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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Exploration of Cradle-to-Cradle Design Thinking

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Introduce cradle-to-cradle design thinking. Scholars first discuss the importance of natural laws and rights. They then use a variety of online and print resources to research eco-efficiency and cradle-to-cradle design.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Engineering Design Process

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students utilize their creative skills by solving engineering issues.  In this problem solving lesson, students examine the 6 steps to the engineering process by completing a worksheet.  Students examine one of three scenarios...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design and Construct a Road Sign Support

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students design, build, and test a model of a free-standing structure used to support overhead road signs.
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Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

Designing a Water Treatment Plant

For Teachers 8th - 12th
How does dirty water get clean enough to drink? After viewing a PowerPoint that outlines the process water goes through at a water treatment plant, groups work together to design a chlorination chamber for a treatment plant.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Don't Crack Humpty

For Teachers 6th - 10th
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...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Keep-a-Cube

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Waxed paper, newspaper, or aluminum foil? Keeping an ice cube from melting may require one or more of these materials. Learners design a box that will provide insulation so an ice cube stays intact for at least 90 minutes.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
California Academy of Science

Fresh Solutions: Design Thinking Challenge

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
How do people transport fresh water long distances to ensure everyone has access to it? The final lesson in the 10-part Fresh Solutions unit encourages individuals to design their own solution, or solutions, to that very problem. Groups...
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Activity2:11
DiscoverE

Everyday Engineering: Water Pollution Clean Up

For Students K - 12th
Water, water, everywhere, but pollution is a major problem. Scholars design a filtration device or process that removes dirt and other particles from water. They use various household objects such as marbles, cotton balls, or coffee...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Bonneville

Engineering 101

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Make a structure too sturdy to fail. Scholars first watch a video and consider the reasons for the Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse. They take part in two engineering challenges, one using newspapers and the other using spaghetti sticks...
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Activity2:46
DiscoverE

Everyday Engineering: Tennis, Anyone?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Take a swing at a fun activity. Pupils first watch a video that introduces the concept of elasticity in association with tennis rackets. They then design their own rackets and build them out of available materials.
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Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Designing Euclid’s Playground

For Teachers 10th Standards
Create a geometric playground. Pupils work through a performance task to demonstrate their ability to use geometric concepts to solve everyday problems. The accompanying engineering design lessons show teachers how the assessment works...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Bonneville

Unique Solar Cell Engineering Report

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Highlight a unique solar cell with a report and a poster. Scholars complete the ongoing solar cells project by writing an engineering report in the last of 14 lessons in the Cost Effective Solar Cells unit. They also create research...
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Activity2:08
DiscoverE

Everyday Engineering: Build an Earthquake Resistant Structure

For Students 3rd - 8th
Shake, rattle, and learn! Future engineers build structures out of toothpicks or spaghetti sticks, using marshmallows as connectors. They then use a homemade shake table to test the sturdiness of their creations.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
American Chemical Society

Designing a Shade Structure

For Teachers K
Bring the learning outdoors with an enjoyable activity about Earth's heating, sunlight, and shade. Scholars use problem-solving skills as they design, build, and test a sunshade structure. Participants view a video summarizing the...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Purdue University

Designing Safer Roadways

For Teachers 4th
Be careful on curvy roads. An interesting STEM activity challenges scholars to design a safe road system. The goal is to help ensure that cars coming down a hill will be able to make a right turn without sliding off the road. Pupils test...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Purdue University

Design of a Canal for a New Water Park in Lafayette

For Teachers 4th Standards
Erosion is no match for our canals. Learners first perform experiments to test the amount of erosion for different materials and different slopes. Based on the results, they design ditches or canals that carry water from one location to...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Purdue University

Plastic Water Bottle Design – What’s the Best Shape?

For Teachers 6th Standards
Join the fight to reduce plastic waste. A hands-on STEM activity first teaches scholars about the scourge of plastic waste. They then measure the dimensions of water bottles to calculate surface areas and volumes before using the surface...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Bonneville

Designing a Solar Charger

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
The sun can even charge batteries. The fourth of five lessons in the Solar Transportation unit has pupils design a charger that uses solar modules to charge a 12-volt lead-acid battery. They estimate the charge that accumulates and...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Bonneville

Designing a Solar Phone Charger

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
What a bright idea! Working in groups, scholars design a solar phone charger by applying concepts from the unit. They use solar modules and buck and boost converters in their creations, which must be able to charge a phone after...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Fairly Fundamental Facts About Forces and Structures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Don't twist and turn looking for a resource. The first installment of a six-part series teaches young engineers about the five fundamental forces of compression, tension, shear, bending, and torsion. These forces help explain different...
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Off-Road Wheelchair Challenge

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Challenge your class to use their understanding of the engineering design process to design and build a small-scale, off-road prototype for an assistive technology device. Teams select materials to build their scale models, and, using...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Can You Canoe?

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
A neat handout immerses learners in the history of canoe making. After reading, small groups of mini engineers work to craft a canoe that will not be immersed! This is an ideal exercise in engineering design for your STEM curriculum or...
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Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

The Newton Challenge

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Make Newton proud. Scholars apply their understanding of forces and energy to an engineering design challenge. They learn about simple machines, create a presentation on Newton's laws, and develop a balloon-powered car.
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Activity
DiscoverE

Windy City Tower

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Your class will be blown away when they build their own city tower structure! Engineering scholars partner up to plan, build, and test their own paper towers. As they build, they gain valuable design skills, learn about wind tunnel...

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