Curated OER
Designing More Effective Packages
Students make an environmentally sound package. In this packaging lesson students examine various types of modern packaging. The problem of waste is discussed leading into a discussion of waste reduction. The students choose an item that...
Curated OER
Mass Production
Sixth graders work together as a class to become a company that has the job of researching, designing, manufacturing, and marketing a useful product. Student transfer plans of final design into a CAD drawing and mass produce the...
Rochester Institute of Technology
Skateboard Assembly - Line Balance
Utilize the lesson on utilization. The second installment of a nine-part technology/engineering series teaches scholars about the flow of a balanced assembly line and the definition of utilization. Videos, activities, and simulations...
Kenan Fellows
The Newton Challenge
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.
Teach Engineering
Life Cycles
Breathe some life into product design. Pupils learn about the stages of product creation, use, and disposal—sometimes called a cradle-to-grave assessment. They see how this cycle relates to the life cycle of organisms.
Advocates for Human Rights
The Right to a Clean Environment in the United States
Even if a school has gone digital, chances are there's still plenty of paper being used. The three activities help scholars learn about the environmental impact of paper and another consumer products of their choosing, the issue of...
Maker Media
Makerspace Playbook
Make the most of project-based learning with Makerspace. A playbook shows instructors and other interested parties how to set up a Makerspace and Maker community to foster STEM projects. It gives ideas for startup activities and for...
Curated OER
What Came From Where?
Young scholars research patterns and networks of economic interdependence. They work cooperatively to create 3-dimensional representations of common objects and charts describing the objects' components and countries of origin. Students...
American Psychological Association
A Tasty Sample(r): Teaching about Sampling Using M&M’s
Here's a sweet activity! As part of a study of psychological research methods and statistic gathering, individuals develop a hypothesis about the number of each color of M&Ms in a fun-size package. They then count the number of each...
Curated OER
Making Paper
Students explore how natural earth materials are processed into a human-made product. They simulate a manufacturing process by making paper. Students review the importance of recycling in preserving our natural earth resources.
Curated OER
Living by the Code
Students explain why new drugs are needed to treat cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammation, and infections. They infer why some marine invertebrates are promising sources of new drugs, explaining the process in which cells...
Curated OER
A Model of a Bacterial Plasmid
Young scholars construct a plsmid model with the materials provided and be able to use it to define certain terms and explain other practical applications of genetic engineering. This simulation allows the students to work through the...
Curated OER
Interchangeable Parts Revolutionize Clock-making
Students consider assembly line production. In this instructional activity on Industrialization, students explore rifle manufacturing then create a workshop in the classroom to assemble clocks. They determine the pros and cons of...
Curated OER
Honey, I Shrunk the Lids!
Students discover the lightweighting concept used by manufacturers. In this environmental education lesson, students research the reduction of the amount of aluminum used in cans. Students wrap the lesson up by writing a newspaper...
Curated OER
Industrial Measurement: Using Micrometers in the Workplace
Students accurately measure several common objects for thickness using micrometer calipers. They work individually to analyze whether given objects would meet the correct specifications required for a particular manufactured product.
Curated OER
Industrial Measurement: Using Calipers to Assess Acceptable Dimensions
Students accurately measure several dimensions of common objects using calipers. They determine whether a manufactured product meets correct specifications for length, width, height, depth and diameter.
Curated OER
Civil War Weapons and Changes
Young scholars research the weapons of the Civil War era, how they were used and manufactured, and how they have changed over the years since the Civil War.They complete a 3-5 page paper about a weapon that was used in the Civil War.
Curated OER
Future Engineers: Tools for Success
Seventh graders create and engineer model transportation vehicles using crafting materials. They use technical drawing to develop their ideas and choose the appropriate tools and processes during the manufacturing of their designs. They...
Curated OER
Michigan-Made Products
Students conduct research of three different products that are made in Michigan. They determine how the product is made, manufactured, gathered, or found. They work with a partner to produce a multimedia presentation using their combined...
Curated OER
WHAT MAKES OUR BLUE JEANS BLUE?
Twelfth graders become aware of the environmental, social and economic issues related to the production of blue jeans. They explore the relationship between individual clothing choices as well as global issues. In addition, they...
Curated OER
Marketing Occupations
Students identify and explain the variables effecting supply and demand in the marketing industry. Then they define the terms supply and demand and graph supply and demand curves on a standard grid. Students also formulate what happens...
Curated OER
Engineering - Solid Rock to Building Block
Students role-play as engineers designing wedge tools. They devise methods for shaping quarry rocks into pyramid blocks. Following a teacher demonstration, they use materials such as soap, clay, and foam for blocks and wood, plastic,...
Curated OER
E-Cycling!
Eighth graders research how and why electronics are recycled. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders determine the types of materials electronic devices are made up of. They produce a creative ad to encourage people to recycle.
Curated OER
Step by Step
Students analyze the importance of each step, person, and technology involved in the production of goods from raw materials to finished products.