Penn State Students Create Bouncy Balls Project to Teach Materials Science

Graduate students partner with museums to transform research into hands-on learning activities for kids.

Published on Jan. 31, 2026

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A group of Penn State graduate students have created a new outreach initiative called "Mission: Materials Science" that uses simple toys like bouncy balls to teach children ages 8-13 about materials science and how it connects to everyday life. The project, supported by Penn State's National Science Foundation-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), partners with museum educators and media professionals to develop free, hands-on learning activities that explore concepts like how materials store and exchange energy, how structure affects behavior, and how environmental conditions can change material properties.

Why it matters

The "Mission: Materials Science" project aims to make complex materials science research more accessible and engaging for young learners. By using familiar objects like bouncy balls, the activities help children understand how scientific principles apply to the world around them. The partnership with museums and educational organizations also ensures the lessons reach a wide audience beyond just the university.

The details

The "Mission: Materials Science" project began as a collaboration between MRSEC researchers and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where they created tabletop exhibits for museum visitors. Over time, it evolved into a digital platform of do-it-yourself activities that can be completed at home or used in classrooms. The newest collection includes four experiments that allow kids to mix their own bouncy ball recipes, build candy crystals, and model how ocean chemistry affects coral-like materials.

  • The "Mission: Materials Science" project has been running since 2021.
  • The newest collection of four hands-on activities was recently launched online.

The players

Penn State University

The university where the graduate students leading the "Mission: Materials Science" project are based, and which houses the National Science Foundation-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) supporting the initiative.

Franklin Institute

A science museum in Philadelphia that has partnered with MRSEC on the "Mission: Materials Science" project since 2021, helping to create hands-on exhibits for museum visitors.

Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania

The educational organization that now leads the "Mission: Materials Science" project in close partnership with MRSEC, helping to develop the digital platform of do-it-yourself activities.

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What’s next

The "Mission: Materials Science" project plans to continue expanding its collection of hands-on learning activities, with the goal of making materials science education more accessible and engaging for children across the country.

The takeaway

By using familiar objects like bouncy balls, the "Mission: Materials Science" project demonstrates how complex scientific concepts can be made fun and relatable for young learners. The partnership between the university, museums, and educational organizations also ensures these materials reach a wide audience and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.