Wood Gear Wall

Design your own spinning machine! Kids can arrange and connect oversized wooden gears on a pegboard wall to see how rotational energy transfers. Every arrangement creates new motion possibilities.
                    
Moiré Patterns

Slide transparent panels across each other to reveal optical illusions. The overlapping lines create dynamic moiré patterns that move and change with your touch.
    

               
Pool Noodle Pattern Wall

Play with color and pattern by rearranging soft pool noodle pieces on a wall of pegs. Build shapes, sort by color, or just explore. It’s a tactile invitation to investigate pattern, symmetry, and fine motor skills.
                            
Newton’s Cradle

Pull back a ball and release it to set the whole line in motion. This oversized Newton’s Cradle shows how energy transfers in a wave, demonstrating principles of momentum and conservation of energy.    

               
Spinning Color Wheel

Turn the steering wheel and watch colors blend in motion. This double-wheel display lets kids explore color mixing, rotation, and visual effects as they spin both a large and a small wheel at different speeds.
              
Balancing Ball

Watch a beach ball float mid-air! A powerful fan sends air through a cone to create a vertical stream that lifts the ball. You can pivot and tilt the setup to explore how airflow and angles affect balance and motion.


                     
Magnet Cloud

Use magnets to move iron shavings from above, and then lie underneath to watch the patterns form from below. This interactive display reveals the hidden motion of magnetic fields through a clear acrylic window.
                    
Human Kaleidoscope

Step inside a giant triangle of mirrors and become part of a living kaleidoscope. Reflections multiply your image, turning your movements into mesmerizing, symmetrical patterns.




Note: Pop-Up Science Sparks designs are not original inventions. Many are adaptations of classic hands-on science displays, particularly those pioneered by the Exploratorium. While I’ve tailored them to fit the needs of local schools and settings, the core concepts are not proprietary. Designs may also evolve throughout the build process to improve durability, safety, or interactivity.