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/lesson-sand-and-water/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-sand-and-water/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:00:03 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=18960 If you're fortunate enough to live near a beach or sandy banks or dunes, this sand-castle construction lesson from the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve will both instruct and entertain, helping your students understand the cohesive force of water tension and the adhesive force of capillary action.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-sand-and-water/feed/ 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-the-works/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-the-works/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:00:17 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=17908 This simple lesson from The Works Museum in Minnesota consists of two activities that introduce elementary school students to the engineering design process. Students first work through a chart detailing the steps of the design process and then use the steps to consider ways to solve one of three problems: rescuing a trapped kitten, devising a way to water plants while on vacation, and rigging up a remote light switch.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-the-works/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-plan-oil-spill-solutions/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-plan-oil-spill-solutions/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 10:00:20 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=16013 In this lesson, students in grades 3-12 work in teams to analyze an "oil spill" in the classroom, then design, build, and test a system to first contain, and then remove the oil from the water. Students select from everyday items to build their oil containment and clean-up systems, evaluate the effectiveness of their solution and those of other teams, and present their findings to the class.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-plan-oil-spill-solutions/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-plasma-globes-and-electricity/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-plasma-globes-and-electricity/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 10:00:26 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=16089 Using a plasma ball or lightning globe, students in grades 3-5 test various objects to see if they pull the electric current generated by the globe to them. Students then explore how the globe excited electrons inside the fluorescent bulbs to make them light.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-plasma-globes-and-electricity/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-trash-talkin/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-trash-talkin/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:00:15 +0000 jxs http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=15403 In this activity, students in grades 3-5 collect, categorize, weigh and analyze classroom solid waste. The class collects waste for a week, and then student groups spend a day sorting and analyzing the garbage with respect to recyclable and non-recyclable items. Students will discuss ways that engineers have helped to reduce solid waste.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-trash-talkin/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-the-luge/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-the-luge/#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:00:26 +0000 jxs http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=9691 Students build a simulated luge track and make predictions about the impact of surface type, wind resistance, size of slope, and shape of luge on their track; test their predictions by conducting several simulated luge runs; and make conclusions about the effects of physical forces on the sport of luging.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-the-luge/feed/ 4 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-shapes-of-africa/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-shapes-of-africa/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:17:12 +0000 jxs http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=9109 In this lesson plan, students learn how to find shapes in their world. With the help of the children's book A Triangle for Adaora by Ifeoma Onyefulu, which shares the experience of a young Nigerian girl as she looks for a triangle around her, students learn the basic shapes, then go looking for them in magazines. They then present their findings to the class as shape researchers. This lesson also incorporates cultural learning.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-shapes-of-africa/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-save-our-city/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-save-our-city/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:05 +0000 jxs http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=9028 Students learn about various natural hazards and specific methods engineers use to prevent these hazards from becoming natural disasters. They study a hypothetical map of an area covered with natural hazards and decide where to place natural disaster prevention devices by applying their critical thinking skills and an understanding of the causes of natural disasters.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-save-our-city/feed/ 1 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/the-energy-of-decay/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/the-energy-of-decay/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:07 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=4935 In this lesson, students in grades K-5 learn how decaying organic matter can be harvested as a source of energy. After brainstorming as to how old metal, plastic, and paper can be a resource, students find uses for an old piece of fruit. They view an informative video on harvesting organic material for energy. Once their their investigation is complete, students observe conditions that promote the most rapid decay of a piece of fruit.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/the-energy-of-decay/feed/ 0 http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/break-it-down-reverse-engineering/ http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/break-it-down-reverse-engineering/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:35:49 +0000 ASEE http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/?p=4492 In this lesson for grades 5-8, students learn how the process of reverse engineering helps improve technology. Students analyze the mechanisms of a push-toy then disassemble it and draw its inner mechanisms. They then make suggestions for improvements: effectiveness, improved functionality, ecological friendliness, and any additional functionality. Time required: 90 minutes.]]> http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/break-it-down-reverse-engineering/feed/ 0