Students develop their understanding of the effects of invisible air pollutants. In this invisible air activity, students complete experiments with a rubber band air test, a bean plant experiment and by exploring engineering roles...

Students create pop-up books in order to explore how force is applied. In this engineering lesson students identify and define forces in their environment.  Students communicate their understanding of forces and engineering through...

Young scholars explore the art of paper engineering and pop-up-books. They listen to a teacher-led lecture on pop-up books, discuss the process of paper engineering, and plan, design and construct an original pop-up book.

Students explore engineering by participating in a mechanical class activity. In this simple machines instructional activity, students identify many simple machines that allow them to perform tasks easily each day. Students collaborate...

Students explore engineering by building a simple design in class. In this pencil creation lesson, students discuss their likes and dislikes with current writing utensils and design a new type of pencil. Students utilize arts and crafts...

Middle and high schoolers explore the concepts of architectural rigidity. They analyze a variety of polygons, and explain why some shapes add more strength to structures than others. The PBS video, "Building Big," is utilized in this plan.

Students explore physical education by completing a quiz in class. In this engineering activity, students identify different ways engineering has made sports safer such as stronger padding and helmets, stronger equipment and smarter...

Students explore physics by creating a magazine cover in class. In this flight lesson plan, students identify the motion and force that must be generated in order for a jet engine to lift off the ground. Students create a cover for...

Learners read a New York Times article associated with the issue of the decoding for genomes, the creation of life in scientific laboratories and various genetic engineering topics. They present speeches of the pro's and con's of these...

Can you create a rock band? Scholars learn about the creation and transmission of sound in a hands-on STEM activity. First, they explore the transmission of sound using a tuning fork. Then, they must solve the problem of missing...

Aspiring aeronautical engineers demonstrate different forces as they construct and test paper airplanes. This lesson plan links you to a website that models the most effective paper airplane design, an animation describing the forces...

Students explore bridges.  In this bridge lesson, students design and build a suspension bridge after visiting related websites and reviewing famous bridges in non-fiction books.  Students follow the instructions from the...

Students read and explore the story, The Little Engine that Could, by Watter Piper.

Students explore physics by participating in an engineering activity. For this rocket lesson, students define a list of scientific vocabulary terms such as "re-engineering" and "trade-off." Students identify the rocket creation process...

Students explore geometry by completing a marshmallow activity in class. In this architecture lesson, students identify the jobs of civil engineers and architects while identifying different geometric shapes as well. Students utilize...

Fifth graders explore food production by viewing DNA presentations. In this genetic engineering lesson, 5th graders discuss the foods they typically eat at home and how many common foods are engineered in a way that can produce a bigger...

Students design a bridge using pasta. They explore the elements of architecture involved in bridge building. They practice problem solving in a hands-on cooperative group effort.

Students explore bridge construction. In this bridge building activity, students view bridge websites and discuss how bridges are designed and built. Students design and construct their own bridge using the directions provided.

Students read and respond to science fiction literature, such as that written by Jules Verne. They research characteristics of deep-sea environments and use this information to design an underwater exploration apparatus. in addition,...

Students explore the causes of water pollution and its effects on the environment through the use of models and scientific investigation. In the accompanying activities, they investigate filtration and aeration processes as they are used...

Students design and build original mobiles and consider how the forces of gravity and convection air currents affect the finished piece. They explore how an understanding of balancing forces is important in both art and engineering design.

Students explore the densities and viscosities of fluids as they create a colorful 'rainbow' using household liquids. While letting the fluids in the rainbow settle, students conduct 'The Great Viscosity Race,' another short experiment...

Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite lesson, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are assessed based on...

Students focus on a force and motion problem, explore it, reflect on it and apply it while completing experiments.  In this motion lesson plan, students experiment with force and motion by creating a track for testing cars.