Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Build Your Own Robot Arm
Engineers team up to design and construct an 18-inch-long robotic arm that can successfully pick up a paper cup. Each group is given the exact same set of materials, but it is up to them to decide what to use and how to use it. It is a...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Cast Your Vote
In a simple but unique instructional activity, youngsters learn about the history of voting systems. They then collaborate in groups to develop a new honest and consistent voting method. A class-wide poll is taken, evaluating the designs...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Making Sense of Sensors
Have small groups in your class construct working hygrometers as an example of the benefits of using sensors in engineering. This activity can be used during a weather unit when covering humidity or in a STEM activity as a preparation...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Build a Big Wheel
What does it take to prepare for a construction project? In an engineering lesson plan, youngsters examine how a Ferris wheel can turn and carry a load without falling apart. After reading up on big wheel designs, they create a model...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Can You Canoe?
A neat handout immerses learners in the history of canoe making. After reading, small groups of mini engineers work to craft a canoe that will not be immersed! This is an ideal exercise in engineering design for your STEM curriculum or...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Water Fountain
Thorough instructions are given to guide you through making a demonstration hydraulic pump from two plastic soda bottles. After using the resource to teach your class about Pascal's and Bernoulli's principles, turn them loose in groups...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Can You Copperplate?
Introduce emerging engineers to the process of metal plating. This resource provides background reading on chemical engineering, plating, and corrosion. It concludes with a copper plating activity. The standards alignment list includes...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Fun with Speedboats!
After reading about marine engineers and naval architects, it's all hands on deck to design and test a speed boat. This lesson plan is designed for the Next Generation Science Standards in engineering and can be a centerpiece for a STEM...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Waterproof that Roof!
Stop the raindrops from getting into the house! Eager engineers learn about roofing history and waterproofing by nanotechnology. They get into groups and work on designing a waterproof roof for a small model house. The accompanying...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Give Me a Brake
Learners explore the concept of how brakes can stop or slow mechanical motion. They examine the operation of a bicycle brake and use low cost materials to devise a simple braking system. Finally, they work as a team to suggest...
Carnegie Mellon University
Lab Report
A set of instructions and a 100-point grading rubric have been designed for writing lab reports. Appropriate for middle schoolers, this lays out what to include for each of the six steps in the scientific method: title, hypothesis,...
TryEngineering
Irrigation Ideas
Students design and build an irrigation system that can move water from one place to another. In this engineering lesson, students test whether their system can move two cups of water to at least three feet from the source. They evaluate...
TryEngineering
How the Rubber Meets the Road
Students design their own tire tread pattern that meets a certain requirement. In this technology activity, students explore how engineers develop tire treads. They evaluate their own work and share their product with the class.
TryEngineering
Rescue Rover
Students explore how rescue devices are made and used. In this rescue lesson students design and build their own rescue device then test it.
TryEngineering
Engineering Air Traffic
Learners work as air traffic controllers to read the radar and land 3 planes safely. In this engineering lesson, students use what they have learned about the principles and engineering and radar to land 3 planes then evaluate the...
TryEngineering
Infrared Investigations
Students examine how infrared works with everyday items. In this investigative lesson, students examine how we use infrared in household items. They will conduct an experiment to create an infrared remote that works around corners as...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Shipping For Survival
Students explore package engineering and investigate design. In this shipping instructional activity students are given a flower and are to come up with a packaging that will allow the flower to get to its destination as fresh as...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Clipper Creations
Young scholars create their own model of a nail clipper. They practice using engineering design and model building. They also identify different kinds of small levers.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Critical Load
Students analyze critical load and how to reinforce the design of a structure to hold more weight. They examine basic structures and which materials to select. They create a prototype to hold more and more weight.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Build Your Own Robot Arm
Learners explore design, construction, and teamwork as they design and develop robot arm at least 18 inches in length using common materials.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Design and Build A Better Candy Bag
Young scholars discuss how the final design for a product can affect its success. They work together to design and develop a better candy bad. They predict the volume and strength they need for the bag to be successful.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Sticky Engineering Challenge
Young scholars explore the properties of different adhesives. In this physics lesson plan, students construct a building structure and determine what glue to use in the process. They present their design in class.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Sail Away
Students examine what naval architects and marine engineers do. In this engineering lesson students work in teams and design a boat with a sail structure.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Pollution Patrol
Students design and build an outdoor air pollution detector, test their designs, and communicate their results. In this investigative instructional activity students work in teams to design their detectors and use everyday items to do...