Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Power of Graphene
To prepare for the activity, STEM classes read about nanotechnology and the amazing properties of graphene. They collect a graphene sample from pencils, and then connect them into simple circuits to determine whether it makes a better...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Ship the Chip
Here is a tasty challenge, especially for middle school engineers: design a container that meets mass and volume criteria, and will safely transport a tortilla or potato chip through the mail without damaging it! Mostly, this is a crisp...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Tennis Anyone?
After reading up on the history of sports racquets, engineering teams design and construct a racquet for batting a Velcro-striped ball at a target. Teams evaluate their design by aiming for the target three times each and answering...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Keep it Cool
This cool lesson plan is ideal for elementary engineers or physical scientists, especially when learning about heat transfer and insulation. After reading a page of background information, engineering teams collaborate to design and...
Curated OER
Concrete for Kids
Although preparation-intensive, this would be an unforgettable experience in materials engineering. Stimulate learners' curiosity with a slide show and then introduce them to the components of concrete. Small groups mix and pour concrete...
University of Florida
University of Florida: Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Website for the University of Florida's Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The site has links to information on programs, research, faculty, and facilities.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Can You Canoe?
Teams of students learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test a model canoe made with everyday materials. Lesson focuses on how materials engineering has impacted the manufacturing of canoes over time.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Obi Wan Adobe: Engineering for Strength
Students conduct an experiment to determine how varying the composition of a construction material affects its strength. They make several adobe bricks with differing percentages of sand, soil, fibrous material and water. They test the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Determining Densities
Students will use two different methods to determine the densities of a variety of materials and objects. The first method involves direct measurement of the volumes of objects that have simple geometric shapes, while the second uses the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bone Crusher
Students use a tension-compression machine or an alternative bone-breaking setup to see how different bones fracture differently and with different amounts of force, depending on their body locations. Teams determine bone mass and...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Element, Mixture, Compound
This hands-on activity will help the students have a better understanding of different types of materials as pure substances and mixtures and distinguishes the homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures by discussing some material they use...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Linear Models and Latex Explosion!
Students use latex tubes and bicycle pumps to conduct experiments to gather data about the relationship between latex strength and air pressure.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Building Tetrahedral Kites
Students build a tetrahedral kite and test it out. While building they are learning about flight and the manufacturing process
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Weather and Atmosphere
In this unit, students learn the basics about weather and the atmosphere. They investigate materials engineering as it applies to weather and the choices available to us for clothing to counteract the effects of weather. Students have...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Everyday Polymers
Students explore the chemical identities of polymeric materials frequently used in their everyday lives. They learn how chemical composition affects the physical properties of the materials that they encounter and use frequently, as well...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Extinction Prevention via Engineering
Species extinction is happening at an alarming rate according to scientists. In this lesson plan, young scholars are asked to consider why extinction is a problem that we should concern us. They are taught that destruction of habitat is...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Mechanics of Elastic Solids
After conducting the associated activity, young scholars are introduced to the material behavior of elastic solids. Engineering stress and strain are defined and their importance in designing devices and systems is explained. How...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Forced to Fracture
Learners learn how forces affect the human skeletal system through fractures, and why certain bones are more likely to break than others depending on their design and use in the body. They learn how engineers and doctors collaborate to...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Fun Look at Material Science
Students are introduced to the multidisciplinary field of material science. Through a class demo and PowerPoint presentation, they learn the basic classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites) and how they differ from one...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Dept of Materials Science and Engineering
Webpage for MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The site includes links to academics, research, people, and news.
Iowa State University
Iowa State University: Materials Science and Engineering
Learn about Iowa State University's department of Materials Science and Engineering, including news, academics, people, research, and general information.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Are You Gellin'?
Chances are, you have several materials around your house made of gelatinized materials. Gels are used in all kinds of products and materials: pudding, diapers, insoles, packaging, ice cream, toothpaste, and much more. In this project,...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Courseware: Fundamentals of Materials Science
Provides entire curriculum for the Fundamental of Materials Science course taught at MIT, which "focuses on the fundamentals of structure, energetics, and bonding that underpin materials science." Includes lecture notes, assignments, and...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Mixtures and Solutions
This unit covers introductory concepts of mixtures and solutions. Students think about how mixtures and solutions, and atoms and molecules can influence new technologies developed by engineers. The first lesson explores the fundamentals...