Curated OER
What's Stronger? What's Stiffer?
Students measure the length, width and height of different materials. In this design lesson students complete a lab to see what engineers need to consider when planning a structure.
Curated OER
Concrete Research
Students explore concrete. In this physical science and computer research instructional activity, students work in groups to answer specific questions about concrete. Each group of students completes a different worksheet with a...
Curated OER
Shape Up!
An outstanding lesson on teaching the basic shapes and polygon names to young geometers is here for you. In it, learners investigate the role of basic polygons in the strength of structures. They use geoboards, rubber bands, streamed...
Curated OER
Build and Test a Paper Bridge
Students investigate making strong structures from paper. In this paper bridge instructional activity, students experiment making bridges out of paper. Students fold paper many different ways to test its strength. Students discuss what...
Teach Engineering
Breaking the Mold
A little too much strain could cause a lot of stress. Groups conduct a strength test on clay. Using books as weights, pupils measure the compression of clay columns and calculate the associated strain and stress. Teams record their data...
Curated OER
Slime and Intermolecular Attractions
Students explore the strength of intermolecular attractions. They make slime and compare the difference in the physical properties of sheet and powdered polyvinyl alcohol with polyvinyl acetate.
Scholastic
The Flight of Amelia Earhart Teaching Guide
Amelia Earhart's accomplishments and strength of character extend beyond her status as one of the first female aviators in America. Elementary and middle schoolers learn about Earhart's early life and the historical context surrounding...
Curated OER
"Arm Wrestling with My Father" by Brad Manning
Brad Manning’s essay, “Arm Wrestling with My Father,” is used as the basis of an AP Language and Composition exercise. Readers identify the purpose of the essay, analyze the essay structure, evaluate the diction, and unpack the analogies.
Teach Engineering
Alloy the Way to Mars
Future engineers test different alloys to determine the specific strength of each one. Based on the results, they make a recommendation to NASA on which alloy to use on engines for spacecraft.
Curated OER
Good Old Earth Materials
Students investigate different types of building structures and how they are able to stand up to earthquakes. Through comparison they determine which buildings are better able to handle earthquakes than others. They create a building,...
Teach Engineering
Skeletal System Overview
It is best to know all about the skeletons in the closet. The third segment in a five-part series focuses on bone structure, development and growth, and functions. Class members connect what they learn to their study of osteoporosis.
Curated OER
Building Big and Strong
Middle and high schoolers explore the concepts of architectural rigidity. They analyze a variety of polygons, and explain why some shapes add more strength to structures than others. The PBS video, "Building Big," is utilized in this plan.
DiscoverE
A Leg to Stand On
Give your learners a leg up in their study of engineering. Groups design and create a prothestic for a leg. They test out their designs for strength, stability, durability, and comfort.
Novelinks
The Lightning Thief: Concept/Vocabulary Analysis
Before you begin reading Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, read over this comprehensive handout that gives you a plethora of information regarding the story's summary, organizational structure, central...
Reed Novel Studies
A Wrinkle In Time: Novel Study
Fathers and daughters often create a bond of great strength. Is Meg's bond strong enough to save her father? A Wrinkle In Time follows Meg and her friends as they find themselves in a supernatural world; Meg just hopes she finds her...
Curated OER
Strong as Newspaper
Students explore architecture. In this science lesson, students build a structure from newspaper. Students place weight on the structure to measure how strong the structure is.
Curated OER
Suspension Bridge Construction
Students study types, strength and construction of a variety of bridges. They build a model bridge and test the amount of weight it support.
Curated OER
Tree Friends
Students are introduced to tree structure and use. They identify their special tree using all senses except sight. Students identify six different internal parts within a cross section of tree trunk (bark, phloem, xylem, cambium,...
Curated OER
Truss Strength
Young scholars 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.
Curated OER
Paper Structures
Students demonstrate that material strength varies with shape and arrangement.
Curated OER
Design & Technology: Materials Strength
Students investigate the function of a floor stretcher and some of the past designs. The goal is to improve the design durability and ease of use. Then they sketch their ideas and write a rationale for changes made to the structure.
Museum of Science
Newspaper Fort
Newspapers aren't really the first material that comes to mind when building a fort. Pupils use newspaper rolls to design and build a sturdy structure. They consider how different shapes, like trusses, affect the strength of their...
Curated OER
Stressed and Strained
Students explore stress and strength in engineering design. In this engineering lesson, students become familiar with terminology associated with stress and strain on building material. They will have a class discuss about how their beam...
Teach Engineering
Exploring the Forces of Tension
Let the resource stretch the minds of your young scientists with a lesson about tensile strength and stiffness of materials. Groups consider how easily materials stretch and relate this property to engineering design.