New ReviewViewers observe many nature-inspired examples in technology, household items, and health care with the final video in a five-part series on Evolution and Speciation. The video focuses on human engineers inspired by earth's wonders. 

New ReviewCalled the Eight Wonder of the World by some and the Big Ditch by others, the Panama Canal is indeed an engineering marvel. The long, complicated, and sometimes controversial history of the canal is captured in a presentation loaded with...

Drop a perfect project into your lesson plans. Groups use different building materials to create models of parachutes for food drops. After testing out their prototypes, they make improvements to their designs.

Clamp onto the resource and don't let go. Future mechanical engineers produce a pipe clamp from a sheet of metal. This idea is to use the pipe clamp to affix a pull-up bar in a doorway.

Wrap up an engineering lesson with a worthwhile project. An engineering design task challenges groups to develop a package for a pharmaceutical company given constraints on the volume. Learners then create a presentation to highlight...

No vacuum cleaner? No problem, just build your own. Scholars apply knowledge of currents to build a model of either a vacuum clear, a hair dryer, or a toy car. While the class completes the activity, instructors consider gender...

Take a load off! Introduce junior engineers to the effects of load on structural design with an easy-to-use interactive. Individuals apply one of many load options, examine its effects, then learn about the safeguards employed during...

Shine a light on nanotechnology. Scholars read an electrifying poster to learn about the relationship between nanotechnology and solar energy. They start with a whole solar panel, then focus in on smaller and smaller components of the...

These small particles have a huge job. A poster shows future engineers an application of nanotechnology. It describes how nano silver particles are embedded into plastic water barrels to help kill E. coli bacteria.

If you think you can do better, feel free to give it a try. Pupils learn about the work on Temple Grandin and consider ways to improve animal handling facilities. They work in groups to build models to showcase their ideas.

Reversibility in cars isn't about driving backwards. An informative YouTube video describes how the degree of reversibility in a system determines its efficiency. It explains the concept using an example of the pistons in a car engine...

Your car's engine is likely to be only 20 percent thermally efficient. Why so inefficient? Viewers of the 10th video in an engineering series learn how the second law of thermodynamics and entropy limit the efficiency of a car engine....

There's no need to give an arm and a leg to find a great lesson. An interesting video teaches viewers about biomedical and industrial engineering. After a brief history of these areas, including a description of some historical...

The American Revolution: the catalyst for the development of chemical engineering. Scholars watch an informative video that describes the history of chemical engineering, beginning with France's need to produce soda ash as a result of a...

Build a concrete understanding of mechanical engineering. Viewers watch an engaging video that describes mechanical engineering as the "design, construction, operation, and maintenance of mechanical systems." It also highlights some...

You might have Hippodamus of Miletus to thank for your city blocks. An informative video explains the history of civil engineering, from the Pyramid-builder Imhotep to the Greeks (including Hippodamus) and the Romans, and to the first...

What's in your water? And, why is water quality so important? Enhance your class's level of water appreciation through a activity that demonstrates the necessity of water quality. Environmental enthusiasts explore the EPA's Clean Water...

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.

Do your part to make manufacturing more manageable. A capstone project challenges each group to identify and research a manufacturing process for a product. To complete the activity, they create a presentation for business and community...

Great things come in small packages! What better way to illustrate this point than a week-long look at nanotechnology? Earth science scholars explore water quality issues through lab activities, then research new innovations in nanotech...

What does the future of energy look like? Junior engineers collaborate to discover a solution to the global energy crisis during a very hands-on activity. The unit focuses on learning through collaboration to develop a deep understanding...

Being on crutches can be a drag. Pupils design a carrier that helps people on crutches carry small items. They also consider similar devices for wheelchairs. 

Use engineering to make the world a better place. Scholars brainstorm different ways to improve the school, community, or home setting. They set their ideas into motion and build an engineering solution to the problem.

Garbage bags and bamboo stakes turn into emergency shelters at the hands of your young engineers. They test their designs and redesign as part of a series that covers inventing and building.