Supplies
Visitors to Draper Spark!Lab at the National Museum of American History spend time thinking about, sketching, and building their creation—and, of course, testing their invention and seeing what others have made! But we use everyday materials on purpose so that our visitors can invent at home, too. Invention can happen anywhere, anytime, with anything. There are lots of everyday materials you can use to build your invention. For this project, you will need:
Building materials: cardboard in all shapes and sizes; paper like newspaper, packing paper, or construction paper; recyclable (and clean!) plastic containers; or any materials you think will work for your invention
Ways to join two things together: tape works great, but you could also try string, wires, glue, or brads
Ways to add color: making your invention look good is really important, too! Add color with markers, leaves, flowers, magazine pages, or construction paper; or choose materials in different colors to decorate your invention.
Your imagination
Websites or books with projects and techniques that can inspire your instrument inventions