Welcome to Pop-Up Science Sparks, a traveling exhibit designed to ignite curiosity and deepen understanding of fundamental science concepts in elementary students. Built to be mobile, durable, and engaging, the displays are ready to inspire wonder, conversation, and hands-on exploration.

Developed by Alexis Markavage, a Ph.D. student in Science Education at Indiana University and former elementary teacher, this project is proudly supported by the Daisy M. and Vivian L. Jones Fellowship Award. The award recognizes innovative approaches that enrich elementary education and promote equity through access to meaningful learning experiences.

What It Is:
Pop-Up Science Sparks brings hands-on, inquiry-based science displays directly into schools. Each station invites students to explore big science ideas through play, experimentation, and observation. Signage and teacher support materials accompany each exhibit, making it easy to integrate science learning into everyday classroom life.

Why It Matters:
Not all students have equal access to high-quality science experiences. This project helps close that gap by sparking wonder in shared school spaces, encouraging both students and teachers to engage with science in creative and concrete ways.

How It Works:
Pop-Up Science Sparks is designed for accessibility, mobility, and impact. The exhibit consists of 8 interactive science stations that rotate through local schools on a monthly basis. Exhibits will officially launch in Fall 2025 at the Indiana University School of Education, after which public elementary schools in Bloomington, IN will be invited to apply to host the exhibit.

Each selected school will display the exhibit in a shared, high-traffic area, such as a library, multipurpose room, or main hallway, so that the entire school community can engage with the science concepts throughout the day. During the exhibition period (typically 2-3 weeks), teachers are encouraged to bring their classes in small groups to explore the stations. Every display includes inquiry-based signage and optional handouts to help guide student engagement and support classroom discussions and extensions. The design ensures that learning continues beyond the exhibit space, sparking new questions and investigations back in the classroom.
To Apply:
If you're a school administrator or teacher in the Bloomington, IN area and would like to host the exhibit, we invite you to apply using the link below. Exhibits are available on a rotating basis during the 2025–2026 school year.

☞ Apply Here

Follow Along:
This project is being studied for its impact on science engagement and learning. Updates and insights will be shared as the exhibit travels.

Dowload the Teacher Handouts:

    Made possible by the Daisy M. and Vivian L. Jones Fellowship Award
    in partnership with Indiana University School of Education.



    Wood Gear Wall

    Design your own spinning machine! Kids can arrange and connect oversized wooden gears on a pegboard wall to see how rotational energy transfers. Every arrangement creates new motion possibilities.
                        
    Moiré Patterns

    Slide transparent panels across each other to reveal optical illusions. The overlapping lines create dynamic moiré patterns that move and change with your touch.
        

                   
    Pool Noodle Pattern Wall

    Play with color and pattern by rearranging soft pool noodle pieces on a wall of pegs. Build shapes, sort by color, or just explore. It’s a tactile invitation to investigate pattern, symmetry, and fine motor skills.
                                
    Newton’s Cradle

    Pull back a ball and release it to set the whole line in motion. This oversized Newton’s Cradle shows how energy transfers in a wave, demonstrating principles of momentum and conservation of energy.    

                   
    Spinning Color Wheel

    Turn the steering wheel and watch colors blend in motion. This double-wheel display lets kids explore color mixing, rotation, and visual effects as they spin both a large and a small wheel at different speeds.
                  
    Balancing Ball

    Watch a beach ball float mid-air! A powerful fan sends air through a cone to create a vertical stream that lifts the ball. You can pivot and tilt the setup to explore how airflow and angles affect balance and motion.


                         
    Magnet Cloud

    Use magnets to move iron shavings from above, and then lie underneath to watch the patterns form from below. This interactive display reveals the hidden motion of magnetic fields through a clear acrylic window.
                        
    Human Kaleidoscope

    Step inside a giant triangle of mirrors and become part of a living kaleidoscope. Reflections multiply your image, turning your movements into mesmerizing, symmetrical patterns.




    Note: The Science Spark exhibit designs are not original inventions. Many are adaptations of classic hands-on science displays, particularly those pioneered by the Exploratorium. While I’ve tailored them to fit the needs of local schools and settings, the core concepts are not proprietary. Designs may also evolve throughout the build process to improve durability, safety, or interactivity.