As classes wind down (or up!) for the holidays, here’s a fun activity to get students thinking about engineering. It a game families can enjoy, too. Print and distribute copies of this pdf puzzler, then see how many words students can locate within 10-15 minutes.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5 | Comments Off on Engineering Word Search, Grades 3-5

Tags: Class Activities, Fun & Games, Grades 3-5

The Contemporary Physics Education Project (CPEP) Website features material illustrating current understanding of the fundamental nature of matter and energy. Four detailed posters are on display, as well as additional information, links, activity worksheets, quizzes, and other material.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Website: Physics Charts, Nuclear Science

Tags: Class Activities, Cosmos, Grades 9-12, Nuclear Science, Physics, Website

As classes wind down (or up!) for the holidays, here’s a fun activity to get students thinking about engineering. It a game families can enjoy, too. Print and distribute copies of this pdf puzzler, directing students to locate as many words as possible.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12 | Comments Off on Engineering Word Search

Tags: Class Activities, Fun & Games, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5

What does a load-bearing wall have to do with holiday treats? Plenty, when the wall is holding up the roof of a gingerbread house. This combination recipe and building activity introduces kids to some of the fundamentals of engineering design and construction, including strength of materials, weight, stress and adhesives.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | 1 Comment »

Tags: Architectural, Class Activities, festive

The Florida Solar Energy Center, a research arm of the University of Central Florida, has developed downloadable sets of curriculum materials for K-12 teachers and schools on alternative energy sources, including solar, photovoltaics, hydrogen, and fuel cells. The Website lists descriptions of these curriculum materials, links to web sites, and information on each unit. Care has been taken to insure that the proper state standards that apply have been maintained.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Curriculum: Solar, Alternative Energy

Tags: Alternative Energy, Class Activities, Curriculum, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans, Solar Engineering

The PBS Design Squad website, which supports the popular t.v. show of the same name, features 15 cool activities, some of which we’ve featured on this EGFI teachers’ site. From an extreme kicking machine to a ping-pong ball launcher, these challenges will unleash your students’ ingenuity and get them thinking like engineers. Designed for 9-12 year olds, each activity has step-by-step instructions and age-appropriate explanations of the main idea.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Website: Build It With PBS!

Tags: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Television show, Website

In this single-session activity, students in grades 1-5 participate in a hands-on science investigation of electricity. They learn through discovery about how electricity works. Students’ natural curiosity and sense of exploration enable them to explore and learn on their own with minimal input from the teacher.

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Filed under: Class Activities, Grades K-5 | 1 Comment »

Tags: Class Activities, Electrical, Grades K-5

An on-line exhibit on DNA for middle and high school students, with background information, activities, a Webquest, and a downloadable exhibition guide and student worksheets on DNA-related issues, including forensics, crops, and infectious diseases.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Online Exhibit: DNA at Work

Tags: Agricultural, Class Activities, Disease, Forensics, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Museums, Webquest, Worksheets

In this design challenge for grades 6 to 8, students will harness the power of the sun to design, construct and evaluate a solar-powered modelcar of their creation. Students will utilize the design process and undergo review by their peers to select an optimal gear ratio and components for their car. As a culminating activity, students compete in a “Solar Sprint” race modeled after the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Junior Solar Sprint competition.

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

Tags: Cars, Class Activities, Competitions for Students, Grades 6-8, renewable energy, Solar Engineering