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Truss Strength
Learners are introduced to the design of Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone Park including its use of trusses. They work in groups and use straws and modeling clay to design and test a variety of building supports.
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Spies That Fly
Students view a video clip about spy planes. They identify the challenges engineers face in building small aircraft. They complete a worksheet to end the activity.
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Robots All Around Us
Student work in design teams to research robots, create a drawing of a robot they want to make, build a prototype of their robot, present their prototype and research, and write a descriptive paragraph about their creation.
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Benjamin Franklin - Master of Electricity The Kite Experiment and the Invention of the Lightning Rod
Students study Benjamin Franklin including who he was, what he invented and his experiment. In this inventive lesson students follow the steps of Ben Franklin and build a Leyden jar.
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Chairs, Chairs, Everywhere...
Students generalize about a variety of designs of inventions. Students respond to a variety of visual designs. Students become aware of the multitude of design variations in everyday objects.
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Compound Word Bingo
For this bingo game worksheet, students use the words after, bag, base, battle, bride, butter, chair, chatter, dock, eye, flower, grass, hedge, light, foot, chop, noon, pipes, ball, ship, groom, cup, man, box, yard, witness, pot, hopper,...
Space Awareness
Sun, Earth and Moon Model
The moon orbits Earth while the Earth is rotating, and the Earth revolves around the sun. This can be a tricky concept for young astronomers. Implement an activity that helps distinguish between the movements of Earth's systems around...
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Let's Build
Students listen as the teacher differentiates between natural and people-made items. They go outside and make lists of natural and people-made things they see. Students complete the linked worksheet by cutting and pasting as suggested by...
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Buildings, Buildings Everywhere
Students gain awareness of shapes in architecture by creating a painting of their school and writing a reflective summary of their study of architecture.
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Let's Build a Trucking Story
Students study the occupation of truck driving and transportation. In this transportation lesson, students identify an item that was transported to the classroom. Students identify key elements in the transportation process and listen to...
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Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Form Follows Function
Students design a chair with function in mind. In this design lesson plan, students design a chair out of newspaper that is strong enough to hold a "peanut ball". Students discuss how the form follows the function. This lesson plan...
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Outdoor Survival
Students identify the seven basic needs for survival. They describe the symptoms and treatment for frostbite and hypothermia. Students compare and contrast the value of different materials in a survival situation. They use their...
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Weight Training
Students practice gaining strength by weightlifting. In this physical education lesson, students discuss ways to safely build muscle by examining the parts of their body they will be using in the weight-room. Students utilize a workout...
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Vocabulary Multiple Choice Worksheet
For this ESL vocabulary building worksheet, students read 10 sentences that have a word missing. Students select the correct word from 4 similar choices.
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Converting Energy
Students explore the concepts of energy transformation and conversion. They engage in Internet and hands-on activities. Students visit the Atoms Family Website and complete a Building a Better Pyramid activity by adding insulation to...
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Ideal Living
Students examine two artists Vasily Kandinsky and Marcel Breuer. In this artist analysis lesson, students explore the principles of Bauhaus and consider the elements of chair design. Students identify the technique of lithography and may...
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ESL: Vocabulary Builder
In this ESL vocabulary building worksheet, students use a drop down list to select the correct names for pictures, numbers, articles of clothing, buildings and furniture items.
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Roller Coaster Fun
Third graders examine the effects of gravity on how an object moves. In groups, they design a roller coaster, share their design with the class and build the roller coaster. They roll different sized balls down the track and record the...
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Suspension Bridge Construction
Students build a model of a suspension bridge and test the amount of weight it support. They identify different types of bridges: suspension, arch, girder, truss, cantilever, cable-stayed and moveable.
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Siphon Pump
Learners determine the basic types of pumps and how they work in terms of pressure, velocity, and elevation differences. They build two examples of gravity-driven water pumps.
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Breaking Beams
Students work together designing and building their own beams. They discover the concepts of stress and strain. They participate in a competition to determine the best beam.
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Identifying Angles
Fourth graders examine the various characteristics of angles. In groups, they identify angles in the real world and which angles are used for buildings. To end the instructional activity, they use their bodies to represent the...
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Refining and Reasoning Behind Scale Drawings
Students discuss accuracy and the need for it in blueprints in order to create the final project. They further refine and perfect drawings as part of the school drawing project. Students create a blueprint for the new school building...
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Looking After Aston Hall
In this visiting a historical museum worksheet, students examine a basic map of Aston Hall, a 400 year old building open to the public. Inside each room box, students write hints and rules for visitors to help them behave properly on a...