Give Me a Brake!
Posted on May 20th, 2014 by Mary Lord
In this activity, students in grades 3 to 6 learn about force and friction by examining how basic rim bicycle brakes work and discussing the advantages of various designs. They then use low cost materials to devise a simple braking system, suggest improvements to current bicycle brake designs, and present their recommended changes to the class.
Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Grades K-5 | Comments Off on Give Me a Brake!
Tags: bicycle, Class Activities, Design, Energy, Engineering Design, friction, gears, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plan, motions and forces
In this activity, students in grades 9-11 learn how engineers harness the energy of the wind by following the engineering design process to create and test two prototype wind turbines to see which works best. They also learn about where to place a wind turbine for maximum effectiveness, and to weigh the advantages and disadvantages compared with other energy sources.
In this delicious exercise, middle school students in teams of 3 to 5 learn about the field of industrial engineering by creating an assembly line to pack as many snack bags in 2 minutes as possible. They then see if they can improve their process.
In this quick, fun activity, pairs of students in grades 2 – 8 will learn about industrial engineering and measurement by estimating how many times a partner can complete a task in one minute, then checking the estimate against actual performance. Students then can discuss ways to improve their performance and try again.
Learn how to incorporate engineering into classroom lessons and at home in ASEE’s day-long workshop for educators and parents on April 26 at the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C.
Celebrate National Engineers Week 2014 by hosting or attending an event, introducing a girl to engineering, or nominating a STEM teacher for an award. DiscoverE also includes an online library of videos and hands-on activities to help raise awareness of how engineers make the world a healthier, safer place.
In this hands-on activity, student teams apply the engineering design process to create prototype toys with moving parts. They set up electric circuits using batteries, wire, and motors, and plan project materials to meet budget constraints.
Student teams in grades 6-8 reinforce their knowledge of the digestive system and explore the concepts of simulation and the engineering design process by developing a pill coating that can withstand the churning and acidic environment of the stomach. They test the coating’s durability using a clear soda to simulate gastric acid.
