Curated OER
Tower Investigation and the Egg
Pupils build three types of towers, engineering them to hold an egg one foot high for 15 seconds. They discover that engineering designs are subject to constraints such as time, money and size specifications. In this activity students...
Curated OER
Marshmallow Towers
Students explore geometry by completing a marshmallow activity in class. In this architecture lesson, students identify the jobs of civil engineers and architects while identifying different geometric shapes as well. Students utilize...
Curated OER
Tower O'Power
Students work together to design a tower from a computer program. They manufacture the pieces with a laser cutter and compete in a competition to determine the best design for stress relief on towers. They discover the work engineers...
Skyscraper Museum
What is a Skyscraper?
Skyscrapers are amazing feats of architectural design that create the iconic skylines of the world's biggest cities. Young architects explore the defining characteristics of these monstrous towers with the first lesson in this four-part...
Curated OER
Strong as the Weakest Link
Students recognize that compression and tension forces are important considerations in building structures. They construct their own building structure using marshmellows and spaghetti to see which structure can hold the most weight.
DiscoverE
Kinetic Sculpture
Let your creativity run wild. Scholars build a sculpture out of basic materials. These sculptures must be able to move in the wind (from an electric fan). However, they must also withstand the wind enough to not fall over—it's quite the...
PBS
Kinetic Sculpture
Build a sculpture that moves on its own; no power source required! The second installment of a five-part series has individuals create a sculpture that moves with the wind. It can't topple over though, so some type of support is necessary.
Curated OER
Reaching New Heights
Young scholars explore the tallest skyscrapers in the world over the past 100 years. In this technology lesson plan, students create a graph/time line about the evolution of skyscrapers. They research important facts about their assigned...
Curated OER
Tower Challenge
Young scholars are given a problem to solve which is to construct a "Cost-effective" tower which supports a designated load. They work in teams to devise plans to create a tower capable of holding a standard brick using index cards.
Curated OER
Skyscrapers: Engineering Up!
Learners build their own newspaper skyscrapers with limited materials and time. They identify several different structural engineering principles relating to skyscrapers. They explain how their towers resisted the wind load.
Curated OER
The Ups and Downs of Technology
Students create a visual timeline of skyscrapers built in the past 20 years. In this physical science lesson, students research important facts about the building. They discuss the challenges architects face when building skyscrapers.
Curated OER
Introduction to Lego Robotics
Students utilize computer programs to operate a simple robot. In this technology instructional activity, students create robots using Lego pieces and simple motors to move them. Students measure the speed of the robots by running...
Curated OER
The Invention of the Telegraph
Students study the history of telegraph invention. In this technology activity, students build their own Morse Telegraph System. They discuss how this invention benefits the society.
Curated OER
Higher and Higher: Amazing Skyscrapers
Students brainstorm the names of skyscrapers then get into groups and create their own skyscraper. In this architecture lesson students answer questions about their skyscraper after creating one.
Curated OER
High-rise London
Students read, analyze and critique a newspaper article on how new tall buildings are changing London's skyline. They assess key vocabulary terms within the article, comprehension questions and write out how to design the perfect building.
Curated OER
Designing for the Future
Students analyze the architecture of the United Architects and Ken Yeang. In this architecture analysis lesson, students explore architecture design for its sustainability, safety, and purpose. Students write an article about one of the...
Curated OER
Connecting Downtown
Pupils examine how engineering and design make cities more livable and efficient. They study different types of walkways including elevated and underground walks, and where and why they would be used. They design their own walkway...
Curated OER
Castles and Forts of Wales and Oregon
Young scholars compare a castle in Wales to a fort in Oregon and design and build a castle or fort. In this structure study lesson, students complete activities to study castles in Wales to forts in England. Young scholars then design...
Curated OER
Artist's Work/Artist's Voice: Louis I. Kahn
Students explore the process of construction and architecture. In this construction research lesson, students complete image based discussion activities and three related activities for architecture and design.
DiscoverE
Human Suspension Bridge
When is it okay to be suspended in school? When you're part of a human suspension bridge! Learners first model tension and compression in pairs. Once complete, they get together as a class to model a suspension bridge.
Curated OER
Constructions and Creations: Sturdy Structures
Have your class draw the plans and design a structure. Learners discuss and investigate the variables in the stability of a 2D and 3D model. They also consider how to add a circuit to the design. Afterwards, they present their work.
Teach Engineering
Wimpy Radar Antenna
The Diary of a Wimpy Antenna? In the last installment of a six-part series, your class constructs a model of a radio antenna and tests its torque. Pupils use the results to design a better model that resists bending and twisting forces.
Curated OER
Famous Landmarks
Students investigate countries by identifying their national landmarks. For this World Geography lesson, students utilize the Internet to research a historic landmark in a foreign country and complete a landmark survey worksheet....