Lesson: No Valve in Vain
Posted on February 8th, 2019 by Mary Lord
In this activity, teams of students in grades 6 to 8 will learn about the engineering design process and how a one-way valve works by creating heart valves from tape, plastic tubing, and other materials.
Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Lesson Plans | 1 Comment »
Tags: biomdedical engineering, Class Activities, device, Engineering Design Process, Grades 6-8, heart, Lesson Plan, Mechanical engineering, valve
A major new consensus study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, underscores the vital role of teachers in creating the hands-on, multidisciplinary STEM education for every student envisioned by the Next Generation Science Standards. The report also calls for more creation and sharing of free educational materials so teachers no longer have to spend hours each week searching for curriculum.
Middle school students address misconceptions and learn about thermal energy transfer while investigating the insulating properties of various materials. They then follow the engineering design process to create, test, and redesign a structure (igloo) to keep an ice cube (penguin) from melting. 
Middle and high school students learn about the importance of the polar regions by connecting with scientists and the data generated by their cutting-edge research on penguins and ocean environments.
Students in grades 6 to 12 learn simple circuitry by creating light-up paper cards using only copper tape, a coin cell battery, a light-emitting diode (LED), and small electronic components. An artistic way to teach the basics of how circuits function—no soldering required! 
Middle school students act as Mars exploratory rover engineers. They evaluate equipment options, determine what parts fit in a NASA-provided budget, and, given a parts list, use these constraints to design, build, and display their edible rover at a concluding design review. Includes link to high-school version of this activity.
Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest, which awards $2 million in classroom technology and resources, aims to promote STEM learning, leadership, and community service in students in grades 6 to 12 through authentic, hands-on problem solving. Register by Oct. 30, 2018.
Middle school students learn about mineral properties and calculate the costs, benefits, and densities in this engineering-driven earth science unit based on the real-world design challenge of salvaging cargo following a train derailment. Students also will strengthen communication skills by creating a presentation to explain their process and justify their decisions to a “client.” 
eCYBERMISSION, a free, web-based STEM fair sponsored for students in grades 6 to 9, offers real-world opportunities to apply classroom learning and solve community problems, with winners receiving up to $9,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds. Teams must register by December 19, 2018 and submit projects by February 27, 2019. Register by November 21 to receive a free STEM kit.
