Curated OER
Design Your Own Rube Goldberg Machine
Middle schoolers design and construct a Rube Goldberg machine that accomplishes a simple task in at least ten steps. They view and discuss various Rube Goldberg designs, identify types of simple machines, and in small groups produce a...
Teach Engineering
The Magician's Catapult
Class members work in pairs to build a catapult to launch a grape a given distance. The catapult project, a compound machine, reinforces pupils' understanding of simple machines.
Curated OER
Machinery In Society
Students explore technology by completing a worksheet in class. In this common machinery lesson, students define the different designs that make simple machines work such as wheels, pulleys and gears. Students utilize verbs to describe...
Curated OER
Kidney Filtering
Students investigate how kidneys function. They discuss how a dialysis machine works, and conduct an experiment in which they filter different substances through a plastic window screen, various sizes of hardware cloth, and poultry...
Curated OER
Simply Unique
Students identify, compare and contrast simple machines and their functions. They work together in groups to complete experiments using the simple machines. They write in their journals to reflect on the lesson plan.
Curated OER
Designing a Playground!
Students design their own playground equipment. In this design lesson plan, students take pictures of equipment they like and make a class pictograph of their favorite ones. They investigate the design, research equipment around the...
Curated OER
Just Passing Through
Students examine the functions of the kidney and its place in the urinary system. They discuss how astronauts go the bathroom in space, examine labeled diagrams of the urinary system, and draw a large scale drawing of the excretory...
Curated OER
How Electronics Come to Us: Distribution and Use
Students identify environmental challenges that can be solved throughout a product's life cycle. They experiment and examine how we can choose and use products in an environmentally responsible manner. Each student is also involved in...
Curated OER
Breathe In, Breathe Out
Students study the respiratory system, the lungs and air. In this respiratory instructional activity students describe technologies that engineers have found that improve the health of the respiratory system.
Curated OER
Muscles, Oh My!
Students explore the human muscular system. In this science instructional activity, students discuss how engineering is related to the field of bio-mechanics and human movement.
Curated OER
Just Breathe
Young scholars examine the inhalation and exhalation process. They create a model pair of lungs from given materials. They discover the technology that has been developed based on engineers examining the respiratory system.