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The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20220927054804/https://invention.si.edu/try
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Get hands-on with the history and the process of invention! Try all sorts of ways to get creative!

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An adult man is working with a young girl on an activity in SparkLab
Spark!Lab

About Spark!Lab

Draper Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors.

Ralph Baer playing his Telesketch game, 1977
Encouraging Innovative Thinking

Ralph H. Baer Endowment for Invention Education

Contributions to the Ralph H. Baer Endowment will support invention education through the Lemelson Center.

Sparky logo
Spark!Lab

Frequently Asked Questions about Spark!Lab

Draper Spark!Lab is a hands-on invention activity center where visitors learn that invention is a process and that everyone is inventive.

Computer illustration with a sign in the background that says “terrain” and stairs, a bumpy surface, different wheels and other wheelchair parts in the foreground
DO Try This at Home!

Create a Wheelchair for Difficult Terrain and Unexpected Environments

Design a wheelchair that will help the user navigate challenging terrain or environments or participate in sporting activities.

A facilitator works with a young girl on a Spark!Lab invention activity (Michigan Science Center)
Spark!Lab Network

About the Spark!Lab Network

The Spark!Lab Network brings hands-on invention learning to the nation—and beyond.

U-Sketch pick your color green orange blue lavender purple black

Story Tags

  • Asian Pacific American inventors (Relevance: 6.1538461538462%)
  • Assistive technology (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Behind-the-scenes (Relevance: 23.076923076923%)
  • DIY/Maker Movement (Relevance: 7.6923076923077%)
  • Design (Relevance: 4.6153846153846%)
  • Education (Relevance: 4.6153846153846%)
  • Immigrant inventors (Relevance: 4.6153846153846%)
  • Industry and manufacturing (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Invention at Play (Relevance: 6.1538461538462%)
  • Invention process (Relevance: 7.6923076923077%)
  • Kid inventors (Relevance: 16.923076923077%)
  • Kid-friendly (Relevance: 53.846153846154%)
  • Medicine, health, and life sciences (Relevance: 4.6153846153846%)
  • Music (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Photography, film, television, and video (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Play (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Spark!Lab (Relevance: 100%)
  • Spark!Lab Network (Relevance: 32.307692307692%)
  • Toys and games (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Video games (Relevance: 3.0769230769231%)
  • Women inventors (Relevance: 7.6923076923077%)
Invent It Challenge logotype
Encouraging Innovative Thinking

Spark!Lab Dr. InBae & Mrs. Kyung Joo Yoon Invent It Challenge

The Spark!Lab Dr. InBae & Mrs. Kyung Joo Yoon Invent It Challenge is a fun way to practice the invention process by actually creating something new that matters to the world, either by yourself or with a team of friends.

Image
DO Try This at Home!

Tinker Ball

Tinker Ball is back! Playing around with objects and ideas helps us see that there may be more than one solution.

Computer-generated sketch of tree picker machine
DO Try This at Home!

Design a 21st Century Farming Device

What types of farming will your device be used for? Who will use your invention?

Start screen for Cloud Dreamer game
DO Try This at Home!

Farewell to Cloud Dreamer and Puzzle Blocks

Originally created in 2002, it’s time to retire these well-loved games.

Computer-generated drawing of solar panels in the shape of a houseplant charging a cell phone
DO Try This at Home!

Create a Solar-Powered Invention

Create a solar-powered invention with virtual materials—or design your own parts and pieces.

Rocket launcher made from wood and other materials
DO Try This at Home!

Design a Spacecraft

Design a spacecraft with virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

Computer-generated image of a shopping cart
DO Try This at Home!

Reinvent the Shopping Cart

Reinvent a shopping cart with these virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

Computer-generated image of people in a mass transit vehicle
DO Try This at Home!

Create a Mass Transit Vehicle

Create a mass transit vehicle (bus, plane, boat, train, spacecraft or something totally new) with virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

A scooter made by a child
DO Try This at Home!

Invent a Toy

Invent a new toy with virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

Computer-generated parts to invent something to help clean up the ocean
DO Try This at Home!

Help Clean Up the Ocean

Use virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces—to build a 3D model of your invention that could help clean up the ocean.

Computer-generated object moving through a pipe
DO Try This at Home!

Invent a Device That Can Move Through a Pipe

Invent a device that can move through a pipe with these virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

3 Sparky stick figures tumbling around a drawing of a light bulb.
DO Try This at Home!

Design a Stadium

Design a stadium with virtual materials—or create your own parts and pieces.

Sparky logo
DO Try This at Home!

Invent a Musical Instrument

You can invent an instrument using common items found around your house. What type of instrument will you create?

Cover of Let’s Go Shopping with Peter and Penny children’s book
DO Try This at Home!

Let’s Tell a Story!

Stories tell us how inventions came to be and what inspired the inventors.

Computer-generated design work surface
DO Try This at Home!

Design an Innovative Voting Poster

Design a poster that will encourage people to vote in every election.

See More Stories

VIEW 2718 Matching Results

Found 2718 Stories

  • Agriculture and horticulture (Relevance: 5.224429727741%)
  • Air and space (Relevance: 6.7696835908756%)
  • Archives@NMAH (Relevance: 8.4253127299485%)
  • Chemistry (Relevance: 3.0905077262693%)
  • Food and drink (Relevance: 3.2376747608536%)
  • Industry and manufacturing (Relevance: 7.542310522443%)
  • Medicine, health, and life sciences (Relevance: 4.5989698307579%)
  • Military technology (Relevance: 3.3480500367918%)
  • Mining and drilling (Relevance: 3.4216335540839%)
  • Patents and trademarks (Relevance: 11.40544518028%)
  • Photography, film, television, and video (Relevance: 3.8631346578366%)
  • Power generation, motors, and engines (Relevance: 3.4584253127299%)
  • Spark!Lab (Relevance: 3.5320088300221%)
  • Textiles and clothing (Relevance: 3.3848417954378%)
  • Transportation (Relevance: 5.9970566593083%)
  • Women inventors (Relevance: 3.2376747608536%)
❯
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