In this lesson students investigate how the distance of stretch in a rubber band at rest relates to the distance the rubber band travels after being released. Students will be pulling rubber bands back to five different stretch lengths. They will then measure how far the rubber bands fly when released from the different stretch lengths and then record the results down in a data table.

Students are divided into teams that will collaborate to decide a theme for a machine, determine a task for the machine to complete, create a machine, and are given three trials for the machine to run meeting the specifications outlined on the rubric.

In this STEM lesson, student pairs design, build and test model vehicles out of different kinds of pasta capable of rolling down a ramp and then coasting as freely as far as possible. Students become familiar with the concepts of gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and rolling resistance. Teams follow the steps of the engineering design process as they design, test, and redesign their vehicles, working within the project's materials constraints.

Students compare how fast water passes through a flow meter when the slope changes. Students will be able to conclude that more work (mechanical energy) can be created with a steeper slope because an increase in slope will equal an increase in flow rate and force.

Students will assemble a water wheel and explore how variables such as the amount, rate, and direction of water flow can influence the amount of work done. The model they build will convert the force of falling water from potential energy to mechanical energy.

Within the physical science strand of 7th grade science, students focus on the motion of objects. In this task, students will act as engineers as they research, design, and construct competition wacky hall walkers. The inquiry nature of this project allows students to build meaningful connections while promoting 21st Century Skills. This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.