WELCOME TO SCIENCE TOY MAKER

Mysterious, Kinetic, Noisy, Do-It-Yourself Science Projects that Entice Scientific Investigation

You have found the non-commercial, teacher-created site for people who like to roll up their sleeves and make science toys and projects. You won't find slick, well-designed web pages here--more like the digital equivalent of a messy workshop. If you poke around though, you'll find good stuff. Science toy maker is a resource for inspired kids, parents, teachers, teenagers, home schoolers, science fair participants and citizen scientists everywhere.

All science toys and projects:

*are accessible (so cheap to make that nobody is excluded because of cost, and they don't require special skills, tools, materials, or work facilities beyond a kitchen).
*have a "more about" page with explanations, historical context, related activities and high quality links for further research.
*have clear step by step video directions or text instructions with lots of pictures. The science projects at the top are most developed; some of the farther-down science projects are works in progress. Most project instructions have been improved by helpful feedback from people like you, and some projects are entirely the work of guest authors. I want to hear your feedback Contact
*More about the site. Great reviewed links to other high-quality science project sites here.

NEW! HERE IS THE DIY SCIENCE PROJECT OF THE YEAR!

You’ve seen the videos of dolphins creating and playing with underwater vortex rings. Very cool, but still we are just passively watching. Now my friend Erik Herman at Cornell University’s X-Raise has figured out a way to make the dolphin rings in your bathtub or swimming pool as a DIY science project!

This new project is going places. Remember that you saw it on sciencetoymaker first! Thanks Erik, and keep those great projects coming.

SCIENCETOYMAKER'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR

No one person has all the good ideas. One of the great pleasures of having a science website is becoming aware of other people’s work. Thomas Buchwald is a technik teacher in Germany who makes the most creative projects with his students, as you can see in the embedded video above.

Thomas has also been a great innovator with air surfing. He joins the other trailblazers on the History of Air Surfing page. Some very interesting people there!

The QUICK AND EASY science toys below on this left side of the page are suitable for young kids, with a little help here and there. I make them with large groups of elementary age students. They generally take about half an hour to complete. Click on the project name or the picture.		The ADVANCED science toys below on this right side of the page require the maturity of teenagers and adults to build. I build them with my classes of middle school students. There are usually a couple of hours of work time involved. Projects at the top are the most developed.

The MOVIE WHEEL and inventions like it ushered in the age of movies, then video. You can make pictures come alive.	What does the SNAKE CHARMER'S DUCK CALL have in common with saxophones and bagpipes?	Air surfing with very thin foam. Levitate even with only your hands.	The PONYO TYPE PUTT PUTT BOAT has a real candle powered steam engine made from a soda can and straws.
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			ROBOT VOICE 10 CENT TALK BOX
What makes the PROPELLER STICK spin mysteriously when you rub it. This is an easy version of an old folk toy that's also a great science toy.	Call it a VORTEX, whirlpool, tornado, hurricane, dust devil, water spout... whatever you call it, it happens a lot in nature.	The OVERHEAD WATER ROCKET LAUNCHER uses pressurized air and water to launch 2-liter bottle rockets.	The Robot Voice Talk Box lets you speak with an artificial vocal tract
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CARTESIAN DIVERS date back to the days of Galileo Galilee. It was so mysterious some people called it the "Devil's Diver."	They are as old as the hills, but there is something cool about TOPS. This one is easy to make and it writes patterns in its track.	Make a HOT AIR BALLOON from a plastic bag (new June, 09).	ROBOT HANDS work like our real hands... with strings attached.
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This SPINNING BALLOON hovers mysteriously in the air, but it's not filled with helium.	I don't know what you will catch with it, but this MOOSE CALL demonstrates how acoustic string instruments amplify sound.	This AIR ROCKET goes higher than the tallest trees.	Electrostatic levitation
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The OSCILLATING WOODPECKER is another timeless folk toy, now easy enough for kids to make.	Alternately pull the strings and the CLIMBING CREATURE shimmies up. Yet another old folk toy that will never go out of date.	Make rubber band powered AIRPLANES from scratch, even the props. They fly great.	Is this simple electronic project a LIE DETECTOR or not? Click for the truth.
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Katrina shows us how to make one of those GRASSY HEAD people.	Katrina shows us how to make a center of gravity BALANCE TOY.	This HELICOPTER soars over trees when you yank on the string, putting aerodynamic theory to work.	It's not high-tech, but whistling on an ACORN CAP involves some cool science.
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9 year old scientist Shane shows us how to make a simple RUBBER BAND BALL	What shape rolls best? Katrina shows us how to make a TUMBLE PERSON.	When you pull the string down, why does the DRAGONFLY WITH MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE go up?	Got some old boom box, computer or stereo speakers? The RECYCLED SPEAKERS PHONE is an easy to make intercom.
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A homemade PARACHUTE is a classic science toy NOT READY, UNDER CONSTRUCTION	You don't need a submarine to make a PERISCOPE.	When you combine origami with a hang glider you get a TUMBLEWING which is indoor air surfing.	This is NOT A POPGUN and I'm not going to show you how to make it...unless you overwhelm my security by clicking.
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The MAGNETICALLY LEVITATED KANGAROO (or is it a rabbit?) bounces on a magnetic cushion.	The ROBOT FINGER is easier to build than the ROBOT HAND and still demonstrates how tendons work.	These TIGHTROPE CYCLISTS make it look easy. Actually, it's the science of balance that matters.	GIANT WATER PRISMS bend light and separate the colors out of white light. They are also hilarious to look through.
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		It means a lot to me to hear how these science toy projects work for you. I'm happy to answer questions and I answer all e-mails. contact me.	Only the best of the best here: great reviewed links







What does a slide set about village technology in the South Asian country of Bangladesh have to do with science toys? Quite a lot, actually. Click here and see if you can figure out the connection.		New! Appropriate Technology/Alternative Energy Association here.

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SCIENCE TOYS ARE INTERNATIONAL! Click here to see which countries people have visited from. Over 160 different countries so far. Since the time of the Renaissance enthusiastic science has crossed national borders.

Updated: 6/11/13