It's hard to believe that the same water that you use every day to quench your thirst, cook with, bathe in, swim in, and wash your clothes and dishes, is capable of another trick-it can make electricity. Electricity can be generated...

Given investigation scenarios and lab procedures, students will identify independent variables, dependent variables, constants, and control groups.

In this design challenge, students learn about the Vikings from an engineering point-of-view. While investigating the history and anatomy of Viking ships, they learn how engineering solutions are shaped by the surrounding environment and...

Third graders will design and build a roller coaster to help understand gravity.

Middle schoolers investigate sound in their environment, particularly how sounds impact their lives. At the beginning of the unit, students use online simulations to investigate the properties of sound and learn about the components of a...

One of the key aspects of the design thinking process is to be able to identify needs and opportunities for design endeavors. Students need to investigate, explore and critique needs, opportunities, and information in order to define the...

Students investigate circuits and their components by building a basic thermostat. They learn why key parts are necessary for the circuit to function, and alter the circuit to optimize the thermostat temperature range. They also gain an...

In this design activity, students investigate materials engineering as it applies to weather and clothing. The students will design and analyze different combinations of materials for effectiveness in specific weather conditions....

This lesson poses the question "can you always take something apart and put it together in different ways?". Students will take part in designing an investigation using snap cubes to help figure out an answer. Videos of the lesson in...

Students learn about the types of possible loads, how to calculate ultimate load combinations, and investigate the different sizes for the beams (girders) and columns (piers) of simple bridge design. Students learn the steps that...

Using a 'news report' approach, students investigate the slope of various stairways on the school campus and report on wheelchair accessibility and adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act. (PowerPoint Included) An extension of...

In this activity, students learn about creating a design directly from a CAD (computer-aided design) program. They will design a tower in CAD and manufacture the parts with a laser cutter. A competition determines the tower design with...

Students investigate the ways in which ancient technologies - six types of simple machines and combinations - are used to construct modern buildings. As they work together to solve a design problem (designing and building a modern...

Five inquiry-based investigations designed for the observation of primates in a zoo setting. The labs ask guiding questions and list notable primate behaviors.

Hands on activity where students focus on aerospace engineering to investigate space flight from the viewpoint of an engineer. They design, build, and launch their rocket, then share their experiences with the class.

A learning module on the American Revolution that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students investigate the question of whether the...

A learning module on global trade. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students investigate what countries export and import, the factors...

When doing research, it is important to be aware of one's biases and how to prevent them impacting on the design of an experiment or analysis of a research topic. Learn some techniques used to avoid bias in an experiment.

Students learn about the major factors that comprise the design and construction cost of a modern bridge. Before a bridge design is completed, engineers provide overall cost estimates for construction of the bridge. Students learn about...

Learners learn the two main methods to measure earthquakes, the Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale. They make a model of a seismograph - a measuring device that records an earthquake on a seismogram. Students also investigate which...

People have been grappling with the question of artificial creativity- alongside the question of artificial intelligence- for over 170 years. For instance, could we program machines to create high quality original music? And if we do, is...

During this unit, pupils will learn about many different advertising techniques. Students will investigate the "art of rhetoric" and analyze many print, television, and online advertisements. Using the site's online tools, groups will...

Investigate the science of flight, the tilt or angle of attack of a wing's surface and the effect of control surfaces. Construct a model of an open jet wind tunnel using a household desk fan to produce a flow of air.

You can cruise and carve while you investigate which skateboard wheels produce the fastest (and slowest) rides on your terrain in these experiments. You pick the wheels and design the tests you think will produce the most extreme results...