Teams of students in grades 7 to 9 follow the engineering design process to create, construct, test, and improve model solar sails made of aluminum foil to move cardboard tube satellites through “space” on a string. During the process, they learn about Newton’s laws of motion and the transfer of energy from wave energy to mechanical energy. 

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades 9-12, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Solar Sails: The Future of Space Travel

Tags: Aerospace, Class Activities, Design, energy transfer, Engineering Design Process, forces and motion, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Lesson Plan, Newton, Newton's Laws, NGSS aligned activity, solar sails, space exploration, spacecraft, teachengineering

In this NGSS-aligned activity, 2nd graders draw on their knowledge of Earth science to follow the engineering design process and investigate solutions for protecting sandcastles from wind and water damage. They make hypotheses, measure and record changes, and support their results using evidence. Suitable for students in grades 1-3.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Sandcastle Investigations

Tags: construction, data, Earth Science, Engineering Design, erosion, materials, measurement, NGSS, sandcastle construction, sandcastle engineering, structural and civil engineering

From climate change to energy to ecosystems, sustainability is among the main multidisciplinary themes stressed by the Next Generation Science Standards. Here are some resources for teachers.

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Filed under: For Teachers, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on Sustainability Education Resources

Kids love exploring the world around them, and Earth Day offers a great way to introduce them to environmental science and engineering. The following sampler includes activities, lessons, and resources that promote green engineering and science learning.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs, Lesson Plans, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on Earth Day Resources

Tags: Class Activities, Curriculum, Earth Day, Energy, Engineering is Everywhere, Environmental Engineering, Environmental science, Green design, green roof, groundwater, Internet Resources, inventor, Lesson Plan, Lesson Plans, marine debris, NOAA, Ocean Cleanup, plastic, Pollution, Resources for Teachers, SENSE IT, Sustainability, Teacher Resources, Trash, vertical farming, Videos, waste, Web Resources, Wind Energy

Plant a tree. Calculate your carbon footprint. Organize a community cleanup. There are countless ways that individuals — including students and teachers — can celebrate Earth Day and have a positive impact on the planet all year. Check out these Earth Day events plus activities, energy challenges, teacher professional learning, and other ideas for making an environmental difference all year ’round,

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Filed under: Class Activities, For Teachers, Lesson Plans, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on STEAM Into Earth Day!

Tags: Class Activities, Earth Day 2022, Earth Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental science, Events, green energy, Internet Resources, NASA, Resources for Teachers, STEM education, Sustainability, Web Resources

Students in grades 3-5 brainstorm ideas for board game formats. They then work in teams to design, create, and test games in which players must think of alternative uses (recycling) for used products.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Design a Recycling Game

Tags: Class Activities, Curriculum, Engineering Design, Environmental Engineering, game, Grades K-5, Lesson Plan, Recycling, systainability

Celebrate Computer Science Education Week from December 6 to 12 with Hour of Code and other activities designed to inspire the next generation of innovators and programmers. This year’s theme, #CSisEverywhere, explores the impact of computer science on everything from the phones we use to our ability to fight disease and probe outer space.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on Computer Science Education Week 2021

Tags: computer science education week, computing, hour of code

Engage your STEM students while instilling foundational physics, math, and science principles and such professional skills as teamwork through these eGFI Teachers sports-focused design challenges.

Check out these eGFI Teacher activities and other resources designed to up your STEM game, no matter what .

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on STEM & Sports Resources

Tags: assistive technologies, athletes, baseball, bicycles, Bobsled, Chevron STEM Zone, egfi, engineering student athletes, Football, luge, Olympics, paralympics, Pitsco Education, ski lift, soccer, STEM and Sports, venues

Students in grades 3 to 5 learn about basic principles of engineering through a series of 12 hands-on activities and lessons related to the Olympics and sports, including designing venues and protective gear.

Photo by Rede do Esporte, CC BY 3.0 br, Link

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Intro to Engineering through the Olympics

Tags: Class Activities, Engineering Design Process, forces and motion, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Olympics, Sports