Curated OER
Simple Tensile Testing of Polymeric Films and Sheeting
Chemistry classes pretend to be consultants to a grocery story trying to decide what polymer to use for therir new non-paper bags. They prepare tensile bars and use them to test plastic film samples for strength and stretchability. Both...
Curated OER
Elastomers: The Best Bungee Cord
Students examine elastomeric polymers in a lab activity in which they design a bungee cord. Students must determine the tensile strength, percent elongation, and plot stress versus strain graphs for their experiments on rubber bands...
Teach Engineering
Strength of Materials
Pupils examine a stress-strain diagram that compares the advantages and disadvantages of the two common bridge building materials, concrete and steel. The also consider the factors that influence the materials builders choose for their...
Cornell University
Renewable Resins and Composites
Merge chemistry with environmental science to study biodegradable materials. An engaging activity allows learners to experiment with different resin concentrations and composites. Through experimental tests, scholars test their creations...
DiscoverE
Make Your Own Glue
You won't regret being stuck with this activity. By mixing a variety of household items, pupils create their own glue. They test the tensile strength of their glue and compare it to that of other adhesives.
Teach Engineering
Exploring the Forces of Tension
Let the resource stretch the minds of your young scientists with a lesson about tensile strength and stiffness of materials. Groups consider how easily materials stretch and relate this property to engineering design.
Curated OER
Determination of Tensile Stress-Strain Common Properties in Materials
Students demonstrate the relationship between stress and strain, then graph stress-strain curves for various common materials. Students interpret graphed results and discuss differences in mechanical properties of materials.
Curated OER
Stressed and Strained
Students explore stress and strength in engineering design. In this engineering lesson, students become familiar with terminology associated with stress and strain on building material. They will have a class discuss about how their beam...
Science Geek
Element Classes
Introduce your young chemists to alkali metals, alkali earth metals, transition metals, metalloids, nonmetals, halogens, and noble gasses with a presentation that explains the classes of elements and a few facts about each.
Curated OER
Density Review
In this density instructional activity, learners review how to calculate density and how to apply Archimedes' Principle, Boyle's Law, and Charles' Law. This instructional activity has 10 matching, 13 short answer, and 6 fill in the blank...
Curated OER
Sports Helmets and Impact Testing of Polymers
Students examine the importance of good quality safety gear. In this investigative lesson, students will tests various polymers, collect data, and analyze the data to determine which polymer is best for safety helmets. They will design a...
Teach Engineering
Using Hooke's Law to Understand Materials
Provide a Hooke for a lesson on elasticity with an activity that has groups investigate a set of springs. They use a set procedure to collect data to calculate the spring constant for each spring using Hooke's Law. The groups predict the...
Cornell University
Bridge Building
Bridge the gaps in your knowledge of bridges. Individuals learn about bridge types by building models. The activity introduces beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, and suspension bridges.
Curated OER
Measurement
Students experience a positive science experiment and study fundamental concepts of measurement.
Curated OER
Breaking Beams
Students work together designing and building their own beams. They discover the concepts of stress and strain. They participate in a competition to determine the best beam.
Curated OER
Crazy Putty Ratio
Second graders use knowledge of measurements and ratios to mix various combinations of liquid starch and glue. They chart their ratios, make observations, and write a summary of the activity. They mix their own batch of Crazy Putty to...
Curated OER
Concrete Lesson Plan
Students describe the difference between cement and concrete. In this technology lesson, students explain the mixing process of concrete. They discuss its importance in the modern world.