http://teachers.egfi-k12.org Blog about the growing role of engineering in K-12 education. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:21:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-dance-pad-mania/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-dance-pad-mania/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:29 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31958 In this lesson, pairs of students in grades 4 to 7 will learn about the engineering design process and electrical circuits by building a dance pad that sounds a buzzer or flashes a light when stepped on.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-dance-pad-mania/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/sound-booth-construction/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/sound-booth-construction/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:05 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31888 In this activity, students in grades 7-9 explore the sound-dampening capability of materials by designing and prototyping model sound booths. They learn about how sound is reflected and absorbed, and how it travels through various materials, providing an overview of sound dampening propagation in the context of engineering.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/sound-booth-construction/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/harmless-holder/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/harmless-holder/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:00:43 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31592 In this activity, teams of kids in grades 4-7 follow the engineering design process to invent a holder for six cans that's animal-safe, sturdy, convenient, and easy to carry. They learn why discarded plastic rings can be a problem for wildlife and brainstorm animal-friendly ways to package six cans. They then build, test, and redesign their system and discuss what happened.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/harmless-holder/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/bits-binary/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/bits-binary/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:00:22 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31764 In this activity, students in grades 4 - 12 will do math like a computer. They will learn the basics of binary number systems by writing and then counting on their hands, and use their knowledge to decode numbers and letters.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/bits-binary/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/can-do-canoe/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/can-do-canoe/#comments Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:00:44 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31539 In this activity, teams of students in grades 3-12 explore the engineering design process by building model canoes from everyday materials and testing their design in a basin. The canoes must be able to float for three minutes and, for older students, support a load. Students then evaluate the effectiveness of their canoes and those of other teams, and present their findings to the class.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/can-do-canoe/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/cookie-mining/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/cookie-mining/#comments Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:00:51 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31426 In this game, teams of students in grades 3 - 8 are introduced to the economics and environmental constraints of mining by extracting "ore" (chocolate chips) from purchased "property" (cookies). They will learn that mining requires investment before resources can be extracted, and that there are costs associated with permits, environmental monitoring, and reclamation.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/cookie-mining/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/that-captures-it/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/that-captures-it/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:00:38 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31355 In this activity, students in grades 5 - 7 learn how motion capture technology (mo-cap) enables computer animators to create realistic effects. They learn the importance of center of gravity in animation and how to use the concept in writing an action scene. ]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/that-captures-it/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-sailboat/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-sailboat/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:00:41 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=17913 In this lesson, students in grades 2 - 7 use simple materials to design and make model sailboats that must stay upright and sail straight in a testing tank. They will learn the basic components of a ship and how design represents a tradeoff between speed, stability, and ease of handling.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-sailboat/feed/ 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/marshmallow-design-challenge/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/marshmallow-design-challenge/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:30:39 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=31061 In this lesson, K-12 student teams have a limited period of time (18 minutes) to build the tallest free-standing spaghetti structure that can support a marshmallow. They learn how engineers collaborate to design, test, and improve on their ideas, as well as examine hidden assumptions that can derail the creative process and final product.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/marshmallow-design-challenge/feed/ 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/design-from-nature/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/design-from-nature/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000 mxl http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=30968 In this lesson, students in grades 6-8 discover how engineers can use biomimicry to enhance their designs. They learn how careful observation of nature -- in this case, reverse engineering a flower -- can lead to new innovations and products. ]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/design-from-nature/feed/ 0