In this lesson, students use modeling clay to make boats that float in a tub of water. The object is to build boats that hold as much weight as possible without sinking. In the process of designing and testing their prototype creations, students discover some of the basic principles of boat design, gain first-hand experience with concepts such as buoyancy and density, and experience the steps of the engineering design process.

Students will use the engineering design process to design their own cloud catchers based on the "harp collector" created by biologist Greg Goldsmith to study the low-lying clouds in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica.

Children love LEGOs! And knowing how to code is becoming more and more essential for the next generation of innovators, do-ers and leaders. Put LEGOs and coding together and you have the FIRST LEGO League Explore program, an innovative and engaging project that makes classroom learning popular and fun. We will demonstrate how to build and code with the LEGO WeDo 2.0 kit. In addition, we will learn more about how this kit is used in the FLL Explore program while walking-through the curriculum and the engineering notebook used by students in grades K-4. We will also share best practices for safe use of shared materials.

In this STEM activity, students are enabled to demonstrate, test, and analyze materials utilized in spacesuits to keep astronauts cool in the harsh environment of space. They will demonstrate the water cooling technology used in the International Space Station (ISS) Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Students will also test and make an analysis of the relationship between reflection/absorption and color.

This is a story about a potato…not any type of potato though. A potato who sits in the exact same spot on the couch every day using all of his devices (tv, phone, video games, etc). It’s a perfect life until the power goes out one day, and he has to find other things to do. He learns that he needs to have a balance between screen time and activities in the real world. Your job as an engineer is to design a gadget that will remind the potato when he needs to ditch the screens and get up and move. (You must incorporate your iPad.)

You are preparing your family’s emergency kits in case there is a need to leave your home quickly, or stay in your home without electricity or water. You need to be able to create an emergency supply kit that includes a lightweight water filtration device that is low cost. This will provide you with clean water regardless of your water source.

In this project, you will gain knowledge of natural disaster preparedness through the Red Cross Pillowcase project. You will research and experiment with the water cycle to learn how water is naturally filtered. You will then design and build a water filtration device that could filter water in an emergency situation.

After brainstorming a list of essential businesses and/or points of interest, each student will create a building from recycled cardboard. They will then decide a location to house the building in the city. There will also be waterways included.  Then in teams of 2-3 the students will use recycled materials to build a bridge to carry the ozobot through the city giving tours of important locations. The ozobot will need to be able to cross the bridge which will allow students to work through issues with force and motion.

Students will choose a landform to research. Using NC Wise Owl they will complete the Research form.They will use the information they learned to write an oral report as if they are a newscaster reporting from the landform.  They will record the report using Do Ink (Greenscreen app). Next they will create a diorama of the landform in a shoebox. Using the ipad, they will take a picture of the diorama and use Do Ink to make the greenscreen video.

Come and explore fun ways to teach students about flood walls and creating farms of the future. Students will expand their knowledge of the engineering design process and be introduced to scale modeling. We will also discuss how to bring farming into the classroom through guest speakers, professional development opportunities, and developing your own hydroponic garden.

Links to session resources:

https://static.sched.com/hosted_files/k5engineers2020/9e/3rd-5th%20Grade_Next%20Generation%20of%20Living%20on%20the%20Farm%20-%20Heather%20Russell.pdf

https://static.sched.com/hosted_files/k5engineers2020/88/K-2_Protecting%20our%20Farms_%20Crop%20Conservation%20Barrier%20-%20Heather%20Russell.pdf

Students will design a working trebuchet for maximum accuracy, distance and force using the engineering design process. Students will utilize the measurement formulas to calculate kinetic and potential energy and therefore create a trebuchet for a specific function (ex: hitting a target, knocking down a wall or launching for distance).

Students imagine they are scientists or engineers designing a new space probe to explore our solar system. They choose a planet, review its weather factors, and use a rubric to gather information, make a plan, modify and/or test their plan, and create their design.

In this STEM lesson, students use the NASA Future Flight Design Challenge activity and website to help them learn how NASA engineers develop and test experimental aircraft to solve a specific problem by using the engineering design process. Students will solve an engineering design challenge based on specific criterion and build and design four paper aircraft based on actual NASA experimental aircraft. They will conduct and test their models and gather data of the results based on the design process and a specific challenge. Lastly, students will evaluate the performance of each aircraft based on engineering requirements.

Learn how to build a digital breakout to enhance student's content knowledge, collaboration and critical thinking. Participate in a short digital breakout as a student and observe a think-aloud of creating a digital breakout. Spend time starting your own breakout and walk away with a plethora of resources!

Link to presentation slides:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TojQqF-3qBeDB17IJWI_PqyDRwQoA9nuc2fZ_qeiFhY/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_00

Students work together using their knowledge of grouping tens to create links of tens, combine and compare their links, then realize that if they combine all of their links this could create enough “snow” to build a snowman in the classroom!

This Super Lesson utilizes Project Based Learning to assist learners with designing, building, and testing flying contraptions as an introduction to Engineering. The goal of this project is to engage students in collaborative team work and to introduce students to the Science and Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, and Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions.

We have offered this Super Lesson as an 8-week elective course, developing and strengthening student interest in applied Math and Science topics. It could also be offered within upper elementary or middle school Science and Math courses. In addition, each week’s topic could be used as a stand alone mini-lesson if time is limited. We have worked to include multiple options within this unit to make it accessible to both general education and special education programs, including recommendations for modifications and extensions.

This project is a science based unit that incorporates using a makerspace. Students work together to research a local bird species and design and build a birdhouse to meet the specific needs of their species.

Take your YouTube videos and screen recordings to the next level with Edpuzzle. Edpuzzle allows teachers to add interactive elements to videos that will keep students engaged. Integrate your Edpuzzle videos into your LMS (Google Classroom, Canvas and others) to ensure that your students are watching those YouTube videos and screen recordings you put so much effort into.

Link to presentation slides:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qPx6dtOdBdlKcFcDUt71ocKlsl1hemQztZh4l0IQMfM/edit

In this STEM lesson, students will use a pattern to design and build a robotic rover with cardboard and a balloon. They will investigate the engineering challenges of wheels, speed, and friction while they examine the concept of a prototype in engineering. Students will demonstrate the use of potential and kinetic energy and explain ways the rover can be used in space travel and exploration.

Students will be inspired by James Cameron's historic DEEPSEA CHALLENGE dive to investigate pressure and use the engineering process to design, model, test, document, evaluate, and re-design a submersible vehicle.

A hospital is an integrated system of physicians, other hospitals, outpatient services, and more. Each element is connected and significant in providing an exceptional healthcare experience. Through a series of lessons, students will serve as members of the hospital team, utilizing the mission, vision and values of the healthcare system to solve a patient puzzle.