Curated OER
Robot Turning Lab
Students design a robot that can turn 90 degrees. In this robotics instructional activity, students explain the applications of their invention. They present their design in class.
Curated OER
Simple Machines: Levers
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
Curated OER
Naturral Born Robots: Robots Have Feelings Too
Students explore robotics. They design a simple device that simulates a human arm lifting a mass. Students test the strength of their arm. Students discuss artificial intelligence.
Curated OER
Surface Tension of Water
First graders observe the surface tension of water. For this water properties lesson, the teacher defines surface tension, then guides students through eight experiment that illustrate surface tension.
Curated OER
Ancient Mediterranean Lands: Greece
Sixth graders explore the processes developed by the Ancient Greeks, particularly olives and olive oil. In this Greek culture and inventions lesson, 6th graders read an article and design a flap book. Students collect the olive oil...
Teach Engineering
Amusement Park Ride: The Ups and Downs in Design
Groups design the ultimate roller coaster by considering potential and kinetic energy. They test their designs using marbles and then go on to rate each group's design based on aesthetics, loop diameter, and cost.
Curated OER
Technology and Change
Students write a paragraph explaining how a technological innovation from a particular country has affected the world. Using a variety of resources, students identify a technological innovation, giving accurate historical and...
Curated OER
Not So Simple Machines
Middle schoolers design a simple machine for a simple machine contest. For this simple machine lesson, students design a simple machine that will solve a problem. They draw a diagram, label it, and test the machine before they present it...
Curated OER
Extra! Extra!
Students describe how plants and animals depend on each other. They see how living and nonliving environments change over time. They identify ways in which humans have changed their environment and the effects of those changes.
Curated OER
Galileo: His Times & Beliefs
Learners study Galileo and his scientific discoveries. They complete a series of experiments/model constructions, using 17th century equipment and procedures, to "recreate," demonstrate and explore the various discoveries of Galileo.
Curated OER
"Finding" Horsepower
Middle schoolers investigate horsepower as a unit of power. They examine history and discover that scientists and engineers of high achievement are considered to be among the most valued contributors to their culture.
National First Ladies' Library
A Crippling Cough: Tuberculosis on a Rampage
Middle schoolers use problem solving skills to examine symptoms, causes, and treatment of tuberculosis in modern times and in early 1900s. Students read patient case, work in teams to diagnose illness, and conduct Internet research to...
Curated OER
Create a Butterfly Mobile
Students construct a butterfly mobile. In this visual arts lesson, students use rice paper, watercolors, a coat hanger, and wax paper to create a unique butterfly mobile. Students use photographs of butterflies to construct a realistic...
Curated OER
The Wonderful World of Polymers
Seventh graders investigate the concept of polymers. They discover unique properties and how polymers are natural. The lesson contains sufficient background information for the teacher. Students examine different types of materials and...
Curated OER
Simple Machines - Inclined Plane
Students learn the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines.
Curated OER
All Steamed Up
Young scholars examine the energy conversions and simple machines are involved in the operation of a steam engine. They make a replica of a small steam engine.
Curated OER
Chromatography
Students study about chromatography, a process used to separate mixtures.
Curated OER
Modern Issues
Ninth graders examine how modern issues of the world affect their lives. They listen to a lecture about the differences between developed and developing countries, act out physical representations of charts and pictures on the overhead,...
Curated OER
Junkyard Wars: Air Movers
Students study Rube Goldberg machines. In this investigative lesson students design and build a machine that uses several steps to move an aluminum can.
Curated OER
Learning about air
Students read a book and have a class discussion about the air around them. In this air lesson plan, students learn about properties of air, and discuss other gases they have observed.
Curated OER
Extending Human Ability Through Technology
Young scholars explore how technology has been used to enhance human abilities. Using the internet, they watch a short video about prosthetics. They compare and contrast how prosthetics have changed over the years as technology has...
Curated OER
Help, I can't reach it!
Students learn the major organ systems in the human body and research simple machines on the Internet; They design an informational brochure about a medical profession and present that career topic to the class.
Curated OER
Able Sports
Students work together to design a new sport for disabled persons. They share their new sport with the class. They discover how mechanical and biomedical engineers use information to test prosthetics.
Curated OER
Structure of the Earth
Eighth graders examine the forces that are constantly acting on the Earth. They describe the theory of tectonic plates and demonstrate the two kinds of earthquake waves. They also examine the role of volcanoes in the structure of the...