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Lesson Plan Focus
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Topics Covered
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Ages
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A Century of Plastics
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
plastics of all sorts have been
engineered in to everyday products over
the past century, with emphasis on
materials selection and engineering.
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engineering design, properties of
materials
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8-18
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A Question of Balance
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
use of weight scales and measurement
by manufacturing engineers. Teams of
students are posed with the challenge
of developing a system to fill jars
with a specific weight or count of
products such as marbles or
paperclips.
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mathematical applications, motion and
forces
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11-18
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Adaptive Device Design
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering of adaptive or assistive
devices, such as prosthetic devices,
wheelchairs, eyeglasses, grab bars,
hearing aids, lifts, or braces.
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engineering design
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8-18
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All About Electric Motors
Lesson Focus: Electric Motors: their
principles and everyday uses. Note:
This lesson plan is designed for
classroom use only, with supervision
by a teacher familiar with electrical
and electronic concepts.
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electricity and magnetism,
energy
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10-18
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Build a Big Wheel
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering behind big wheels
(sometimes called Ferris wheels). Teams
of students explore the engineering
behind the "London Eye," explore the
history of big wheels, and construct
a working wheel model using pasta,
glue, and teabags.
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buildings and structures, engineering
design, motion and forces
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8-18
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Build Your Own Robot Arm
Lesson Focus: Develop a robot arm
using common materials. Students will
explore design, construction,
teamwork, and materials selection and
use.
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engineering design, properties of
materials, robotics, technology
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8-18
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Can You Canoe?
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
canoes, which have been hand built
for centuries, have been impacted by
engineered materials and
manufacturing processes over the years.
Student teams design and build a
model canoe frame and then cover
their frame with everyday materials
and test their design in a basin.
Student model canoes must be able to
float, travel a distance of 4 feet,
and support a load. Students then
evaluate the effectiveness of their
canoes and those of other teams, and
present their findings to the class.
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engineering design, motion and
forces, properties of materials
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8-18
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Cast Your Vote
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
technology and engineering impact
society, and how poll-taking has been
influenced by engineering over time.
Students design and construct a
voting or polling machine out of
everyday items, then evaluate the
effectiveness of the design.
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engineering design
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8-12
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Clipper Creations
Lesson Focus: Develop a working model
of a nail clipper.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, motion and forces,
simple machines
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8-18
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Cracking the Code
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
computerized barcodes have improved
efficiency in product distribution;
explores the barcoding process and
engineering design.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, technology
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8-18
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Critical Load
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
issues civil engineers face,
including critical load and how to
reinforce the design of a structure
to hold more weight.
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buildings and structures, engineering
design, motion and forces
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8-14
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Design and Build a Better Candy Bag
Lesson Focus: Demonstrate how product
design differences can affect the
success of a final product -- in this
case a bag for holding candy.
Students work in pairs to evaluate,
design, and build a better candy bag.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, motion and forces,
properties of materials
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8-18
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Dispenser Designs
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
engineers have to design objects to
meet the needs of users, while
considering the limitations of
materials, and the implications of
cost.
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engineering design, properties of
materials
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11-18
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EEEEK- A Mouse!
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
computer and mechanical engineering
and explores how computer mice operate
and how engineering provided an
interface between man and machine.
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engineering design, motion and
forces, properties of materials,
technology
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8-18
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Electric Messages: Then and Now
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
exploring electric message systems,
from light signals using International
Morse Code to text messaging.
Students construct a simple telegraph
using a battery, wires, a switch, and
bulb, and explore the impact of
communications on society.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
technology
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8-14
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Electric Switches
Lesson Focus: Demonstrate how
electric circuits can be controlled
with a simple switch. Note: This lesson
plan is designed for classroom use
only, with supervision by a teacher
familiar with electrical and
electronic concepts.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
technology
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8-11
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Engineered Memory
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering behind storage devices,
and engineering improvements over
time. Though exploring the operation
of the "floppy" disk, students
explore the mechanics underlying
operation, and then test the disk
under a variety of conditions.
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electricity and magnetism, technology
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8-18
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Engineered Music
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering behind the design of
musical instruments. Teams of
students explore the engineering
behind recorder manufacturing, and then
design, construct, test, and evaluate
a working musical instrument using
easily found materials.
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energy, engineering design, motion
and forces
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8-18
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Engineered Sports
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
the principals of aerospace
engineering have impacted golf ball
design, along with equipment used in
other sports. Students analyze the
use of dimples on golf balls, and
work as a team of engineers to
determine whether adding dimples to
airplanes would increase fuel
efficiency for the airline industry.
They also explore the physics of
bounce as it relates to several
sports balls.
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engineering design, properties of
materials, motion and forces
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11-18
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Engineering Air Traffic
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering behind air traffic
control systems. Students work in teams
to evaluate data generated for a
virtual air traffic system, and
determine a plan to bring three
planes safely through a set airspace.
They then recommend engineering
enhancement to the current system.
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mathematical applications, motion and
forces, technology
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11-18
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Engineering Ups and Downs
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering behind elevators. Teams
of students explore principals and
requirements of vertical travel, then
design and construct a working
elevator to service a toy car garage
using wheels, pulleys, string,
cardboard and other materials.
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engineering design, motion and
forces, simple machines
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11-18
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Exploring at the Nanoscale
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
nanotechnology has impacted our
society and how engineers have learned
to explore the world at the
nanoscale. Students participate in
hands-on activities to understand
exactly how small the nanoscale is,
explore how surface area changes at
the nano scale, and work in teams to
develop futuristic applications of
nanotechnology.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, properties of
materials, structure of matter
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8-14
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Filtration Investigation
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
filtration systems solve many
problems throughout the world such as
improving drinking water. Through
this lesson, students work in teams
to design and build a filtration
system to remove dirt from water.
Students select from everyday items
to build their filter, test the
resulting system evaluate the
effectiveness of their filters and
those of other teams, and present
their findings to the class.
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engineering design, environments and
resources
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8-18
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Flashlights and Batteries
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
concept of electron flow through the
demonstration of electrical circuits
in a flashlight, and how batteries
operate.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
technology
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8-11
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Get Connected With Ohm's Law
Lesson Focus: Demonstrate Ohm's Law
using digital multi-meters. Fun
hands-on activities are presented
that demonstrate Ohm's Law. Teachers
use digital multi-meters to collect
data that are plotted to show that
voltage and current are related by
linear functions for ordinary
resistors and by power functions for
light bulbs.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
mathematical applications,
technology
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10-18
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Getting Your Bearings
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
concept of friction and the use of
ball bearings to reduce friction.
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energy, engineering design, motion
and forces
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8-18
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Give Binary a Try!
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
binary codes function and binary
applications for computer engineers.
The lesson offers students an
activity to learn to download
software and read online binary
clock, and advanced students an
opportunity to build one from a kit.
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mathematical applications, technology
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8-18
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Give Me a Brake
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
brakes, force, and friction, using
bicycle rim brakes to demonstrate basic
braking mechanisms to stop, slow, or
prevent motion.
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energy, engineering design, motion
and forces
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8-18
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Hand Biometrics Technology
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
engineering applications of biometric
technologies for identification or
security applications. After
exploring hand geometry biometrics,
students work in teams of "engineers"
to evaluate pros and cons of
incorporating a hand recognition
biometric technology into a new
security system for a museum.
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engineering design, human body,
mathematical applications
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8-18
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Heart of the Matter
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering and operation of
artificial heart valves, and the
interface between man and machine.
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engineering design, human body,
motion and forces
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8-18
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Here Comes the Sun
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on solar
panel design, and its application in
the standard calculator. It explores
how both solar panels and calculators
operate and explores simple circuits
using solar power.
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engineering design, electricity and
magnetism, energy, light and heat
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8-18
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How the Rubber Meets the Road
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
engineers design tire treads to
increase safety and reliability.
Students are presented with the
challenge of designing a new tire tread
that will be safe when driving in
rainy conditions. Student teams will
design and construct a sample tread
out of clay, then test and evaluate
the effectiveness of the design,
evaluate their results, and present
their findings to the class.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, motion and forces,
properties of materials
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8-18
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Hull Engineering
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
the shape of ship's hull can impact
its speed and stability potential in
water. Teams of students design and
test their own ship's hull on paper,
and build it using foam and other
everyday materials.
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engineering design, motion and
forces, properties of materials
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11-18
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Infrared Investigations
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
infrared technology is used by
engineers creating equipment and system
for a variety of industries. Teams of
students explore the application of
infrared in remote controls, test
materials that encourage or prevent
infrared transmission, and develop
systems that allow transmission of
infrared in restricted environments.
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engineering design, light and heat,
technology
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8-18
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Insulators and Conductors
Lesson Focus: Demonstrating the
concept of conducting or insulating
electricity. Note: This lesson plan is
designed for classroom use only, with
supervision by a teacher familiar
with electrical and electronic
concepts.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
technology
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8-11
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Irrigation Ideas
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
through the centuries man has had the
need to move water from one place to
another. Engineered irrigation has
proved critical throughout the world.
Through this lesson, students work in
teams to design and build a system to
move water from one source to two
different delivery areas. The
challenge is to move two cups of water
for at least three feet and
distribute it evenly in two separate
containers. They work with everyday
items, develop a plan, build their
"irrigation" system, and test their
system. Students then evaluate the
effectiveness of their own irrigation
systems and those of other teams, and
present their findings to the class.
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environments and resources
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8-18
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Making Sense of Sensors
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
sensors are used in many applications
to gather information about our
environment. This lesson focuses on
the hygrometer, a sensor used to
measure humidity. Through this
lesson, students work in teams to
design and build a hygrometer out of
everyday items to measure humidity
levels. The student hygrometers are
not meant to be exact, but are
expected to indicate a change.
Students select from everyday items
to build their hygrometer, test their
machine using a spray bottle to
increase humidity, evaluate the
effectiveness of their system and
those of other teams, and present
their findings to the class.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, technology, weather
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8-18
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Move That Lighthouse!
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
engineers have to evaluate multiple
structural, economic, and
environmental factors when moving a
building.
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buildings and structures, motion and
forces
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8-18
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Oil Spill Solutions
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
engineers use various techniques to
provide speedy solutions to oil
spills or other threats to natural
water resources. Through this lesson,
students work in teams to analyze an
"oil spill" in the classroom, then
design, build, and test a system to
first contain, and then remove the
oil from the water. Students select
from everyday items to build their
oil containment and clean-up systems,
evaluate the effectiveness of their
solution and those of other teams,
and present their findings to the
class.
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environments and resources
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8-18
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Pipeline Challenge
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
engineers develop pipeline systems to
transport oil, water, gas, and other
materials over very long distances.
Students work in teams of "engineers"
to develop a pipeline system to
transport both a golf ball and ping
pong ball across the classroom
terrain.
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environments and resources
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8-18
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Popsicle Bridge
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
bridges are engineered to withstand
weight, while being durable, and in
some cases aesthetically pleasing.
Students work in teams to design and
build their own bridge out of up to
200 popsicle sticks and glue. Bridges
must have a span of at least 14 inches
and be able to hold a five pound
weight (younger students) or a twenty
pound weight (older students).
Students are encouraged to be frugal,
and use the fewest number of popsicle
sticks while still achieving their
goals. Students then evaluate the
effectiveness of their own bridge
designs and those of other teams, and
present their findings to the class.
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buildings and structures, motion and
forces
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8-18
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Program Your Own Game
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
software engineers design computer
games and other software. Student
teams work together to develop a
simple computer program using free
software that is available in
multiple languages.
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mathematical applications, technology
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11-18
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Pulleys and Force
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
concept of force and the use of
pulleys to reduce required force.
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motion and forces, simple machines
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8-11
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Rotational Equilibrium
Lesson Focus: Demonstrate the concept
of rotational equilibrium.
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engineering design, mathematical
applications, motion and forces
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14-18
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Sail Away
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
watercraft engineering and sailing.
Students work in teams to design a
sailboat out of everyday objects that
can catch a breeze from a fan, stay
afloat with a set load, and sail four
feet.
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engineering design, motion and
forces, properties of materials
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8-18
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Series and Parallel Circuits
Lesson Focus: Demonstrate and discuss
simple circuits and the differences
between parallel and serial circuit
design and functions. Note: This
lesson plan is designed for classroom
use only, with supervision by a
teacher familiar with electrical and
electronic concepts.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
technology
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8-14
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Ship the Chip
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
engineering package designs that meet
the needs of safely shipping a
product. Students work in teams of
"engineers" to design a package using
standard materials that will safely
ship a single chip through the mail
to the school address.
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engineering design, properties of
materials
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8-18
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Simple Kitchen Machines
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on
simple machines and how they can be
found in many everyday items. Students
explore the different types of simple
machines, how they work, and how they
are integrated into many items.
Students explore common kitchen
machines and identify how many simple
machine types are incorporated into
each item.
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motion and forces, simple machines
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8-11
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Simple Machines
Lesson Focus: Simple machines: their
principles and uses.
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motion and forces, simple machines
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8-11
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Sort it Out!
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on the
engineering behind industrial sorting
processes. Working as an engineering
group, students then work in teams to
design and build a system to sort
different sized coins for packaging.
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engineering design, motion and
forces, properties of materials
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8-18
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Sticky Engineering Challenge
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
engineers work to solve problems and
impact daily life through new and
improved products. As engineers do,
teams of students select adhesive
options to help them meet a
construction goal.
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engineering design, properties of
materials
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8-18
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Two Button Buzzer Circuit
Lesson Focus: Demonstrate how two
switches interact in an electrical
circuit such as that used to sound a
buzzer. Note: This lesson plan is
designed for classroom use only, with
supervision by a teacher familiar
with electrical and electronic
concepts.
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electricity and magnetism, energy,
technology
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8-14
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Wind Tunnel Testing
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on wind
tunnel tests that engineers in many
industries use to when developing
products such as airplanes, cars, and
even buildings. Teams of students
build their own model car out of
everyday products and test their
design in a wind tunnel made of a fan
blowing through a long cardboard box.
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buildings and structures, engineering
design, motion and forces
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11-18
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Working with Watermills
Lesson Focus: Lesson focuses on how
watermills generate power. Student
teams design and build a working
watermill out of everyday products
and test their design in a basin.
Student watermills must be able to
sustain three minutes of rotation. As
an extension activity, older students
may design a gear system that is
powered by the watermill. Students
then evaluate the effectiveness of
their watermill and those of other
teams, and present their findings to
the class.
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buildings and structures, engineering
design, motion and forces
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8-18
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