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Express Yourself Lesson Seed 18: Investigate
Prepare your class for argumentative writing with a close inspection of the controversy surrounding Theodore Taylor's novel, The Cay. All necessary articles and materials are linked at the beginning of the resource. Kids use the provided...
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CO2 Dragster Challenge CO2 Dragster Challenge
Eighth graders construct a car out of a block of basswood. In this car activity students research, design and construct their own cars.
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Solar Racing
Young scholars design and build solar-powered cars. In this renewable energy lesson, students view websites showing a Department of Energy contest and solar-powered car design guidelines. They work in teams to design and build prototypes...
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Developing Soundproofing Materials
Eighth graders investigate the acoustic properties of materials in order to develop soundproofing products. In this soundproofing lesson students research different resources, design and perform experiments and fabricate, test and...
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Fair Game?
Students evaluate possible gender stereotypes perpetuated by computer games, particularly those designed for girls. They design a prototype for a gender bias-free computer game that would appeal to both males and females.
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Charlotte's Web
Students create a small web to communicate a message to someone. They examine the types of spiders and how they make their webs. They design and create their own web with their message inside.
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Pop Rockets
Pupils work together to design and build a paper rocket. They place a propellant in the contraption to make it fly. They discover Newton's third law of motion.
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Ramps 2: Ramp Builder
Students plan, build, and test a ramp that allows objects to roll far. After each group has tested out their ramps, allow them to test their design against the record previously established by the prototype ramp.
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Inventive Thinking - Future Inventions
Students create marketing campaigns. For this technology skills lesson, students keep a log as they build prototypes of their inventions. Students then script and record video commercials to sell the prototypes.
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Dream Bag
Students discover the functions of different types of bags. In this product design lesson, students discuss they types of bags that people use and then create their own bags for their own purposes.
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Redesigning Product Packaging
Learners apply the design process to solve a packaging problem. After examining the materials used in the packaging of everyday products, students gather and analyze information about a specific product. They create a new design for the...
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A Tall Ship and a Star to Steer Her By
Students create a water transportation device powered by wind. In this wind power instructional activity, students research transportation concepts after reading the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield. Students design the fastest...
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Build A Birdhouse
Students work together to design and build a birdhouse. They research a bird of their choice and build the birdhouse that means that bird's specifications. They discover the importance of designing.
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Ramps 2: Ramp Builder
Students design, build, and test their own ramps. They are introduced to a variety of materials and explore putting them together. Students engage in an inquiry-based learning experience to reinforce math, science, and technology...
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Ideal Living
Young scholars examine two artists Vasily Kandinsky and Marcel Breuer. In this artist analysis lesson, students explore the principles of Bauhaus and consider the elements of chair design. Young scholars identify the technique of...
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TE Activity: Testing Fundamental Loads
Learners experiment with the five fundamental load types that can act on structures. They use foam insulation blocks to which they apply the forces and draw the fracture patterns. They determine the telltale marks of failure that is...
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Apply Scientific Inquiry and Scientific Habits of Mind
Students review the components of the scientific inquiry method. In groups, they develop hypothesis on a variety of different topics and design an investigation or experiment to test it. They share their conclusions with the class and...
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Tower O'Power
Students work together to design a tower from a computer program. They manufacture the pieces with a laser cutter and compete in a competition to determine the best design for stress relief on towers. They discover the work engineers...
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Build a Sturdy Wall
Learners read a version of "The Three Little Pigs" and then work in small groups to design a wall. They use Legos to build the wall and subject their design to a strength test.
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Journey to the Afterlife
Students work together to design an Egyptian funerary barge. They discover the importance of the afterlife to Egyptians. They create their boat and share their design with the class. They compare and contrast the technology of Ancient...
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LEGO Balance
Students design and build a balance using LEGO, string, and a set of standard metric weights.
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Peak Performance
Students design and build a car that is capable of traveling across the floor quickly, and also up a steep ramp.
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Science: Put Your Heart into Engineering
Students examine the heart and vascular system and the need for artificial valves. After explaining how heart valves function, they design their own heart valves for experimentation. They predict the speed of fluid flowing through...
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Make It All Better!
Students design an innovation that could help their community. In this technology lesson, students identify problems that could be solved by innovation. They present their ideas in class.