Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turn It Upside Down: Introduction to Computer-Aided Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore a computer-aided design program. Students chart out roller coaster design, computer graphics and architecture. High schoolers focus on understanding the connections between mathematics, science, technology and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play on Words Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create a design of an image that combines two words to create an unusual visualization. They improve their drawing skills by completing a detailed, colored pencil rendering of the "Play on Words" they design. Using...
Lesson Plan
National Sailing Hall of Fame

Sailboat Design Requirements

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Sailboat design requires more than a half-circle and triangle sketch. After viewing a slideshow presentation that outlines the requirements for sailboat design, learners draw a design, perform the needed...
Activity
NASA

Beginning Engineering, Science, and Technology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Space, the Final Frontier. The nine NASA-created challenges in this unit are designed to teach class members the engineering design process. Each challenge comes with teacher and student pages that can be used individually or as a...
Unit Plan
NASA

NASA Engineering Design Challenges - Spacecraft Structures

For Teachers 6th - 9th
What kind of design challenges are there in building structures to support rocket engines? The unit takes design teams through the process of building the lightest possible thrust support structure that can withstand the necessary forces...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Building for Hurricanes: Engineering Design Challenge

For Teachers 5th - 8th
"By the hair on your chinny-chin-chin, I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," says the big, bad wolf! Engineering hopefuls are challenged to design and construct a hurricane-proof building from simple office and craft...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Design a Shoe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
If the shoe  doesn't fit, design a new one. Discovery Education challenges pupils to put the engineering process in action by designing a shoe. Groups design and build a shoe prototype based upon the client...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Design Step 1: Identify the Need

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What exactly does an engineer do? Learners find out through a lesson that asks them to solve a problem that affects a target population. Aspiring engineers learn the steps of the engineering design process as they apply it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing a Crew Exploration Vehicle

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Take your class on an out-of-this-world adventure with this fun engineering design lesson. Working in small groups, young scientists design, build, and test crew exploration vehicles using some creativity, teamwork, and...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Designing Bridges

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Introduces your class to the types of loads experienced by a bridge. Groups calculate the ultimate load combinations to determine the maximum load requirement. Using this information, builders then determine the amount of material...
Lesson Plan
Intel

Understanding the Design Process

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Can you build a better mousetrap? Broken into two sessions, this plan introduces learners to the design process. The first session has pupils look at the world through a design perspective by redesigning everyday objects. In the second...
Activity
Discovery Education

Market Research and Design: The Headphone Challenge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Watch augmented reality bring classrooms to life. Scholars work in groups to design, build, and market a new pair of headphones meant for children under three. They use an augmented reality app to show their headphones in action as they...
Unit Plan
NASA

Engineering Design for Human Exploration

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
What would it take to live on the lunar surface? Small groups build model rockets in order to simulate launching a habitat into space and rebuilding it. Divide the class into groups to design and build a model of a lunar habitat. The...
Activity
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Teach Engineering

Design and Build a Rube Goldberg

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Let's see how complicated we can make this simple task. The last activity associated with a 10-part series has groups design and build a Rube Goldberg machine. Teams determine a simple task to accomplish and use the engineering design...
Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

Gridiron Rescue: One Health Football Technology Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Helmets not included! Scholars brainstorm adjustments and sensors to football helmets in an engineering design project to help prevent injuries, such as concussions and spinal injuries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design Your Own Building

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore the use of design principles in the real world. They evaluate how problems can be solved using design principles. In groups, students design the floor plan for a building of their choice.
Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

Ready, Set, Save on Solar Energy Technology!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Does your class have a bright future in the solar energy industry? Science scholars take an in-depth look at what's new in solar technology. After completing research into the solar industry, participants create and market a product in...
Lesson Plan
North Carolina State University

Construction

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Engineering design projects serve as great opportunities for collaborative problem solving. For this case, students work in small groups designing, building, and eventually testing a structure that meets a teacher-specified objective. It...
Lesson Plan
Skyscraper Museum

Designing a Skyscraper

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
Besides serving as awe-inspiring monuments of human achievement, skyscrapers are built to perform a wide range of functions in urban communities. The second lesson in this series begins by exploring the history of the Empire State...
Unit Plan
Teach Engineering

Service-Based Engineering Design Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Do some good for the community while learning about engineering. Groups complete a service-based engineering design project over the course of five weeks. The resource provides guidance on how to conduct the project and help pupils get...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Chair Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Can you design the perfect chair? Scholars apply the engineering design process to design and build a prototype of a new type of chair from wires. They test their designs with a wooden artist model or stuffed animal.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Clutter Cutter

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Challenge young learners to cut the clutter with this fun engineering project. As employees of a home and office supply company, young engineers are asked to develop devices that organize everyday items. After participating in a...
Activity
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Teach Engineering

Design Inspired by Nature

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Let nature guide your engineering designs. By taking apart a flower, pupils learn about reverse engineering. They use the results to brainstorm designs for new products or ideas. This is the seventh installment of a nine-part Life...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Amusement Park Ride: The Ups and Downs in Design

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
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.