp
Roto-Copter - from the Exploratorium. Instructions for making and modifying a roto-copter
Hoopster - from the Exploratorium. Instructions for making and modifying a hoopster
How Gliders Work - from How Stuff Works
Machines
Classroom Activity: Be Inventive! - from Exploring Leonardo. Students combine their own ideas with the elements of machines to imagine and design inventions to solve specific challenges. Using a variety of materials they can create small working models of their inventions to test and improve them. Final diagrams and images of their designs can be sent to this site for display in the Visitor's Invention Gallery.
Simple Machines - from EdHeads. Free online activities exploring simple and compound machines
Marvellous machines - a series of experiments about simple machines: levers, wheels and inclined planes, designed for use in the third grade
Science Toys
Science Toys - Science toys you can make with your kids; using common household materials, that demonstrate fascinating scientific principles
Making Kites
20 Kids * 20 Kites * 20 Minutes - use copy paper and Satay sticks to make kites
Soar Into Spring With Kites! - Lesson Plan from Education World
The Challenge: Make a kite from natural products - from PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
Magnets
Fridge magnets 'can be a killer' - news report from BBC