Curated OER
Build A Birdhouse
Students work together to design and build a birdhouse. They research a bird of their choice and build the birdhouse that means that bird's specifications. They discover the importance of designing.
Curated OER
Deep Impact Comet On A Stick
Students investigate the concept of a comet. They construct a model of a comet. The design is done using the same thoughts of an engineer. Students work together to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the comet models. If the model...
Curated OER
3-2-1 Blast Off!
Students explore physics by participating in a flight experiment. In this rocket design instructional activity, students discuss the scientific process and how chemical reaction can create the energy needed to boost a rocket. Students...
Curated OER
Everyone Up!
Students examine various agriculture careers, both direct and indirect, related to crop production and distribution. In this food production instructional activity, students role play the processing chain in which crops move from...
Curated OER
Can You Control Floods
Students assume the role of an engineer or planner. As an engineer or planner they must come up with ideas that can be put into place to control floods. They produce a working model of flood control.
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MARS Dead or Alive
Young scholars describe the design and construction of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs). They imagine that they can visit Mars and think about what they want to find out about the planet. The review the solar system and discuss...
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Planning a Trip
Students plan a trip to from 3 to 5 cities of their choice. They design a brochure to travel to the chosen cities. It should be of a quality that it could be used by a customer to decide if they would like to take this trip.
Curated OER
Chemistry World The Five Types of Chemical Reactions
Students research five types of chemical reactions in order to design a learning center. Students use technology to research and present their material.
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T-shirt Chromatography
Young scholars explore chromatography, a process used to separate mixtures. They create a colorful T-shirt design.
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Who Turned on the Lights?
Seventh graders discuss how energy is transformed from one form to another. In this physics lesson, 7th graders design and build their own hydro generator. They identify the factors that affect its energy production.
Curated OER
GM Foods: Are They Safe?
Students examine the process for testing GM foods. They research benefits and hazards of a selection of GM foods. They also create images of new labels and marketing for GM foods.
Curated OER
Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination
Students identify the plant parts and bee structures that are involved in pollination. They simulate pollination in a group activity and process the information.
Curated OER
Ooblek
Students demonstrate the three states of matter. For this matter lesson, students read Bartholomew and the Ooblek. Students create "ooblek" and discuss what state of matter it is.
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Build a Sturdy Wall
Learners read a version of "The Three Little Pigs" and then work in small groups to design a wall. They use Legos to build the wall and subject their design to a strength test.
Curated OER
Structural Stability - Legos
Students are introduced to a variety of design elements that promote structural stability including beams, joints and pins. They demonstrate the use of these elements with Lego constructions and compare the stability of several...
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LEGO Construction Basics-The RCX
Students build a stable car after examining the RCX. They determine how to incorporate the RCX into their design using Legos to build a car.
Curated OER
Where's the Water?
Fifth graders conduct an investigation into water purification during a role play situation in an Amazon Rainforest. They design a scientific experiment for cleaning and filtering water.
Curated OER
Level 4 Pilot Programming
Students design a car with two motors and then program the car to accomplish specific tasks within Pilot 4. They work in teams in order to program their own car in order to accomplish specific tasks outlined by the teacher. They write...
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Bobsled Challange
Students investigate the effects of materials on the friction between a "bobsled" and the track. They explore the effects of weight on the motion of the bobsled. Students design a bobsled for either fast or slow movement. They discuss...
Tech Museum of Innovation
Energy at Play
Get the ball rolling and challenge your class to figure out how to make a ball move. The instruction segment is between two STEM activities devoted to doing just that. The first is simple and involves making a ball move from some...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Testing the Caverns
Middle schoolers make model caverns out of paper mache or clay. They bury them in a tray of sand, and test the models by dropping balls into them simulating as asteroid hitting the earth. They discuss the results of the activity in a...
Curated OER
Peak Performance
Students design and build a car that is capable of traveling across the floor quickly, and also up a steep ramp.
Curated OER
An Introduction to Thermal Spray Technology
Students discuss difference between kinetic and thermal energy, develop and demonstrate understanding of key concepts and characteristics underlying thermal spray techniques, list items used in their daily lives that are coated, examine...