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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy and Work: Transformation through Engines

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of thermodynamics. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they discover how potential energy converts into kinetic energy. They use the internet to research the components of a...
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Activity
Curated OER

The BEAM Project: Building Efficient Architectural Models

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Technology or engineering teams are given a task to design, construct, and test the efficiency of a structure that will foster an even temperature throughout an entire sunny day. Intended as a long-term project, pupils research, plan,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design and Build a Tangle-free Headphone Holder

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers design, build and test a device to store headphones without tangling the wires. In this engineering lesson, students view web videos and documents about the design process. They work in groups to brainstorm, research,...
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Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

Assembly Required and the Design Process Too!

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Do your part to make manufacturing more manageable. A capstone project challenges each group to identify and research a manufacturing process for a product. To complete the activity, they create a presentation for business and community...
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Lesson Plan
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Purdue University

Sound Absorption Wall

For Teachers 3rd Standards
What types of materials absorb sound? Learners explore sound waves, the decibel scale, and how different materials affect sound. Then, they use their knowledge of sound meters to complete a STEM engineering design task to build...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ships 3: Grand Designs And Great Failures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers engage in this, the third in a three-part series on ships. The overall instructional activity series is designed to allow students to extend their understanding of floating, sinking, density, and buoyancy and apply it to...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Waterproof that Roof!

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners design and build model houses, with an emphasis on waterproof roofs. They perform tests to see if their models are as waterproof as they think.
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Heart of the Matter

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Hands-on experience with valves and water flow supports young researchers' understanding of valve operation. Attached resources for learners are text-dense; I'd break up the text into smaller pieces for groups to read and present...
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Lesson Plan
North Carolina State University

Pipe Cleaner Towers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Small groups work together to create a tower out of 15 pipe cleaners under a set of imposed limitations. First, restrict team members to use only one arm, and then remove the use of spoken language. There is also a time limit. The brief...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Pendulum Time

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Take your time with this lesson. Junior engineers read about different types of clocks and then work together to build a pendulum time-keeper. There are no hints as to how they might go about accomplishing this complex task, so you may...
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Lesson Plan
Trash For Teaching

The Light-House Project

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Groups work together to design a lighthouse, from designing and drawing the wiring diagram, to creating prototypes of the switch and circuit, to envisioning and building a scale model along with a blueprint. By including different...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions in Everyday Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify and solve problems as they modify the design of an everyday household item. They gather and analyze information and work in collaborative teams to create a design plan for a new product.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Bridge Designer" Lab

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students become civil engineers and assist in designing a Truss Bridge to carry a two-lane highway across a river valley using the West Point Bridge Designer 2003 Software. They construct bridges based upon budget and demos. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Engineering Design Process

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students utilize their creative skills by solving engineering issues.  In this problem solving lesson, students examine the 6 steps to the engineering process by completing a worksheet.  Students examine one of three scenarios and follow...
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Unit Plan
Teach Engineering

Solar Water: Heat it Up!

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young engineers are instructed to design and build their own solar water heaters. Then, they calculate the efficiency and cost and compare them to commercially available models. This is a full unit for pupils to apply their knowledge.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Purdue University

Simple Machines – Dog Gone It!

For Teachers 3rd Standards
How can people use simple machines to solve real-world STEM problems? Learn about simple machines using a hands-on, project-based learning activity. First, pupils investigate and evaluate simple machines. Then, they receive a task that...
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Unit Plan
NASA

Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
It's time to go to Mars. Using the provided cards and mat, groups design a mission to Mars. The cards contain information about the different components of the launch and warn about a few mishaps that might occur along the way.
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Waterproof that Roof!

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Build a Big Wheel

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
What does it take to prepare for a construction project? In an engineering instructional activity, youngsters examine how a Ferris wheel can turn and carry a load without falling apart. After reading up on big wheel designs, they create...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Cast Your Vote

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
In a simple but unique lesson, 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 of other...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Can You Canoe?

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Build Your Own Robot Arm

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Blast Off!

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
With the use of a model rocket kit, aspiring aerospace engineers work cooperatively to construct and launch a rocket. A preparatory reading assignment is included, covering Newton's laws of motion and information about the first...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Criminal or Hero

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars investigate slavery in America circa the American Revolution. They will examine point- of view and perspective as they research a variety of informational resources. While this is designed to be used with the PBS video...

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