Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Dispenser Designs
After reading about the history of tape dispensers, learners compare and contrast different dispenser designs. Next, teams work within budgetary and time constraints to design a better dispenser. When finished, each engineer reflects on...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Popsicle Bridge
Using popsicle sticks and glue, groups must work together to design and build a bridge that can support weight and is aesthetically pleasing. The lesson plan begins by learners reading about different features of bridge architecture,...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Assembly Line
Working under specific constraints and with designated criteria, groups work together to create a product using an assembly line process. In addition, they work through the entire engineering design process with an excellent graphic to...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Interactive Gumball Machine
Sure, you may be able to build a better mousetrap, but what about a gum dispenser? In a fun engineering challenge, teams must design and build a working interactive gumball machine with specific constraints and criteria.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Statue Display Tower
Sometimes engineering problems that seem easy prove to be more challenging than imagined. Present your class with the challenge to build a functional display tower to support a statue using only the supplies available in class while...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Water Tower Challenge
Providing clean water to a town is quite a feat... is your class up for the challenge? After a short reading about water towers, groups work together to design a working water delivery system. The water flow must be adjustable (able to...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Toxic Popcorn Design Challenge
Engineering enthusiasts are sure to explode in understanding as they practice the engineering design process (EDP). A container of "toxic popcorn" is placed in the classroom. Teams must work together to devise a method for removing it...
Trash For Teaching
The Light-House Project
Groups work together to design a lighthouse, from designing and drawing the wiring diagram, to creating prototypes of the switch and circuit, to envisioning and building a scale model along with a blueprint. By including different...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Engineer a Dam
To begin the learning about dams, learners read (or are read to, depending on the age group) a passage about how dams work. Next, they work in groups to use the materials provided to build a small scale working dam. After the experience,...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Working with Wind Energy
After reading about how wind turbines work to collect clean energy, groups brainstorm and design their own windmill. Within the provided financial and physical constraints, groups must build a working windmill using only the materials...
Curated OER
The Engineering Design Process
Design your own video game, engineer accident-proof highways, or even develop a new phone app! The Engineering Design Model can be used with all ages and in all subject areas to create a product, system or service. The resource explains...
Curated OER
Don't Crack Humpty
Students investigate the engineering design process and the relationship between distance, time, and speed. Using a generic car base, small groups design a device that will protect an egg on or in the car as it is rolled down a ramp at...
Curated OER
Tower Investigation and the Egg
Students build three types of towers, engineering them to hold an egg one foot high for 15 seconds. They discover that engineering designs are subject to constraints such as time, money and size specifications. In this activity students...
Curated OER
Wind Chimes
Students construct wind chimes using physics. In small groups they design and create wind chimes using a specific weights, number of notes, and keeping the cost under ten dollars.
Curated OER
Using the Engineering Design Process to Dress for the Weather
Students study weather and define the appropriate dress for various weather patterns. For this weather and clothing lesson, students discuss wearing appropriate clothes for specific weather. Students use the weather board to determine...
Curated OER
Invent a Backscratcher from Everyday Materials
Students explore the design process. They discuss why new products are made, examine backscratchers brought in from home and discuss why it is a useful device, and working with a partner draw and construct a backscratcher.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Building a Zip Line
For this interactive, students plan, create, and test a zip line that will transport a hard-boiled egg without breaking it. They will make improvements on their design based on data about its performance. A motion sensor is required in...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/36107-c0d2df3d606700761ca15213bf4cfa5c.jpg?1661243842 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to design an air-powered rocket to take you to the moon that can hit a distant target. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Watercraft (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39865-57ea89204034120cacf80bcffffff89c.jpg?1661243863 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Watercraft (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Watercraft (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build an unsinkable boat out of straws and plastic wrap that can hold twenty five pennies. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Also, includes...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Zip Line (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39866-927feeccfc7c3573f3d60b7b1314a95d.jpg?1661182395 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Zip Line (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Zip Line (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to design and build a ping-pong ball carrier that can go from the top of a zip line string to the bottom in four seconds or less. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39869-d33e02b173ea98cb8d263c68cd33b539.jpg?1661243844 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build a shock-absorbing system that will protect astronauts when they land on the moon. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39870-7d15b39a7cd630b206093ca5e091b6de.jpg?1661243845 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build a rubber band-powered cardboard car (rover) that can scramble across the room. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign the car if necessary. Activity focuses on...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Heavy Lifting (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39871-33ffa808453d6f8fee4d2bdfe2fe04bd.jpg?1661243846 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Heavy Lifting (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Heavy Lifting (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build a cardboard crane for a moon mission and see how heavy a load it can lift. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: On Target (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39872-01bc33f557ff0ac556d8372138231b49.jpg?1661243848 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: On Target (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: On Target (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to modify a paper cup so it can zip down a line and launch a marble on a target. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the...