Curated OER
Anything Goes
Students work collaboratively to explore the functions of the Robolab program and create a small moving robot out of Legos.
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Building Tetrahedral Kites
Middle schoolers work together to build tetrahedral kites. They must follow directions and the provided materials. They discover the engineering concepts needed to make the kite.
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Bulbs & Batteries Side by Side
Young scholars build parallel circuits, exploring how they function and looking at their unique features. They describe how current changes when batteries are added in parallel or removed from a parallel arrangement, demonstrate the...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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Tension and Compression
Students explore the forces of tension and compression by manipulating a variety of objects, and apply what they learned in the construction of a model bridge.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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...