Students construct an earthquake simulator and create building models to test. In this earthquake lesson, students use the Internet and a slinky to demonstrate P and S waves. They construct an earthquake simulator as a class and use it...

Students view a video clip about fire safety. They work together to research fire safety strategies in public and private buildings. They create a prototype of a building using safety measures.

Students review the engineering design process and discuss a variety of windmills, focusing on the different materials used in the construction and the type of work each windmill does and they use simple materials to build their own...

Students investigate the properties of two and three dimensional objects. In this geometry lesson, students differentiate polygons based on similarity and congruence. They make observation and interpret the data.

Students examine various topics on genetics. Students explore the Internet to gather information on genetic testing, genetically engineered food, forensics, DNA and cloning. They research and determine the best way to fund each of the...

Students make "pets" of isopods (potato bugs) to determine their preferred environment and food sources. They record their results on a bar graph and in a scientific report.

Feel like a rocket scientist for the day. Using only paper and tape, scholars create a framework for a spaceship to Mars. Each sheet of paper costs $10 million and each piece of tape costs $100,000. Make sure you stay within budget!

A little too much strain could cause a lot of stress. Groups conduct a strength test on clay. Using books as weights, pupils measure the compression of clay columns and calculate the associated strain and stress. Teams record their...

What is the best way to test water quality? Using plastic bottles, scholars create monitoring sensors to test water quality. Creating three different sensors allows individuals to measure water quality at different water levels.

You're on solid ground if you decide to use the resource. A simple activity has young engineers investigate the problem of liquefaction. A battery placed on dry sand will stay standing—but not if scholars add water to the cup.

Building a strong classroom community is a huge part of our job. This idea lets the kids help define the rules, ideas, and behaviors that they want in their classroom. They'll work together to design a bulletin board that...

We would be lost without maps! How are they made? Introduce junior topographers to LIDAR technology with a fascinating activity. Set up a mock city, then have learners operate a laser measure to determine the shape of the landscape using...

Young scholars explore the process of construction and architecture. For this construction research lesson, students complete image based discussion activities and three related activities for architecture and design.

Students work in pairs to design a building. In this architecture instructional activity, students take on the role of head architect to design and construct a 3-D scale model a building for a client. Students' goal is...

Students generalize about a variety of designs of inventions. Students respond to a variety of visual designs. Students become aware of the multitude of design variations in everyday objects.

Students investigate the process of constructing a bridge. They study the meaning of structural force and draw pictures of examples. Students identify the types of building materials have been used in history to construct bridges and how...

Students view slide show, research and collect facts on items having to do with the Capitol Building, and use construction paper to design three illustrated trading cards in their own words using at least three facts related to Capitol...

Young scholars develop an understanding of how outer walls, doors and windows are added to construction. They examine the jobs of specific construction workers and how they bring the job to completion. They design a brick laying pattern.

Students create a puff mobile. For this design lesson, students use a variety of resources to design and create a puff mobile. They work in teams to write directions for how to build it and test their mobiles. 

Students explore optical illusions. Using Legos, they construct and motorize a machine that has an axle that's geared up and geared down, complete a worksheet, and answer discussion questions.

Fourth graders brainstorm a list of criteria for a quality recreation center. They draft a written proposal the center they plan to design. They write to persuade a land developer to hire their company.

Young scholars consider what "modern" means and explore memories and opinions about the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. They design or renovate a local building for the 21st century.

Learners design a community with minimal environmental impact. They rate each other's community's presentation using the "Planning and Zoning Commission Rating Scale".

Students design a "container" for his/her egg to determine whether the egg remain intact when dropped from a predetermined height.