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

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

In this open-ended design activity, students in grades 3 to 5 use everyday materials such as water bottles and straws to build small-scale transportation devices that incorporate two simple machines: a wheel and axle, and a lever. They race their vehicles, measuring distance, time and weight; and then calculate speed.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Wheeling It In

Tags: bicycle, Engineering Design Process, Geometry, levers, measurement, NGSS aligned activity, Physics, simple machines, transporation, vehicle

With schools closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, ASEE members and other engineering and technology educators are posting daily design challenges, hosting teacher meetups, and creating ways to engage students in STEM learning at home.

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

Tags: American Society for Engineering Education, Class Activities, COVID-19, Curriculum, digital libraries, distance education, home schooling, Internet Resources, Lesson Plans, remote instruction, Resources for Teachers, STEM education, Web Resources

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.

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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: buoyancy, Class Activities, Lesson Plan, Ocean, sailboat, wind power

Just as athletes “learn from the game,” the annual NCAA March Madness basketball competition offers students a timely, engaging way to hone their STEM knowledge and skills. eGFI has compiled some bracket-busting resources to pep up your math and science classes.

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

Tags: basketball, bracketOdds, Class Activities, Curriculum, Engineering, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, hoops, Internet Resources, Lesson Plans, March Madness, NCAA, Physics, Resources for Teachers, Sports, STEM education, Teacher Resources

Civil, chemical, and environmental engineers work together to develop new water treatment systems or to improve existing ones. In this activity, teams of students in grades 3-5 investigate different methods for removing pollutants from water, then design and build their own water filters from plastic bottles.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | 2 Comments »

Tags: Class Activities, drinking water, Environmental Engineering, Grades K-5, Lesson Plan, Pollution, teachengineering, water filter

Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other destructive events offer timely “teachable moments” about the role of engineers in improving weather forecasts and reducing the toll from natural disasters. eGFI Teachers’s collection of activities, feature articles, and other resources can help you integrate engineering into your classes – and inspire the next generation of “crisis” engineers.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Special Features | Comments Off on Disaster Engineering

Tags: Army Corps of Engineers, build, building, Class Activities, data, Disaster relief, drought, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, erosion, forces, hurricane, Hurricane Maria, measure, Mining, motion, National Guard, natural disasters, Physics, rescue, storm, Structural Engineering, Teacher Resources, Technology, tornado, Weather, Web Resources

Students in grades 3 to 8 study coastal erosion and the apply the engineering design process to devise structures and policies to protect shorelines, taking public concerns into account.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Save Our Shore!

Tags: beach, Civil Engineering, Class Activities, coastal engineering, Earth Science, Engineering Design Process, Environmental Engineering, erosion, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plan, Marine Science, sand