In this activity, students debate who invented the cotton gin. They come to realize the complexity of the seemingly simple historical statement: “Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin.” A follow-up discussion explores the nature of invention, the importance of history, and the nature of historical evidence.

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Tags: African-American history, Class Activities, Class Debate, Ideas & Inventions

In this lesson on cybersecurity, students grades 6-8 explore the concept of privacy in their everyday lives and as it relates to visiting Web sites. Students will explore privacy in a real-world setting and in cyberspace; understand why companies collect information about visitors on their Web sites; and learn to use online privacy terms.

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Tags: Computer Engineering

This lesson explores how civil engineering has solved the challenge of moving water through irrigation. Students work in teams to design and build their own model irrigation system out of everyday items. They test their systems, evaluate their results, and present their findings to the class.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades 9-12, Lesson Plans | 2 Comments »

Tags: Agricultural, Grades 6-8, Lesson Plans, Water management

In this lesson for grades 5-8, students learn how the process of reverse engineering helps improve technology. Students analyze the mechanisms of a push-toy then disassemble it and draw its inner mechanisms. They then make suggestions for improvements: effectiveness, improved functionality, ecological friendliness, and any additional functionality. Time required: 90 minutes.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | 1 Comment »

Tags: Design, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5

As classes wind down (or up!) for the holidays, here’s a fun activity to get students thinking about engineering. It a game families can enjoy, too. Print and distribute copies of this pdf puzzler, directing students to locate as many words as possible.

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Tags: Class Activities, Fun & Games, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5

What does a load-bearing wall have to do with holiday treats? Plenty, when the wall is holding up the roof of a gingerbread house. This combination recipe and building activity introduces kids to some of the fundamentals of engineering design and construction, including strength of materials, weight, stress and adhesives.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | 1 Comment »

Tags: Architectural, Class Activities, festive

Oceans and robots, geckoes and golfballs. How much do your students know about engineering? Put them to the test with this fun multiple-choice quiz for grades 6-12.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12 | 6 Comments »

In this activity for grades 6-12, students design a seawall to protect a major coastal highway from erosion by ocean waves and address these questions: Erosion–can you fight it? How much energy is involved with waves and erosion? Can humans stop erosion of the shoreline? Should we? Is it cost effective?

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Tags: Marine engineering, Math Lesson Plans, Mathematics

In this activity for grades 4 through 6, students become acquainted with the engineering principles and forces that help support bridges. Then 16 students form a human suspension bridge.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5 | 1 Comment »

Tags: Bridge building, Civil Engineering