The Tinkering Studio | Exploratorium

Trash

Marble Machines
Build a ball run with conduit, funnels, tracks, bumpers, dowels, and a pegboard wall.

Wind Tubes
Explore moving air, wind, and aerodynamics with a variety of everyday objects.

Scribbling Machines
Make a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path.

Circuit Boards
Tinker with electricity using common objects: batteries, lights, buzzers, motors, switches, etc.

Cardboard Automata
Explore mechanical elements such as cams, levers, and linkages to create your own moving sculpture.

Chain Reaction
Rube Goldberg-inspired cause and effect contraptions using everyday materials and found objects.

Light Painting
Create striking images and illusions using nothing more than a camera, a light source, and a little practice.

Light Play
Explore light, shadow, and motion using a variety of simple materials and light sources.