Teach Engineering
The Challenge Question
A research position becomes a modeling job. The introductory lesson in a series of nine presents the challenge of analyzing a set of bivariate data. The class brainstorms what the data may represent. Pupils must decide what is needed to...
Teach Engineering
Designing Bridges
Introduces your class to the types of loads experienced by a bridge. Groups calculate the ultimate load combinations to determine the maximum load requirement. Using this information, builders then determine the amount of material...
Teach Engineering
Concentrated Solar Power
The seventh segment in an eight-part unit promotes the idea of concentrating the sun to increase the power of a photovoltaic panel. Pupils learn about devices used such as reflectors or lenses.
University of Colorado
Astro-Chronology
Class members play a version of the game Chronology to determine when certain scientific events occurred in history. Teams play until someone has 5-10 events in the correct order.
DiscoverE
Pilot a Balloon
Balloons will go where you want them to. Young pilots first add paper clips to a balloon to make it neutrally buoyant. They then use cardboard to steer the balloon in different directions, taking air pressure into account. 
DiscoverE
Clean It Up
Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink—until we clean it, of course! Scholars design a filtration device that removes pollutants from water. The goal is to have the water come out as clean as possible from the device. How...
Kenan Fellows
The Little Stuff Can Make a Big Difference
Great things come in small packages! What better way to illustrate this point than a week-long look at nanotechnology? Earth science scholars explore water quality issues through lab activities, then research new innovations in nanotech...
Code.org
Sending Binary Messages with the Internet Simulator
Show your class how to develop a protocol to solve a problem. Pupils then continue with working with binary messages but refine a protocol to assist with the distinction of individual bits by including a bit rate. Finally, the pairs...
Curated OER
What's Your Agricultural Experience?
Consider sharing information about a fast growing career cluster with your class. They'll discuss the careers and higher education associated with agricultural careers. A worksheet, web links, and video links make exploring the world of...
Curated OER
Career Trek: Agricultural Careers
What is agriscience and could it hold a potential career opportunity? Learners define agriscience and explore careers that involve both agriculture and natural resource fields. The instructional activity includes several web links, a...
Curated OER
Wind Power
Fourth graders develop an understanding of how engineers use wind to generate electricity. They will build a model anemometer to better understand and measure wind speed. They discover that engineers design wind turbines that generate...
Curated OER
Prosthetic Party
Students examine human anatomy by creating a prosthetic limb.  In this medical engineering lesson, students view numerous images of prosthetics used in science today and define several medical terms associated with prosthetics....
Curated OER
Problem Solving Using Math
Students solve real life scenarios using algebra. In this word problem lesson plan, students use different websites dealing with engineering as it relates to the real world and math. They use other resources such as magazines to solve...
Curated OER
Harnessing Wind
Students explore the ways that engineers study and harness the wind. They study the different kinds of winds and how to measure wind direction. In addition, students learn how air pressure creates winds and how engineers build and test...
Curated OER
What's Down the Well?
Middle schoolers examine how environmental engineers determine possible sites for drinking water wells.  They listen to a teacher led-lecture, and create their own groundwater well model using a coffee can and wire screening, observing...
Curated OER
Reach For The Sky
Young scholars consider alternative designs for a tall building and choose one of their designs to build. As a final step, they design and construct a model of a skyscraper.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
History of Computing – EEEEK- A Mouse!
Young scholars examine the concepts of computer and mechanical engineering. They dissemble a computer mouse and create a new design for the mouse. They also design new enhancements for the mouse over time.
Curated OER
Oil Spill
Students explore an important role of environmental engineers by studying the Exxon Valdez oil spill.  They experiment with different strategies in order to clean up their own manufactured oil spill.
Curated OER
Interactions Everywhere!
Students examine interactions within the environment and environmental engineering careers.  They discuss and view photos of natural and manmade environments, explore various websites, create a web to identify interactions between living...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Heavy Helicopters
Learners study the concepts of weight and drag while making paper helicopters. They measure how adding more weight to the helicopter changes the time for the helicopter to fall to the ground. They apply what they examine to the work of...
Curated OER
Rock Solid
Students investigate the three types of material stress related to rocks.  They watch a PowerPoint Presentation, view an online animation of the three types of rock stress, identify the various types of rocks, answer true or false...
Curated OER
Compare Human-made Objects with Natural Objects
Learners examine and observe how many human-made objects get their basic design from things in nature.  They listen to the book "Nature Got There First," compare/contrast hollow bones with drinking straws, bird beaks and tool pliers, and...
TryEngineering
How the Rubber Meets the Road
Young scholars design their own tire tread pattern that meets a certain requirement. For this technology lesson, students explore how engineers develop tire treads. They evaluate their own work and share their product with the class.
Curated OER
Sounds Like Music
Students define and examine the connections between sound and music and how engineers design instruments.  They listen to examples of musical instruments, view a demonstration of a tuning fork and bottles filled with varying amounts of...