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About This Program

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Blendies: Spinning Color and Symmetry Together

Artist

FutureMakers

Program Type

Family Engagement Workshop

A 45-minute family workshop for early childhood and lower elementary learners (PK to 3rd grade) where caregivers and learners each build their own reconfigurable spinning top from unique symmetrical components (parallel play, one Blendie per participant). After the core build, every maker compares a symmetrical and an asymmetrical Blendie, then colors two peanuts with primary colors and watches their brain optically blend them into a secondary color while the Blendie spins. Families practice the engineering design process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) and walk away with their finished Blendie and shared language to keep iterating at home with additional included components.

Program Length

45 minutes

Technical Requirements

Technical Needs, Virtual
Zoom (or comparable platform) with screen-sharing for the slide deck
Document camera or a second camera angled at the teaching artist's hands for build demonstrations
Stable wifi
Each participating family must have received their Blendies kits in advance, plus a flat workspace and a smooth spinning surface (table or floor)
One Blendies kit per participant (one for the caregiver, one for the learner)
Recommended: a quiet space; an adult co-pilot for each learner

Technical Needs, In Person
A flat table or floor space for each participant (and a clear floor area large enough to spin freely)
Chairs (one per participant)
A projector or large screen for the slide deck
Standard lighting; no AV booth required
A demo table in front of the room with the teaching artist's example Blendie
A smooth spinning surface (a flat tabletop or floor area)
Optional: name labels or slips of paper so learners can identify their own kits