Other
Design Museum (London)
Included at this site is a large collection of links to individual architects and designers. Each link includes a lengthy biography of the artist along with a series of pictures, a timeline of their life, and a listing of bibliography...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Engineering in Reverse!
Students learn about the process of reverse engineering and how this technique is used to improve upon technology. Students analyze push-toys and draw diagrams of the predicted mechanisms inside the toys. Then, they disassemble the toys...
Science Museum of Minnesota
Thinking Fountain: Noodle: Build a Spaghetti Structure
Design and construct a structure out of spaghetti and marshmallows. Although spaghetti doesn't seem like a strong building material, you can build surprisingly elegant and sturdy structures using it.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: A Place in the Shade an Engineering Challenge
Kindergarteners can participate in the engineering and design process in this challenge in which they try to keep an ice cube from melting. Included in this lesson are samples of student's structures, a video of a kindergarten class...
University of California
South Coast Science Project: Mimicking Plants and Animals Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students are challenged to think about external features that animals and plants have that humans have copied. Students then apply their engineering skills to design a jacket. In addition, this activity introduces the...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Nation: Games: Fidgit
This resource allows students to practice engineering skills while trying to win a fun interactive game.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Goody Goody Gumdrop! Building Structures Are Fun!
In this lesson, the children will be building a physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object, such as triangles, helps it function. At the end, the children will test their gumdrop structures and the class will collectively...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Toy Vehicle Design
In this instructional activity, students prepare their design plans for building their own toy vehicle from local manufacturers' discards. They start to conceptualize what may help the vehicle roll straight and far as they discuss ideas...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Thousands of Tiny Pieces Can Create Something Big!
Simon Rodia built the Watts Towers by gathering fragments of "junk" he found in the neighborhood. He put all of these small pieces together to build a spectacular tower. Students will observe that something BIG can be created from lots...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: "Let Go of My Lego"
Junior scientists use their imagination to create a Lego car. This investigation allows scientists to see that they can put items together to create some new product. Videos of the lesson in action and examples of student's journal...
Other
Mpg: Analyzing an Ad
Explains why it's difficult for any ad to make an impression. Then offers numerous questions to use to review ad/brochure to determine if print piece is effective. Addresses copy and design from these perspectives.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Construct and Test Roofs for Different Climates
We design and create objects to make our lives easier and more comfortable. The houses in which we live are an excellent example of this. Depending on your local climate, the features of your house will be different to satisfy your...
Other
Smalltown Marketing: How to Make a Super Brochure or Mailing Piece
Presents information on the purpose of brochures, mistakes to avoid, how to write brochure copy, and how to structure brochure.
Other
Java world.com: Design Techniques
An article on the role of design in the context of the overall software development process. Includes the two phases of design techniques.
Open Ed
Open Ed Sci: 8.1 Contact Forces
In this unit, students explore a variety of phenomena to figure out, "Why do things sometimes get damaged when they hit each other?" Student questions about the factors that result in a shattered cell phone screen lead them to...
Open Ed
Open Ed Sci: 6.5 Natural Hazards
This unit begins with students experiencing, through text and video, the 2011 Great Sendai or Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused major loss of life and property in Japan. Students will think about ways to detect...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Pre K 12 Resources for New School Routines: Creative Problem Solving Bingo: Pre K and K
These weekly activities are cross-curricular but emphasize Social-Emotional Learning, Math, and Literacy development. This week (January 4th), we are working on problem-solving.m
Cornell University
Cornell University: Kleinberg: The Mathematics of Algorithm Design
This site contains a paper (in PDF format) that describes some ways in which efficiency analysis may be performed on algorithms.
My Learning
My Learning: Wacky Races
Bursting with ideas and inspirations for designing and making a wacky races vehicle and organizing a wacky races challenge.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Work of Charles and Ray Eames: A Legacy of Invention
Husband-and-wife design team, Charles and Ray Eames, revolutionized postwar America with loads of practical inventions and designs for everyday living. Exhibition tells the story of their lives and careers.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Optimal Bottle Rocket Launch
Students build rocket models designed for gaining the maximum height. They use a compressed air rocket launcher and 2-liter plastic bottles. They will also use an online simulator to help them make predictions and adjustments to their...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Catapults: Controlled Investigations
In this structured inquiry, students will investigate a catapult system. Having previously explored and identified the variables of the catapult system (length of lever, mass of shot, angle of catapult), students will conduct controlled...
Museum of Modern Art
Mo Ma: Different Roads: Automobiles for the Next Century
Check out some of the future car designs from major manufacturers. Also learn about what goes in to powering cars among other bits of information.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts: Prairie School
Resource informs how this popular style of house began and which architects started it all. Take virtual tours of several prairie school buildings and view prairie school objects by five leading artists. Biographies are included.