How the Rubber Meets the Road
Posted on February 22nd, 2015 by Mary Lord
In this hands-on activity, teams of students in grades 3 to 12 learn how engineers design tire treads to increase safety and reliability, then follow the design process to construct, test, and evaluate treads sculpted from clay that will be safe when driving in heavy rain.
Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on How the Rubber Meets the Road
Tags: Automotive engineering, car, Class Activities, Engineering Design, Lesson Plan, safety, tire, Transportation, tread
Students learn about the importance of using the right materials for the job by building three different sand castles and testing them for strength and resistance to weathering. They then discuss how the buildings are different and what engineers need to think about when using rocks, soils, and minerals for construction.
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.
Ever walk through a store’s toy department and wonder: Who dreams up these action figures, games, and other fun stuff? Toy engineers do! They get to play for a living, designing and making new toys to engage or educate kids of all ages.
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.
In this first of eight activities, students in grades 6 – 8 learn about the engineering design process and earth science by beginning to design an underground cavern that can shelter people for one year after an asteroid strike makes Earth uninhabitable.
Looking for a way to make probability come to life in your multicultural math class or give students a hands-on feel for fundamental calculus concepts? The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for for Astrophysics has compiled an extensive digital video library designed to enhance the understanding and teaching of K-12 STEM that includes with activities, assessment tools, and case studies – all developed by teachers for use in their classrooms. The 1,017 films are searchable by strand, national or state content standards, and instructional criteria such as engaging students in real-world problems.
Like Curious George, children are naturally inquisitive and eager to learn by doing. To help kindergarten and first graders explore science and engineering, the PBS team that produces the Curious George series for TV and online has published a new family STEM activity booklet. 
Students in grades 1 to 6 follow the engineering design process to build and test a catapult that launches projectiles, such as marshmallow “pumpkins.” They then make changes to improve their launcher’s aim and distance it can hurl the projectile.
