Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build an Electric Motor
Step-by-step illustrated instructions show how to build a simple electric motor using everyday materials to make a wire coil spin. An explanation of the science involved is given at the end, as well as tips on troubleshooting any...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Make a Circuit Board
Step-by-step illustrated instructions showing how to build a circuit board using everyday materials.
Other
Design Build: Exploring the Fundamental Requirements of Structural Design [Pdf]
In this activity unit from the Science Teachers' Association of Ontario (STAO), students fold paper to explore the properties and shapes of materials that give structures their stability and strength. They record their ideas as they...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Plastic Polymers: Building a Model
Students will use their prior knowledge about changes of matter including physical and chemical changes from the Houghton Mifflin science curriculum. Students will create a hypothesis to test the physical properties of materials such as...
SRI International
Performance Assessment Links in Science: Rain Drops
Students make predictions and test the effect water has on various building materials. Seven different building materials, a hand lens and a dropper are required. This activity only takes 15 minutes.
Maryland Science Center
Maryland Science Center: Build a Conductivity Tester [Pdf]
Instructions on how to build an instrument that can be used to test which materials are conductors and which are insulators, in order to bridge a gap in an electrical circuit.
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Conducting Solutions
An experiment where one must first build a conductivity tester, then use it to test how well water conducts electricity when different materials found around the home are each dissolved in it.
Maryland Science Center
Maryland Science Center: March Madness Finger Basketball [Pdf]
Build a miniature basketball court, and use a spoon lever to shoot balls into the basket. Experiment with different materials to see which one works the best.
NASA
Nasa: Adventures in Rocket Science Educator Guide
This NASA educator's guide provides teachers with an outline for teaching students about rocketry. There are many hands-on activities where students can learn about and build rockets.
SRI International
Performance Assessment Links in Science: Building Materials
This lab incorporates observational skills to solve the problem of finding the best rock to build tables for a museum picnic area. Students are called on to observe the properties of the rock samples and then required to apply what they...
Other
Kids Science Challenge: Skateboarding Engineering
Have you ever wanted to build your own skateboard? Well, now is your chance! Learn the process and materials used to build once, customize it yourself and send it to your friends.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Dna Structure and Function: Decoding Watson
Discover how the structure of DNA relates to its hereditary function in these videos from the American Masters film Decoding Watson. The first video, "DNA Structure and Function," [2:07] can be used with all middle and high school...
Birmingham Museums Trust (UK)
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: What Is Aston Hall Built From?
Learn about the materials Aston Hall, a Jacobean mansion house, is built from by clicking on the parts in the picture.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: e.g. Benedict's Ambulance Patient Safety Challenge
Students are given a fictional client statement- the engineering challenge- and are directed to follow the steps of the EDP to design prototype patient safety systems for small-size model ambulances.
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Rubber Band Car [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39882-71214195b4578f7495a86da537e455ab.jpg?1661244865 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Rubber Band Car [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Rubber Band Car [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build a car using a rubber band and only two wheels that can go really fast and far. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, and test and redesign. Activity focuses on the engineering...
PBS
Pbs Kids:activities and Videos: Structures
PBS site provides videos and activities are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 9-12.
Other
Terc: Catching Sunshine
A hands-on challenge to build a solar collector to investigate how much the air temperature inside the collector goes up. Site includes information for teachers and students. Teachers page include time requirement, materials needed, the...
Other
Terc: Chocolate Melt
A design challenge to build a solar cooker that will melt a chocolate chip quickly. Site includes both teacher and student links to help with the challenge. Information for teachers includes timeline, materials, link to standards,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: To Heat or Not to Heat?
Students are introduced to various types of energy with a focus on thermal energy and types of heat transfer as they are challenged to design a better travel thermos that is cost efficient, aesthetically pleasing and meets the design...