International
STEM Day& STEM Week.

Gather: Paper, pencil, ruler, timer and child-safe scissors.

1. Fold a paper helicopter with two opposite-facing rotor flaps. An adult helps with cutting.
2. Drop it from the same low height in a clear space. Time three trials.
3. Change only rotor length. Repeat, compare the trials and explain what you would test next.

Capture the evidence: Record rotor length and three flight times for each design.

Adapt & take care: Younger learners compare two designs verbally; older learners calculate a mean and discuss timing uncertainty.

Gather: A safe outdoor spot, paper, pencil and a fixed object.

1. Choose an object that can stay in place. Mark its position and the time.
2. Trace its shadow, then return later to trace it again without moving the object.
3. Compare direction and length. Draw a prediction for a third observation.

Capture the evidence: Create a time-labeled shadow map. Each observation takes about 15 minutes; allow time between visits.

Adapt & take care: Work from a window when outdoor access is difficult. Never look directly at the Sun.

Gather: Equal-sized clean fabric and paper samples, a tray, water and a measuring spoon.

1. Predict which sample will absorb most. Keep sample size and water amount the same.
2. Add water gradually over a tray and record when each material stops absorbing.
3. Repeat with fresh samples. Compare results and suggest a practical use for each material.

Capture the evidence: Make a comparison table with a prediction, observation and one limitation.

Adapt & take care: Use small water quantities. Keep liquids away from electrical devices and clean spills promptly.

Gather: Untreated seeds, a damp paper towel, a shallow container and a ruler.

1. Draw and measure the seeds before placing them on a damp towel.
2. Choose one condition to investigate with adult guidance. Keep other conditions alike.
3. Observe daily, record changes and distinguish what you saw from what you inferred.

Capture the evidence: Start a dated observation log. Setup takes about 15 minutes; growth observations continue beyond STEM Day.

Adapt & take care: Do not eat experiment materials. Wash hands and have an adult dispose of any moldy samples.

Gather: Paper direction cards and a clear floor space, or a tabletop grid.

1. Mark a start and finish on a simple grid. Write a sequence of moves.
2. A partner follows the instructions literally. Stop when the instructions become ambiguous.
3. Debug one instruction, test again and explain the difference between the plan and the result.

Capture the evidence: Keep the first algorithm and the improved version.

Adapt & take care: Use a tabletop counter or spoken directions instead of movement. No device or account is needed.

Gather: Paper, pencils and two contrasting marks or textures.

1. Agree on a small codebook: use four-symbol binary patterns for up to 16 different messages.
2. Encode a message using only the two symbols and pass it to a partner.
3. Decode it, introduce one deliberate error and discuss how the receiver might notice it.

Capture the evidence: Save the codebook, encoded message and a proposed error-checking rule.

Adapt & take care: Use raised marks or spoken sounds. Older learners can compare their codebook with a published character encoding.

Gather: Paper, markers and an everyday interface to examine.

1. Choose a task such as finding a library opening time. Sketch the current steps.
2. Create a paper interface with clear labels, readable type and more than color to convey meaning.
3. Ask a partner to try the task without coaching. Note confusion and revise the design.

Capture the evidence: Document the task, the observed difficulty and a before-and-after design.

Adapt & take care: Test with paper rather than collecting online user data. Invite feedback without making assumptions about anyone’s abilities.

Gather: Ten numbered paper cards, pencil and a tally sheet.

1. Shuffle the cards and write down the starting order.
2. Sort by repeatedly swapping neighboring out-of-order cards; count comparisons.
3. Restore the original order, try selecting the smallest remaining card each round and compare the counts.

Capture the evidence: Show both procedures, the starting order and comparison totals.

Adapt & take care: Use fewer cards for beginners. Advanced learners test already-sorted and reverse-sorted inputs.

Gather: Two equal supports, paper, ruler and identical lightweight test objects.

1. Set supports a fixed distance apart on a low table. Bridge the gap with one sheet.
2. Add identical lightweight objects one at a time, stopping before objects can fall on anyone.
3. Change the paper’s shape without adding material. Repeat and compare the supported loads.

Capture the evidence: Sketch two designs and record span, material used and supported load.

Adapt & take care: Use large, lightweight test objects around young children. Keep hands and feet clear of falling loads.

Gather: Paper, a limited length of tape, ruler and a handheld paper fan.

1. Set a height goal and a material limit. Sketch a freestanding tower.
2. Build on a clear tabletop and test using the same gentle paper-fan motion.
3. Revise its base or bracing, then repeat the test under the same conditions.

Capture the evidence: Compare height, material use and stability before and after redesign.

Adapt & take care: Build a shorter tower for easy seated reach. Keep structures away from faces.

Gather: Cardboard, books, tape, a large rolling object and a ruler.

1. Build a low ramp in a clear area and mark a stopping target.
2. Release the object from the same point without pushing. Measure three stopping distances.
3. Change one feature, such as slope or surface, and repeat. Choose the most consistent design.

Capture the evidence: Report the range of stopping distances, not just the best trial.

Adapt & take care: Use a tabletop setup with a catch barrier. Avoid small parts around young children.

Gather: Clean reused paper and cardboard, tape, child-safe scissors and a crushable paper model.

1. Define what counts as damage and set a packaging-material limit.
2. Build a package and test it with a short, controlled drop onto a clear surface.
3. Redesign using less material or a different structure. Use the same test and compare damage.

Capture the evidence: Record your constraint, two designs and the trade-off between protection and material.

Adapt & take care: Use a paper model, not glass, food or valuable electronics. Adult help is required for cutting.

Gather: A container and large identical blocks or other age-appropriate objects.

1. Estimate how many objects fill the container and explain your reasoning.
2. Count one layer or a small sample. Use it to revise your estimate.
3. Count the actual total and compare both estimates. Discuss why they differed.

Capture the evidence: Record initial estimate, revised estimate, actual count and reasoning.

Adapt & take care: Use large objects rather than choking-size counters. Older learners calculate absolute or percentage error.

Gather: Paper, pencils and an optional unbreakable mirror.

1. Create a pattern using reflection, rotation or a repeating sequence.
2. Describe its rule without showing the finished design.
3. Ask a partner to reconstruct it, compare results and improve the explanation.

Capture the evidence: Label the transformation or sequence and show where the rule holds.

Adapt & take care: Use tactile shapes or high-contrast marks. Extend the task with coordinates or multiple transformations.

Gather: Paper, ruler and tape measure.

1. Choose a tabletop or room section without recording private addresses.
2. Measure its dimensions and choose a scale that fits your paper.
3. Draw a map, mark two objects and check whether the predicted distance matches a real measurement.

Capture the evidence: Include the scale, units and a check measurement.

Adapt & take care: Use an object-sized model for seated access. Older learners compare area scale with length scale.

Gather: Paper, ruler and a small nonpersonal data table from your experiments.

1. Draw a clearly labeled graph with a sensible scale and units.
2. Redraw the same values with a different axis range or chart type.
3. Compare the impressions, identify what could mislead and defend the most transparent presentation.

Capture the evidence: Present both graphs with a note on scale, sample size and limitations.

Adapt & take care: Use anonymous measurements of objects, not student rankings or identifying information.

Gather: Paper towel strips, clear plastic cups, water, washable food coloring and a tray.

1. Stand two equal paper strips in shallow colored water, keeping most of each strip above the surface.
2. Mark the highest wet point every five minutes. Keep the starting water depth equal.
3. Try a different paper type and compare the distance traveled over the same interval.

Capture the evidence: Draw a time-and-distance chart; separate the visible color front from the wet edge.

Adapt & take care: Use small quantities and protect surfaces from stains. Do not taste the liquids; setup and observations can be split across a session.

Gather: Two shallow unbreakable containers of different widths, water, a measuring cup and labels.

1. Add the same measured amount of water to each container and record their opening sizes.
2. Place both in the same safe indoor location. Observe and measure remaining water daily.
3. Compare changes, identify other possible influences and propose a better-controlled repeat.

Capture the evidence: Keep a dated record of water remaining and conditions; 15 minutes is setup time, with observations over several days.

Adapt & take care: Do not use heaters, hot plates or direct electrical equipment. Label experiment water as not for drinking and keep it away from small children.

Gather: Two dry plastic cups, room-temperature water, ice and a tray.

1. Put room-temperature water in one cup and ice water in the other. Dry both exteriors.
2. Observe the outside surfaces for ten minutes without spilling or splashing.
3. Describe differences and design a follow-up observation that could distinguish a leak from another explanation.

Capture the evidence: Draw the starting and final conditions and label observation separately from explanation.

Adapt & take care: Use unbreakable cups and wipe spills. An adult handles ice for children who might put small pieces in their mouths.

Gather: Equal ice cubes, shallow dishes, paper, clean fabric and a timer.

1. Place equal ice cubes in identical dishes. Leave one uncovered and wrap others in equal amounts of different materials.
2. Keep dishes together away from heaters and sunlight. Check at regular intervals.
3. Compare the ice remaining or collected meltwater, then repeat with fresh cubes.

Capture the evidence: Record wrapper, starting size, elapsed time and your comparison method.

Adapt & take care: Use room-temperature surroundings only. Keep meltwater away from electronics; do not eat experiment ice.

Gather: Two clear cups, room-temperature water, equal measured sugar portions and spoons.

1. Use equal water volumes and equal sugar portions in identical cups.
2. Stir one cup at a consistent pace while leaving the other still. Observe for the same duration.
3. Repeat with fresh materials and discuss how to decide when visible grains have disappeared.

Capture the evidence: Record time, stirring method and what was visible; explain one source of uncertainty.

Adapt & take care: No tasting or hot water. Check ingredient sensitivities, clean spills and use adult supervision.

Gather: Aluminum foil, a shallow water tray and identical large lightweight counters.

1. Shape a foil sheet into a broad boat. Predict a safe test load.
2. Add counters one at a time and record the last load it supports without taking on water.
3. Reshape the same amount of foil, repeat and compare the results.

Capture the evidence: Sketch both shapes and record foil amount, load and how the test ended.

Adapt & take care: Smooth foil edges, use a shallow tray and choose counters too large to swallow. Dry the work area afterward.

Gather: A marked clear plastic container, water and clean waterproof objects that fit fully inside.

1. Record the starting water level and predict which object will produce the largest change.
2. Lower one object gently until fully submerged without overflowing. Record the new level.
3. Restore the starting level for each object and compare changes with your predictions.

Capture the evidence: Make a before-and-after table with units and note the limits of your container markings.

Adapt & take care: Use adult-selected objects, not electrical items or fragile glass. Do not force objects down or put hands into a narrow container.

Gather: A low-power flashlight, paper screen, cardboard, tracing paper and clear packaging.

1. Keep the flashlight and screen fixed in a dim but safely navigable room.
2. Place each material at the same location between them and describe the screen.
3. Sort samples using your observations and retest a sample that is difficult to classify.

Capture the evidence: Create a comparison chart with sketches and an explanation of your categories.

Adapt & take care: Never aim light at eyes. Do not use lasers, sunlight focusing or broken packaging; offer tactile labels and spoken observations.

Gather: A small box, clean fabric, paper, a timer with a quiet alert and a fixed listening spot.

1. Listen to the quiet alert inside the unlined box from a marked distance.
2. Line the box with one material without covering or overheating the device. Repeat at the same volume.
3. Compare a second lining and repeat observations without being told which lining is inside.

Capture the evidence: Record the conditions and listener ratings; acknowledge that ratings are subjective.

Adapt & take care: Keep sound low and brief. Do not seal a powered device tightly or use headphones; provide a visual vibration alternative for learners who need it.

Gather: Two paper cups, short string and adult-prepared holes.

1. An adult attaches string securely to the cup bottoms. Partners stand a short distance apart.
2. Speak softly into one cup while a partner listens at the other, first with slack string and then gently taut string.
3. Swap roles and compare the conditions without changing the distance or voice level.

Capture the evidence: Draw the setup and record what each partner noticed in both conditions.

Adapt & take care: Never wrap string around a person or stretch it across a walkway. Provide written observations or a vibration-touch option; avoid shouting.

Gather: A flexible ruler with smooth edges and a sturdy table.

1. Hold most of the ruler firmly on the tabletop with a short section extending over the edge.
2. Gently deflect and release the free end, observing movement and sound.
3. Repeat with two other free lengths while keeping the motion small; compare the results.

Capture the evidence: Record free length, observations and a proposed relationship to test again.

Adapt & take care: An adult checks the ruler for cracks. Keep the ruler low, away from faces, and do not strike or launch it.

Gather: A clean plastic comb, dry fabric, large paper pieces and a tray.

1. Bring an unrubbed comb near the paper without touching it and note the result.
2. Rub the comb with dry fabric, repeat the approach and compare.
3. Try a different rubbing material or distance while keeping other features the same.

Capture the evidence: Record the comparison and repeat enough times to distinguish a pattern from one unusual trial.

Adapt & take care: Keep materials away from outlets and electronics. Avoid tiny paper pieces around young children; never experiment with mains electricity.

Gather: An adult-selected fully enclosed magnet, large magnetic counter, cardboard and paper.

1. Draw a maze and place the counter above the cardboard with the magnet below.
2. Guide the counter slowly without touching it directly.
3. Add one extra cardboard layer at a time and record when control becomes difficult.

Capture the evidence: Record barrier thickness, movement and a reasoned redesign.

Adapt & take care: Use only intact, large, fully enclosed child-appropriate magnets under adult supervision; never use loose high-powered magnets. Keep magnets away from medical implants and sensitive devices.

Gather: A cardboard strip, large reusable clips and a low broad support.

1. Find a position where the plain strip balances just above the table.
2. Attach one clip at a marked position and predict how the balance point will change.
3. Find the new point, then move the clip and test again.

Capture the evidence: Draw each arrangement and label clip location and balance point.

Adapt & take care: Use large clips without sharp edges and keep the support low. Offer a tactile marked strip and partner assistance.

Gather: A low cardboard ramp, a large block, clean fabric, paper and a ruler.

1. Release the block from a fixed point onto a marked surface without pushing.
2. Measure the distance it travels across the surface in three trials.
3. Replace only the surface material and repeat; compare variability as well as typical distance.

Capture the evidence: Create a distance table and explain how you kept the release consistent.

Adapt & take care: Use a clear tabletop with a catch barrier. Do not use heavy blocks or put hands in the moving object's path.

Gather: A clear plastic screw-top jar, water and adult-selected clean sand and small gravel.

1. Observe and sketch the dry materials, then add a measured amount of each to the jar.
2. Add water, secure the lid and gently turn the sealed jar to mix.
3. Set it down and draw what you see after one, five and fifteen minutes.

Capture the evidence: Make a time-labeled sequence and distinguish particle size observations from explanations.

Adapt & take care: Avoid dusty, contaminated or unknown soil. An adult seals the jar; do not taste the contents or dispose of sand down a drain.

Gather: Photographs of leaves or familiar fallen leaves, paper and a magnifier.

1. Choose three examples and describe visible shape, edge and vein patterns.
2. Make your own comparison categories and sort the examples.
3. Ask a partner to use your written rules on a fourth example and revise unclear descriptions.

Capture the evidence: Produce labeled drawings and a classification rule that someone else can use.

Adapt & take care: Use photographs where plant contact is unsuitable. Do not taste plants, pick unfamiliar species or enter private land; wash hands after handling leaves.

Gather: Clean adult-selected rocks or rock photographs, a tray and paper.

1. Describe color, visible pattern, shape and texture without assigning a rock name.
2. Create two different sorting rules and arrange the same samples in both ways.
3. Compare the groups and discuss what additional evidence would be needed to identify a sample.

Capture the evidence: Make a labeled sorting chart and note features that photographs cannot show reliably.

Adapt & take care: Do not break, grind, taste or chemically test rocks. Use large smooth samples and wash hands; obtain collection permission.

Gather: Paper, a clock and a safe window view; an optional outdoor thermometer.

1. Choose a repeatable observation time and record cloud appearance, visible wind clues and conditions.
2. Observe again on several days from the same safe place.
3. Look for patterns, note missing information and explain why a few days cannot describe a whole climate.

Capture the evidence: Start a dated observation table; each visit takes about 15 minutes and the investigation spans several days.

Adapt & take care: Observe indoors during severe weather. Never look directly at the Sun or go outside to approach lightning, flooding or strong wind.

Gather: Paper, short strings, tape, a large soft paper payload and a timer.

1. Make a small paper parachute and release it from the same low standing height.
2. Observe several descents and record time or a consistent landing comparison.
3. Keep the payload the same but change canopy size, then repeat.

Capture the evidence: Sketch designs and report typical results and inconsistent trials.

Adapt & take care: No climbing, stairwell drops or plastic bags. Keep strings short, away from necks, and clear the landing space.

Gather: Short string, a soft lightweight bob, ruler, timer and a secure low support.

1. Suspend the soft bob and time ten small swings from a gentle release.
2. Repeat at the same length, then test two other string lengths using the same starting angle.
3. Compare time per swing and propose how you would test mass separately.

Capture the evidence: Report length, repeated timing measurements and uncertainty from human reaction time.

Adapt & take care: An adult checks the support. Keep the arc small, never swing near faces and do not use heavy weights or neck-height strings.

Gather: Squared paper, pencils and two contrasting marks or textures.

1. Draw a simple image on a six-by-six grid using only two symbols.
2. Describe each row as a sequence of those symbols without showing the picture.
3. Ask a partner to reconstruct it and compare errors with the original.

Capture the evidence: Save the original image, encoded rows and reconstructed image with corrections.

Adapt & take care: Use large squares, tactile markers or spoken instructions. No screens, accounts or personal images are needed.

Gather: Paper grids and two symbols labeled zero and one.

1. Write four binary symbols in a row and add a fifth so the number of ones is even.
2. Ask a partner to change exactly one symbol, then check the row using your rule.
3. Try two changes and discuss why a check can miss some errors.

Capture the evidence: Show a message, a detected single change and a two-change case that passes the check.

Adapt & take care: Explain that this simple exercise detects some errors but does not provide encryption or prove a message is trustworthy.

Gather: Six familiar objects or picture cards and paper.

1. Choose a property that divides your collection into two groups.
2. Keep asking yes-or-no questions until each branch leads to one object.
3. Have a partner follow the tree and add an object that challenges your rules.

Capture the evidence: Draw the tree and record a rule you changed after testing.

Adapt & take care: Use observable properties rather than assumptions about people. Offer spoken questions, large labels or tactile objects.

Gather: Paper, pencils and a familiar classroom task.

1. Draw the main steps for a task such as organizing a book shelf.
2. Add a decision for a missing label or an object that does not fit.
3. Ask a partner to follow the chart and mark any dead end.

Capture the evidence: Produce a revised flowchart with a clear start, finish and exception path.

Adapt & take care: Use a low-risk imaginary task, not emergency or medical instructions. Learners can dictate steps to a partner.

Gather: A paper grid, obstacle cards and a large marker.

1. Mark a start, finish and blocked squares; allow only up, down, left and right moves.
2. Draw a working route and count its steps.
3. Search systematically from the start, compare alternative routes and justify the best route you found.

Capture the evidence: Keep the grid, routes and step counts; explain whether your method checked all shorter possibilities.

Adapt & take care: Use a tabletop model rather than physical obstacles. Do not claim a route is shortest without showing the search rule.

Gather: Paper and a small invented symbol set.

1. Choose two symbols and list all possible two-position codes.
2. Add a third position and count the new combinations systematically.
3. Compare with a larger symbol set and discuss why predictable choices weaken a secret.

Capture the evidence: Show complete small examples and explain the multiplication pattern.

Adapt & take care: Use pretend codes only, never real passwords or personal information. This model is not a complete guide to account security.

Gather: Three clearly fictional messages written on paper, with no live links.

1. Write pretend messages that vary the sender description, urgency and requested action.
2. Mark claims that need checking and distinguish suspicious clues from proof.
3. Draft a safe response plan: pause, avoid sharing secrets and verify through a known separate route.

Capture the evidence: Create a checklist and explain why appearance alone cannot establish authenticity.

Adapt & take care: Do not send deceptive messages, contact strangers or test real accounts. Keep names and addresses fictional.

Gather: Paper and a fictional workshop sign-up scenario.

1. List the minimum information a host needs for the imaginary task.
2. Sketch a form and label why each field exists, who could see it and when it would be deleted.
3. Ask a partner to challenge unnecessary fields and redesign the form.

Capture the evidence: Submit a before-and-after form with a reason for each retained field.

Adapt & take care: Do not collect participant details. Use fictional entries; this exercise is design practice, not jurisdiction-specific legal advice.

Gather: Paper role cards, fictional files and action cards.

1. Create roles such as reader, editor and owner for an imaginary class newsletter.
2. Decide who can read, change, approve or delete each fictional item.
3. Test scenarios such as an accidental edit or a former team member and revise the permission table.

Capture the evidence: Make a role-and-action matrix and explain one permission you deliberately withheld.

Adapt & take care: Simulate everything on paper. Do not change real account access or include private documents.

Gather: Paper and rows of repeated symbols.

1. Write a pattern and count the symbols needed to store it directly.
2. Encode consecutive repeats using a count and symbol, agreeing on how counts are separated.
3. Try a highly repetitive and a mixed pattern; compare total encoded lengths.

Capture the evidence: Provide a decoding rule and examples where your method helps and where it does not.

Adapt & take care: State exactly what you count as one stored symbol. Do not confuse this toy code with all forms of file compression.

Gather: Paper message strips, numbered envelopes and a tabletop network drawing.

1. Split a fictional message into numbered pieces and route them along different paper paths.
2. Have the receiver reconstruct it after pieces arrive in a shuffled order.
3. Remove one piece and design a rule for noticing and requesting what is missing.

Capture the evidence: Show the packet labels, reconstructed message and missing-piece procedure.

Adapt & take care: No online messaging is required. Use invented content and explain that real networks use additional rules beyond this model.

Gather: Paper, an alphabet strip and a short invented message.

1. Agree on a one-to-one letter substitution and encode a short phrase.
2. Ask a partner to decode it with the key, then examine repeated letters and word lengths.
3. Explain why this classroom cipher would not protect sensitive information.

Capture the evidence: Keep the key, encoded text and a note describing a visible pattern.

Adapt & take care: Use only fictional messages. Label the cipher as an educational model, not secure encryption.

Gather: Paper with four-by-four and eight-by-eight grids and a simple object drawing.

1. Represent the same object on each grid using the same limited symbol set.
2. Ask a partner to identify both without seeing the reference.
3. Compare recognizable details and count the cells needed by each version.

Capture the evidence: Show both grids and discuss the trade-off between detail and representation size.

Adapt & take care: Use high-contrast or tactile cells and allow verbal descriptions. Do not treat recognition by one person as a universal result.

Gather: Five short invented paragraphs, index cards and paper.

1. Choose important words and build a list of which documents contain each word.
2. Answer several search queries using only your index.
3. Test synonyms and ambiguous words, then propose an improvement and its extra work.

Capture the evidence: Provide the index, example queries and a missed result with an explanation.

Adapt & take care: Use public or invented text, not private messages. Discuss relevance separately from whether a word appears.

Gather: Paper or an optional offline spreadsheet and a fictional craft-material list.

1. Define a fixed material amount and a per-learner amount for a pretend workshop.
2. Write a formula for total materials and calculate totals for three group sizes.
3. Test zero learners and a larger group; check units and identify an assumption the model ignores.

Capture the evidence: Show inputs, formula, worked examples and a limitation.

Adapt & take care: Use hypothetical quantities rather than personal finances or student records. Paper calculations are equally valid.

Gather: Paper cards describing a harmless familiar sequence.

1. Arrange cards for a task such as drawing a simple house.
2. Introduce one missing, repeated or out-of-order step and have a partner follow it literally.
3. Identify the smallest change that repairs the result and test again.

Capture the evidence: Keep the faulty sequence and corrected version with the reason for the change.

Adapt & take care: Make mistakes about instructions, not people. Use drawing or tabletop tasks rather than unsafe physical actions.

Gather: Paper state cards and buttons drawn on index cards.

1. Model a fictional library checkout kiosk with states such as ready, item selected and confirmation.
2. List which actions can move it from each state to another.
3. Test cancel, repeated clicks and missing information; add safe recovery paths.

Capture the evidence: Draw the state diagram and walk through a normal path and two exception paths.

Adapt & take care: Do not connect to real library accounts. Use clearly fictional data and include a way to undo a mistaken action.

Gather: Number cards, paper and a fictional plant-care display.

1. Choose a pretend moisture scale and a threshold for displaying a reminder.
2. Feed number cards through the rule, including values just above and below the threshold.
3. Propose a way to reduce rapid switching and test your revised rule.

Capture the evidence: Show the original rule, test sequence and revised outputs.

Adapt & take care: This is an unplugged model, not an instruction to automate real watering or electrical equipment. Keep all values fictional.

Gather: Paper design sheets and envelopes labeled by version.

1. Create a small drawing and place a copy in a separate envelope.
2. Revise the original twice, deciding when to make a new dated copy.
3. Pretend the original is missing and identify what can be recovered and what work was lost.

Capture the evidence: Write a version log and a recovery plan that a partner can follow.

Adapt & take care: Do not delete real files or test on an actual account. Label the scenario as a paper simulation.

Gather: A clearly labeled fictional answer, paper and reliable reference material or worked calculations.

1. Create a pretend answer containing one arithmetic error, one unsupported claim and one reasonable statement.
2. Separate checkable claims from opinions and show how to verify each checkable part.
3. Rewrite the answer with corrections, sources where relevant and uncertainty where evidence is missing.

Capture the evidence: Produce a claim-check table and explain which decisions remain the learner's responsibility.

Adapt & take care: No AI account is required. Do not enter personal data or present the invented answer as output from a real person or company.

Gather: A paper algorithm that returns the largest of three numbers and a test table.

1. Write an initial step-by-step rule for finding the largest of three inputs.
2. Test different orders, equal values, negative values and an invalid input such as a word.
3. Revise the rule and rerun every test, recording expected and actual outputs.

Capture the evidence: Keep a regression-test table and explain why an ordinary example alone is insufficient.

Adapt & take care: Use paper or a local coding environment with no account requirement. Define how invalid inputs should be handled before judging the result.

Gather: Cardboard, paper, tape, a small soft toy and child-safe scissors.

1. Measure the model visitor and sketch a chair with a seat, back and base.
2. Build with a fixed amount of card and test on a low table.
3. Observe bending or tipping, change one feature and repeat with the same visitor.

Capture the evidence: Keep a labeled sketch, material count and before-and-after test notes.

Adapt & take care: An adult prepares difficult cuts. Use lightweight loads and keep fingers clear of collapsing structures.

Gather: Cardboard strips, tape, large clips and a low stable base.

1. Build a short beam that projects beyond its support and measure its reach.
2. Place a light paper load at the end and record what happens.
3. Change the base, bracing or beam shape while keeping the load constant.

Capture the evidence: Compare reach, material use and stability; identify which change you actually tested.

Adapt & take care: Keep the assembly on a low table with a clear fall zone. Do not attach it to furniture with damaging adhesives.

Gather: Equal paper strips, two low supports, tape and identical light test objects.

1. Prepare a flat strip, a folded channel and a rolled tube from equal paper amounts.
2. Place each across the same short gap and add identical light loads gradually.
3. Repeat tests and compare deformation as well as the largest supported load.

Capture the evidence: Draw cross-sections and tabulate span, material and load observations.

Adapt & take care: Use large lightweight objects, never heavy weights. An adult checks that supports cannot fall off the table.

Gather: Rolled paper tubes, tape, paper connectors and a ruler.

1. Sketch a small freestanding frame using repeated triangles or polygons.
2. Build the model and test a gentle sideways push from the same direction.
3. Add or move one brace, repeat and explain the trade-off in material use.

Capture the evidence: Provide a plan, photo or drawing, brace count and repeatable test description.

Adapt & take care: No sharp sticks or overhead loads. Test only tabletop models; this is not a design for a human-occupied structure.

Gather: Cardboard panels, paper strips, fabric scraps and tape.

1. Connect two small panels with a folded paper hinge and define one complete opening cycle.
2. Open and close it gently, counting cycles until it no longer works as intended.
3. Try a different hinge design using the same panels and compare.

Capture the evidence: Record the failure rule, cycle count and where wear first appeared.

Adapt & take care: Use smooth edges and child-safe scissors. Stop before fragments become small parts; learners may observe or tally instead of operating.

Gather: Card strips, adult-prepared holes, child-appropriate connectors and a pencil.

1. Connect two or three strips so they can pivot without coming apart.
2. Move one end and trace the path of another marked point.
3. Change one strip length or connection point and compare the path.

Capture the evidence: Draw both linkages and record how the motion changed.

Adapt & take care: Adults prepare holes and supervise small fasteners. Keep joints away from fingers, hair and clothing.

Gather: A smooth ruler, broad low support, large lightweight load and markers.

1. Balance the ruler on the support with a light load near one end.
2. Press gently at a marked point on the other side and observe the movement.
3. Move the support, keep the load the same and compare the effort qualitatively.

Capture the evidence: Label support, load and effort positions and distinguish felt effort from measured force.

Adapt & take care: Use only lightweight tabletop loads. Do not catapult objects or use the model to lift furniture.

Gather: An adult-selected smooth spool, short cord, secure low support and a soft paper load.

1. Sketch a setup that redirects a cord over a spool to lift a small paper load.
2. Pull slowly, compare the direction of hand movement with load movement and measure both distances.
3. Propose a modified arrangement, then explain what additional evidence would be needed to compare force.

Capture the evidence: Record distances and directions; do not claim a force advantage from a direction change alone.

Adapt & take care: An adult secures the support. No heavy loads, overhead lifting or cords around bodies; keep fingers away from pinch points.

Gather: Adult-prepared card wheels, removable fasteners, cardboard base and a marker.

1. Mount two touching model wheels or toothed card gears so each rotates freely.
2. Mark a reference point and turn the larger wheel slowly while counting rotations of the other.
3. Compare with a different size pair and note slipping or imperfect engagement.

Capture the evidence: Record approximate size ratio, turns and limitations of the handmade model.

Adapt & take care: Adults prepare cuts and supervise fasteners. Keep fingers and hair away from moving contact points.

Gather: Cardboard, a smooth tube, short cord, tape and a lightweight paper basket.

1. Sketch a low support that lets the tube rotate and wind a cord.
2. Attach the paper basket and count turns needed to raise it a short marked distance.
3. Change axle thickness or the handle design and compare motion and control.

Capture the evidence: Record lift distance, turns and one change that made operation more reliable.

Adapt & take care: Use only soft, very light loads. Adults check supports and prevent cords winding around fingers or clothing.

Gather: Paper arrow shapes, an adult-prepared low pivot and a handheld paper fan.

1. Balance a paper direction indicator on the low pivot and mark the fan location.
2. Fan gently from the same position and note the indicator's response.
3. Change the tail area while keeping the rest similar; test from several directions.

Capture the evidence: Draw designs and make a direction-response table.

Adapt & take care: No rooftop installation, sharp exposed pins or powered fans. Adults handle pivots; use a tabletop airflow model.

Gather: A light toy cart or low-friction model, paper sails, tape and a handheld fan.

1. Attach a small sail and mark a start line and a fixed fan position.
2. Apply the same number of gentle fan strokes and measure movement across a clear tabletop.
3. Try a larger sail and repeat, noting stability as well as distance.

Capture the evidence: Record sail dimensions, test conditions and distances across repeated trials.

Adapt & take care: Use a barrier at the table edge and no high-powered fans. Keep materials and moving parts away from faces.

Gather: Reusable trays, folded waterproof packaging, tape, a cup and a catch container.

1. Sketch a short sloping channel ending over the catch container.
2. Pour a small measured amount of water and compare the amount collected with the amount poured.
3. Revise a joint or slope and repeat with the same water volume.

Capture the evidence: Record starting and collected volumes and identify leaks or retained water.

Adapt & take care: Keep the entire model inside a tray, away from electrical devices. No pumps or mouth siphoning; dry spills promptly.

Gather: Cardboard walls, clean waterproof packaging, tape, absorbent paper, water and a dropper.

1. Build a small model room with a removable roof and dry paper inside.
2. Apply the same small amount of water from the same low position.
3. Change the roof slope or overhang and repeat with fresh dry paper.

Capture the evidence: Sketch roof designs and compare the location and size of wet patches.

Adapt & take care: Test inside a tray using small quantities. Use child-safe scissors and keep water away from electronics.

Gather: Clear plastic cups, a funnel, clean sand or gravel, paper filter and water with clean visible sediment.

1. Record the model mixture's appearance and build a filter with adult-selected clean materials.
2. Pour a small measured sample through and compare the collected liquid visually.
3. Change one layer, use a fresh equivalent sample and compare flow and appearance.

Capture the evidence: Record filter layers, approximate flow time and visible changes; state that clear-looking water may still be unsafe.

Adapt & take care: Never drink filtered or unfiltered experiment water. This is not water purification; avoid unknown chemicals, wastewater or contaminated soil.

Gather: A tray, paper tubes, tape and a lightweight paper roof.

1. Build a small freestanding model on the tray and define a gentle side-to-side test.
2. Move the tray through the same short distance for five cycles and record deformation.
3. Add one brace or change the base and repeat under the same conditions.

Capture the evidence: Compare designs with drawings, material counts and a clearly stated test protocol.

Adapt & take care: Keep motion gentle on a low table. No heavy loads or real building claims; the exercise is a simplified structural model.

Gather: A shallow tray, reusable modeling material, a small model doorway and measured water.

1. Build a low landscape and a doorway marker in the tray.
2. Add a fixed small water volume from the same point and observe the path.
3. Design a barrier, repeat from a dry starting condition and compare the result.

Capture the evidence: Map the water path and explain where water was redirected rather than eliminated.

Adapt & take care: Keep water in the tray and away from electronics. This model is not advice for actual flooding or a substitute for local emergency guidance.

Gather: Paper, ruler, cardboard and a fictional site brief.

1. List several ways a participant might move, communicate or engage with a play activity.
2. Sketch a small play-space model with clear routes, rest areas and alternative ways to participate.
3. Ask peers to examine scenarios, record barriers they notice and revise the design.

Capture the evidence: Present a plan and a change log showing which feedback altered a feature.

Adapt & take care: Do not assume one design serves everyone or claim legal accessibility compliance. Seek real user input respectfully and use fictional participants.

Gather: A pencil, paper sleeves, soft reusable material and a drawing task.

1. Choose a simple task and define what better control would look like.
2. Make two removable handle sleeves and compare them on the same task.
3. Ask a partner for optional feedback, then revise a feature without assuming their needs.

Capture the evidence: Record handle dimensions, task observations and user preferences separately.

Adapt & take care: Use non-toxic materials and do not share items that contact the mouth. This is a design exercise, not a medical device or treatment.

Gather: Two similar damaged paper bags, paper patches, tape and large lightweight objects.

1. Define a comparable tear and sketch a patch using a limited amount of material.
2. Place the bag over a tray and add lightweight objects one at a time.
3. Try a different patch direction or overlap on the second bag and compare.

Capture the evidence: Record tear size, patch area and load observations; note differences between the bags.

Adapt & take care: Keep loads light and low. Avoid sharp objects, plastic bags around young children and any test near feet.

Gather: Paperboard, tape, a ruler and child-safe scissors.

1. Set maximum folded dimensions and sketch a tabletop shelter model.
2. Build it, record setup steps and test whether it remains standing under a gentle paper-fan breeze.
3. Revise a fold or connection to reduce setup time while preserving stability.

Capture the evidence: Compare folded size, setup steps and test results for two versions.

Adapt & take care: This is a tabletop model only, not a human shelter. No heaters, candles, sharp stakes or overhead loads.

Gather: A paper spinner with equal sectors, an adult-prepared pointer and a tally sheet.

1. Make a prediction for twenty spins of a spinner with four equal sectors.
2. Spin consistently and record every result, including inconvenient ones.
3. Compare observed counts with the prediction and discuss what a larger trial could reveal.

Capture the evidence: Create a frequency table and distinguish a probability model from observed results.

Adapt & take care: Adults prepare the pivot; avoid exposed sharp points. Use a digital-free draw from large labeled cards when spinning is difficult.

Gather: A tray of many large paper shapes in two categories and a cloth cover.

1. Mix the shapes and take a small sample without choosing by category.
2. Use the sample proportion to estimate the composition of the whole tray.
3. Replace and remix, repeat several times, then count the full collection.

Capture the evidence: Compare sample estimates with the actual proportion and explain sampling variation.

Adapt & take care: Use objects, not personal traits or student rankings. Choose pieces too large to swallow and offer a partner to draw samples.

Gather: A mixed collection of large paper shapes, pencils and squared paper.

1. Choose clear categories and tally the shapes in each.
2. Create a bar chart with category labels and a consistent scale.
3. Ask a partner to answer two questions using only the chart and revise anything unclear.

Capture the evidence: Keep the tally table, chart and partner's questions.

Adapt & take care: Use labels and patterns as well as color. Work with objects rather than identifiable information about participants.

Gather: Paper and two invented sets of six measurements.

1. Construct two sets of six nonnegative numbers with the same total but different spreads.
2. Calculate the mean, median and range for each set.
3. Write two accurate summaries and explain what a mean alone leaves out.

Capture the evidence: Show both data sets, calculations and a comparison of their distributions.

Adapt & take care: Use invented object measurements, not personal performance or health data. Check arithmetic with a partner or calculator.

Gather: A photograph of a tiled area or a safe small tiled surface, paper and a ruler.

1. Identify a repeatable row-and-column structure and estimate the number of tiles.
2. Measure or count a small section to refine the estimate.
3. Check a manageable region exactly and discuss partial tiles or irregular edges.

Capture the evidence: Record assumptions, estimated total and a validation check.

Adapt & take care: Use a photo or accessible surface; do not block walkways or enter restricted areas. A model grid works equally well.

Gather: Paper shape templates, child-safe scissors and a large sheet.

1. Choose one polygon template and try to cover a region with repeated copies.
2. Mark any gaps or overlaps and test rotations or a second shape.
3. Write a rule that lets a partner extend your pattern.

Capture the evidence: Present the pattern and explain what happens where corners meet.

Adapt & take care: Adults prepare complex templates. Use large high-contrast or tactile shapes and allow tracing instead of cutting.

Gather: Squared paper, pencil and a fixed-length paper strip or string.

1. Draw several rectangles with a perimeter of twenty grid units.
2. Count or calculate the area of each and organize the results.
3. State the largest area you found and explain the range of shapes your search covered.

Capture the evidence: Create a perimeter-and-area table with units and a bounded conclusion.

Adapt & take care: Use short string only on a table, never around people. Older learners can extend the search to non-integer side lengths.

Gather: Paper and a fictional craft mixture using measured colored-water units.

1. Write a two-part mixture ratio and calculate amounts for one batch on paper.
2. Scale it to half a batch and three batches, keeping the ratio constant.
3. Check a deliberately incorrect example and explain the mistake.

Capture the evidence: Show a ratio table and verify each row using the same comparison.

Adapt & take care: No mixing or tasting is required. Keep the exercise fictional; it is not a chemical, food-safety or nutrition recipe.

Gather: Large paper squares in two colors or textures and a grid.

1. Create a small mosaic using two squares of one type for every one of another.
2. Build a larger mosaic following the same rule.
3. Trade mosaics with a partner and check counts rather than appearance alone.

Capture the evidence: Record counts and describe how the ratio differs from the total number of squares.

Adapt & take care: Use texture or written labels instead of color alone. Choose large pieces for young learners.

Gather: Squared paper with labeled axes and pencils.

1. Draw a simple shape and write an ordered list of its vertex coordinates.
2. Give the list and connection rule to a partner without showing the drawing.
3. Compare reconstructions, then test what happens when coordinate order is reversed.

Capture the evidence: Keep both drawings and explain the meaning of each coordinate position.

Adapt & take care: Use fictional grids, never private locations or home coordinates. Offer large-print or tactile axes.

Gather: Paper and several small network drawings.

1. Try to trace each network without lifting the pencil or using an edge twice.
2. Count the number of edges meeting at each vertex and compare successful and unsuccessful examples.
3. Form a conjecture, then design a new network that tests it.

Capture the evidence: Show attempted routes, vertex counts and the evidence behind your conjecture.

Adapt & take care: Distinguish a tested conjecture from a complete proof. Use small connected drawings and explain any restrictions in your rule.

Gather: Paper and a fictional materials menu priced in tokens, not money.

1. Assign token costs and useful properties to three imaginary building materials.
2. Set a total token limit and list feasible combinations for a model project.
3. Compare two different goals, such as minimum weight and maximum strength, using your stated scoring assumptions.

Capture the evidence: Provide feasible options, constraint checks and an explanation of the chosen trade-off.

Adapt & take care: All values are invented for a mathematical exercise. Do not treat token scores as measured material properties or real purchasing advice.

Gather: Paper strips of equal length and pencils.

1. Fold one strip into halves and another into fourths.
2. Shade matching lengths and label the number of parts and total parts.
3. Try eighths, then explain a pair of equivalent fractions using the strips.

Capture the evidence: Create a labeled fraction display and check that all whole strips began equal.

Adapt & take care: Pre-fold strips or use tactile boundaries where fine folding is difficult. Do not compare unequal wholes without labeling the difference.

Gather: Twelve large counters and a tally sheet.

1. Define a game in which two players remove one or two counters per turn and the player taking the last counter wins.
2. Play several rounds from different starting totals, recording every move.
3. Look for useful positions and test a proposed strategy against a partner who knows it.

Capture the evidence: Keep game records and explain whether your strategy works only in tested cases or more generally.

Adapt & take care: Use large counters and treat the game as shared investigation, not participant ranking. State the winning rule before starting.

Gather: Three large shape cards and four pattern cards.

1. Make combinations using one shape and one pattern, listing each pairing once.
2. Organize the list as a table and check for duplicates or omissions.
3. Add a new choice and predict the updated total before counting.

Capture the evidence: Present the table and explain the multiplication rule in your own words.

Adapt & take care: Use distinguishable textures or labels. Keep the activity about objects, not personal categories.

Gather: Paper rectangles representing shared space or materials and pencils.

1. Divide a paper rectangle equally among three imaginary teams and label the shares.
2. Change the scenario so one team has twice as many members; propose and justify a different rule.
3. Compare equal-team and equal-person approaches and explain the assumption behind each.

Capture the evidence: Show two mathematically consistent allocations and name the fairness rule each follows.

Adapt & take care: Use fictional teams. Discuss the rule respectfully without assigning value to real people or presenting one context-free definition as mandatory.

Gather: Two card strips, an adult-prepared pivot, paper and an optional protractor.

1. Join two strips at a pivot and copy a right angle as a reference.
2. Use the tool to compare several drawn angles and order them.
3. Check with a protractor or known folded references and record differences.

Capture the evidence: Create a comparison table and explain limits caused by thick lines or a loose pivot.

Adapt & take care: Adults handle small fasteners. Use flat drawings rather than reaching into machinery or awkward spaces.

Gather: Several round plastic objects, flexible measuring tape or short string, ruler and paper.

1. Measure each object's diameter through its center as carefully as possible.
2. Measure circumference, repeat both measurements and calculate each circumference-to-diameter ratio.
3. Compare ratios across sizes and discuss how measurement errors affect the result.

Capture the evidence: Show measurements with units, repeated ratios and an estimate supported by your data.

Adapt & take care: Use unbreakable objects and short tabletop string. Do not claim exact precision from rough measurements.

Gather: Large identical blocks and a rectangular tray or small box.

1. Arrange one complete layer and count rows and columns.
2. Predict the count for several complete layers, then build and check.
3. Compare another arrangement and explain why gaps or differently sized blocks change the calculation.

Capture the evidence: Draw a labeled layer and show the multiplication used for the total.

Adapt & take care: Use lightweight blocks that are not choking hazards. Keep stacks low and within seated reach.

Gather: A paper strip, rulers with different markings and a recording sheet.

1. Have one learner measure the same strip several times without changing the strip.
2. Compare with a different ruler or an independently measured result.
3. Discuss alignment, rounding and resolution, then report an appropriately qualified measurement.

Capture the evidence: List every reading, units, spread and the reason for your reported precision.

Adapt & take care: Measure objects rather than bodies. Do not discard inconvenient readings without explaining a specific measurement mistake.

Gather: Paper strips, a ruler marked in centimeters and millimeters, and pencils.

1. Measure each strip in centimeters and express the same length in millimeters.
2. Create a conversion table and check a deliberately mixed-unit comparison.
3. Write a word problem in which forgetting units leads to a wrong answer, then solve it correctly.

Capture the evidence: Show conversions, labeled units and a clear explanation of the error.

Adapt & take care: Use accessible tabletop objects. Keep scales and units visible, and distinguish a unit change from a change in the actual object.