Through two investigations, life science learners determine whether or not yeast is alive. They perform tests for metabolism by providing sugar and observing if gas is produced as a byproduct. They incubate some of the sample for at...

Using magnets design and build a structure that builds itself from pieces. This site contains the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.

Using pasta students will design and construct a container that can travel along a zip line to deliver a cargo which is candy. This challenge is explored on this site as well as tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document...

Using paper and tape, students are challenged to build a honeycomb structure that is able to support a heavy textbook or more. The website includes a place for students to document their design process, tips, and a lesson plan.

All structures require a foundation to keep them from falling down. This is especially important when a structure is built on a hill or on a slope. In this science project, you will build a tower of Lego Duplos on slopes with different...

An interest in chemistry and physics is what you need to explore the career of materials scientist or engineer. In this career you manipulate atoms to change the structure of materials to make new products. This Science Buddies site lays...

How does that bridge stay up? What are the forces acting on that column? This site helps students understand how structures can be built by having them build their own. Also provides images of real structures for kids to compare with...

PBS site provides videos and activities are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 9-12.

Here's a project for a budding architect or structural engineer. Can you make a strong, lightweight tower using only uncooked spaghetti and white glue? In this project, you'll learn about materials testing and apply what you learn to...

Arches have been used for structural engineering since ancient times. This experiment tests the strength of a naturally occurring arch shape: the shell of an egg. How much weight do you think an eggshell can support?

Watch out. It's Eddy Vortex, Superhero. He swirls, he tumbles, he churns up air and water. OK, maybe eddies and vortices aren't exactly superheroes, but they are powerful regions of air and water flow that you have to watch out for in...

Make a cantilever that can hold 5 marbles at least 12 inches away from its base structure with this engineering challenge. The site contains the challenge, a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their engineering process.

A challenge for students to build a lightweight wing structure that is 12 inches long and can hold up a heavy load without deflecting. This site contains the challenge, a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their...

Can you build a 3-D object out of tetrahedra that is as big as you are? With this challenge, students will be using common household items to build their tetrahedra structure. Site contains the challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place...

Observe some of the issues that structural engineers encounter by building a tower with paper or plastic cups and then reporting on your experience.

This is an interesting project that explores which geometrical shapes make the strongest bridge truss structures. It is a good introduction to the engineering design process. You'll design three different trusses, and use online...

Foundations for many types of structures rest on soil. This project shows how you can investigate the bearing capacity of different types of soil.

Skyscrapers are impressive structures. What does it take to design a building so tall? Engineers use strong materials and innovative design to push the limits of gravity. In this experiment you will use LEGO components, rubber balls, and...

The wind is a powerful force, enough to erode whole hillsides over time. Building structures in windy environments challenge civil engineers with special safety concerns. A wall in a windy area can either shield you from the cold or fall...

Students are challenged to create a structure that collects the most amount of rainwater on this website. The website includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their engineering process.

Using just popsicle sticks, paper clips, straws, pencil, binder clips, and rubber bands, students are challenged to build a structure that jumps into the air. This mighty machine will jump up, sideways, or flips over. This website...

Do you think you can things invisible? In this design challenge, students will make a structure that can change how waves move and learn how to make things invisible! This site includes tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to...

A project for students to imagine they are writing a proposal for a bid to design and construct a football stadium that is heated by solar power. As a structural engineering, the students will be creating this proposal for a new NFL team...

Learn about the principles of aerospace engineering and the importance of teamwork by designing and building a paper airplane for a "fly-off" competition. Lesson plan includes introduction to team structure, activity directions, and...