The world is full of revolting stuff, like parasites that squirm out of people’s feet. But gross stuff also can fascinate and inspire kids to learn about science. And that’s the idea behind PBS’s new YouTube series, “Gross Science.”

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Web Resources | Comments Off on Gross (but Cool) Science

Tags: Biology, Gross Science Show, medicine, NOVA, PBS, Society for Science & the Public, STEM videos

What do the Trans-Alaska pipeline, Brooklyn Bridge, and aviatrix Amelia Earhart have in common? They’re all featured on a new, interactive map of America’s greatest engineering feats and engineering-education milestones developed by PBS’s American Experience with organizations like the American Society for Engineering Education.

U.S. Geological Survey/photo of trans-Alaskan pipeline by Dave Houseknecht

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Filed under: For Teachers, K-12 Outreach Programs, Special Features, Web Resources | Comments Off on Engineering Map of America

Tags: Amazing Engineering, American Experience, ASEE, bridges, Civil Engineering, Curriculum, documentary, Engineering Map of America, interactive map, Internet Resources, Museums, PBS, Resources for Teachers, Skyscrapers, STEM videos, Structural Engineering, Videos, Web Resources

To help teachers implement the engineering design components in the Next Generation Science Standards, public broadcaster WGBH and Engineering is Elementary have created a free, online media library drawn from Design Squad, NOVA ScienceNow, and other PBS series.

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Filed under: For Teachers, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, Web Resources | Comments Off on PBS Tools for Next Gen Science Instruction

Tags: Design Squad, digital library, Engineering is Elementary, Next Generation Science Standards, NOVA ScienceNow, PBS, WGBH

To mark the Year of the Solar System, NASA and PBS’s Design Squad Nation have teamed up to create a series of fun, space-based engineering challenges for children in grades 4 to 8.

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Filed under: Class Activities, For Teachers, Grades 6-8, Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs, Web Resources | Comments Off on Mission: Solar System

Tags: Aerospace Engineering, Class Activities, Design Squad, Grades 6-8, hands-on activities, Mars rover, NASA, PBS, Solar System, Space, STEM education, Teacher Resources, Web Resources

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.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Curious George, Engineer

Tags: Curious George, Engineering Design, family activity booklet, kindergarten, PBS, STEM education

In this lesson, students in grades 4-7 explore the engineering design process by building a table out of tubes of newspaper that is strong enough to hold a heavy book. They learn to brainstorm, test, evaluate, and redesign their tables to support more weight and figure out how to keep the table legs from buckling.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades K-5, Lesson Plans | Comments Off on Lesson: Design a Sturdy Paper Table

Tags: Building Design, Design, Design Squad, Engineering Design, Engineering Design Process, Lesson Plan, PBS, PBS programs, Videos

PBS has introduced an online course to strengthen elementary teachers’ STEM strategies. Called Inspire Elementary Students with Engineering, it was developed at Purdue University to provide an early foundation in engineering.

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Tags: Courses, Higher Education, Internet Resources, PBS, PBS programs, Programs for Teachers, Resources for Teachers, Teacher Resources, Web Resources

This online workshop was developed by NASA and PBS’s DESIGN SQUAD for educators and afterschool leaders who want to build skills and confidence in guiding students through engineering activities. Participants gain strategies for strengthening kids’ critical-thinking abilities and getting them excited about using the design process–the series of steps engineers use to arrive at solutions.

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Filed under: Web Resources | Comments Off on Online Workshop: Engineering Design Process

Tags: Design, Engineering Design Process, NASA, PBS, Web Resources

The PBS Design Squad Trash to Treasure Competition Challenge invites kids ages 5-19 to recycle, reuse, and re-engineer everyday materials into an out-of-the box invention. Three winners will come to Boston to see their designs built by Continuum, a design consultancy, and will appear on the Design Squad show and Website. 25 finalists will also be featured on the Website. Contest Deadline: September 5, 2010.

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Filed under: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, Grades K-5, K-12 Outreach Programs, Web Resources | Comments Off on Contest: Trash to Treasure, PBS Design Squad

Tags: Contest, Design Squad, PBS