SCI-FUN Do-It-Yourself Activities
Based at the University of Edinburgh, the SCI-FUN Roadshow has been delivering interactive activities to school and community groups for 25 years. On this page, we share some of the activities that can be reproduced at home or in the classroom with the use of some basic materials and perhaps access to a printer.
If you have any trouble with these materials, or would like to send us any comments about them, please contact us:
The activities are grouped below by how difficult they are to recreate.
Downloads note: Clicking an activity link below will take you to OneDrive. From there, to download several files at the same time, hover over each and select the circle that appears to the left, then click the ‘download’ option towards the top of that page.
Colour Box
How do we see things and what does ‘dark’ mean? Find out by using a shoe box!
Access the Colour Box materials
Conflicting Signals
Discover the difficulties of recognising colours over words in this simple test.
Access the Conflicting Signals materials
Hole in the Hand
As it says in the title: make a hole in your hand! No cutting required…
Access the Hole in the Hand materials
Optical Illusions
A series of images, and a gif, that help to explain how our visual system works.
Reaction Timer
Test how quick your reactions are by using a ruler.
Access the Reaction Timer materials
Tangrams
Hours of challenging fun with this seven-piece puzzle.
Upside-down Faces
Discover the importance of specific facial features in our ability to recognise each other.
Coanda Effect
Simply by using a hair-dryer discover the power of the force created by the Coanda Effect.
Access the Coanda Effect instructions
Cube Illusion
A wonderful illusion that really challenges your visual system.
Access the Cube Illusion materials
Inverse Colour Illusion
This set of illusions demonstrate how our senses get tired. You can also make your own examples from your own photos!
Access the Inverse Colour Illusion materials
Reverse 3D Dragon
Construct this model and see how it follows you around the room…
Seeing is Believing
What shapes can you see and what’s really there? (Requires access to a 3D printer.)
Resources for teachers
This document outlines how our activities link to the Curriculum for Excellence.
