In this lesson combining math, engineering, and history, students in grades 6-12 learn about the ancient calendar system used by the Maya of Central America. Students construct a simple model of a calendar round, learning about prime numbers and the mechanics of these ancient devices.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Lesson Plans | 1 Comment »

Tags: Astronomy, Engineering in History, Grades 6-12, History, Mathematics

Student in grades 4 – 8 are introduced to biomedical engineering and the technology of prosthetics. As they create a model prosthetic lower leg, testing its strength and considering pros and cons, they learn about issues and materials that biomedical engineers consider in designing artificial limbs.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Lesson: Build a Prosthetic Device

Tags: Biomedical Engineering, Grades 4-9, Prosthetics

Students in grades 4-8 build simple circuits using a battery, wires, and light bulbs. They examine how electricity is conducted through a light bulb using a battery as a power source, and learn the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Lesson: Holiday Lights and Circuits

Tags: Electrical Engineering, Grades 4-9

In this lesson, students in grades 4-12 learn about the history of catapults and how they work. They assemble their own catapult model, making adjustments to improve its performance. Students gain engineering experience while learning principles of physics and working with the scientific processes of experimentation and trial and error.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Lesson: Build a Catapult

Tags: catapult, Class Activities, Engineering in History, forces and motion, Grades 5-12, Grades 6-8, Lesson Plan, Mathematics, Newton's Laws, Physical Science

This lesson teaches students in grades 5-8 about projectile motion through a hands-on activity, an online video from “Science of NFL Football,” and a computer simulation project.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | 2 Comments »

Tags: Class Activities, Football, forces and motion, grades 5-8, Grades 6-8, Internet Resources, NFL Football Lesson, Physics, Science, Sports Engineering, trajectory, vectors

This lesson introduces students in grades 5-8 to the concept of torque through a short NBC Learn video on the science of the NFL, demonstrations, and a lab activity. Students learn how to calculate torque and determine how it is used in simple machines, everyday life, and in sports.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | 4 Comments »

Tags: Football, grades 5-8, NFL Football Lesson, Sports Engineering

Students in grades 6-12 are challenged to build a drinking straw tower that can withstand simulated earthquake vibrations and increasing weight and pressure. Doing so, they learn basic principles of design and earthquake engineering while practicing team skills.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades 9-12, Lesson Plans | 8 Comments »

Tags: Building Design, Civil Engineering, Class Activities, Engineering Design Process, Lesson Plans, Safety engineering

Students in grades 4-12 apply the engineering design process to a real-life problem that affects them at school. The class selects a single problem then comes up with and tests a design solution. Students gain hands-on experience with engineering problem-solving.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Lesson: Problem-solve Your School

Tags: Engineering Design Process, Grades 4-12, Lesson Plan, Problem Solving

Thinking like safety engineers, students in grades 11 and 12 examine the potential risks associated with magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. They gather information by brainstorming, writing in journals, and viewing a video, and then produce a final presentation that concisely summarizes MRI technology and safety precautions.

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Filed under: Grades 9-12, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Lesson: MRI Safety Challenge

Tags: Biomedical Engineering, Grades 11-12, Safety engineering