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Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Here Comes the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners explore concept of how solar energy is gathered by solar panels and adapted to provide power to machines, disassemble solar powered calculator and explore component parts, and work in teams to suggest design enhancements to the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia: An Ancient Civil Engineering Problem

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify the major obstacles in farming in Mesopotamia. They work together to design and build a model that solves these problems. They write a short essay that describes the problems and their possible solutions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Windmills: Putting Wind Energy to Work

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students review engineering design process and discuss how wind can be used to help get work done. They look at a variety of windmills, focusing on different materials used in construction of windmills.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Catapults

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discover the catapult. In this catapult lesson, students research the history of the catapult and how it works. They work in groups to build their own catapult using tootpicks, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and spoons. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Movers

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners learn about Rube Goldberg machines (complicated devices designed to accomplish simple tasks and then design and build a machine that uses more than six separate steps to move an empty aluminum can. They can either work...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stepper Motor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compare a stepper motor from a traditional motor. In this physics lesson, students summarize how it works. They build their own stepper motor and explore its uses.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Hovercraft

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students construct a hovercraft following specific procedures. In this technology lesson, students explain the physics principles behind hovercraft. They compare and contrast this machine with the aircraft.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electricity and Magnets

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders find examples of magnets in or around their homes and make a list. They discover that some motors use magnets and make a simple motor using magnets, a battery and copper wire. They add to their magnet list.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Discovery Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data.  In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Conversion

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study energy conversions. They watch a demonstration of a working engine and make a chart explaining the energy conversions taking place. They build a simple electric motor and research other types of electric generators.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity Among Us

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine diversity and disabilities that arise in the classroom environment by listening to a read aloud. They watch a slide show that demonstrates differences among students and how to communicate effectively in diverse...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students conduct an experiment. In this wind measurement instructional activity, students learn about instruments that measure the wind and then make a weather vane. Students record wind speed over a few days.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in Britain during the Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students comprehend the living conditions, experiences and opinions of the people who lived during the Industrial Revolution. They examine primary source documents relevant to the topic. Students compose a letter representing the living...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Forms

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore energy by participating in a science lab in class. In this energy form lesson, students define the different types of energy such as light, mechanical and sound while examining energy measuring tools in class. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electrical motors

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars investigate and experiement with a 9-volt motor. They will use the connecting wire and battery pack to discover fans.
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Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Here Comes the Sun

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students work in teams to learn about solar panel design, simple circuits, and how solar energy is used to provide power to simple machines such as calculators.