http://teachers.egfi-k12.org Blog about the growing role of engineering in K-12 education. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:04:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/build-a-submarine/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/build-a-submarine/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:14 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=20317 Students in grades 5-8 learn the basic principle of buoyancy and how submarines use it to dive and ascend in water through creating their own submarine out of a soda bottle, pennies, and other household items. Activity courtesy of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/build-a-submarine/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-make-your-own-slime/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-make-your-own-slime/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:00:39 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=16747 Would you believe that slime is a member of the Space Shuttle team? As an advanced viscoelastic material, slime is an amazingly lead-proof hydraulic fluid used in all critical positioning systems in space. Check out these slime recipes from the Inamori School of Engineering, Alfred University.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-make-your-own-slime/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-package-the-pringle/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-package-the-pringle/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:00:10 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=19846 For this activity, which can be done with a partner school, student teams design a package for a single Pringles potato chip that allow it to be sent through the mail and arrive intact.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-package-the-pringle/feed/ 2 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/class-activities-chemistry-experiments-from-csiro/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/class-activities-chemistry-experiments-from-csiro/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:00:42 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=18852 Visit the chemistry activity page from CSIRO -- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia's national science agency -- to find simple, fun chemistry and physics projects for students. Other sections of this science Website offer information, videos, links, the Double Helix Science Club, and local resources for Australia teachers.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/class-activities-chemistry-experiments-from-csiro/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/chemistry-activities-propelling-a-toy-boat/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/chemistry-activities-propelling-a-toy-boat/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:18:02 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=18763 Students grades 4-12 conduct a simple experiment that demonstrates how a familiar chemical -- liquid soap -- can be used to break the surface tension of water and propel a toy boat. Older students move into further inquiry of chemical dispersants and their use in combating oil spills.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/chemistry-activities-propelling-a-toy-boat/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-plan-crystal-formation/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-plan-crystal-formation/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 12:00:03 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=16351 This activity from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory involves students, grades 6-12, in the formation of crystals on glass slides. In conducting their experiment, students learn about basic principles that guide the work of materials engineers and scientists.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-plan-crystal-formation/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/curriculum-learningroomba/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/curriculum-learningroomba/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:00:26 +0000 jxs http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=11074 The Learning Roomba educational toolkit attempts to address robotics usability issues by keeping total costs down while making the tools as easy to use as possible. This toolkit is a collection of resources and tools to facilitate teaching robotics to pre-college students. Through these resources, students can learn about science, math, and engineering topics in a fun and exciting way.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/curriculum-learningroomba/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-do-it-yourself-bristlebot/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-do-it-yourself-bristlebot/#comments Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:00:20 +0000 jxs http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=11076 BristleBots are one variety of the popular vibrobot, a simple category of robot controlled by a single vibrating motor. This BristleBot is made from a toothbrush and a few low-cost materials and can easily be modified for additional challenge.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-do-it-yourself-bristlebot/feed/ 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-wind-power/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-wind-power/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:00:51 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=11801 This lesson plan from PBS helps students discover the basics of wind power technology in having them build and refine a wind turbine. Students examine the concept of renewable energy, identify the benefits and drawbacks of wind power, and compare its costs and impact on the environment with other energy sources.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-wind-power/feed/ 2 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-bridge-swe/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-bridge-swe/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:58 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=12155 Students grades 5-12 assume the role of civil engineers in constructing a model suspension bridge. They learn about other types of spans -- including arch, girder, truss, and cantilever -- and of the careful balance of compression and tension required in bridge building. ]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-bridge-swe/feed/ 2