As Beethoven once said, “Music can change the world.” In this unit, student design teams use the Engineering Design Process to design a musical instrument that can play Hot Cross Buns. This instrument and its associated design are made with the intent of providing access to music for underprivileged children in diverse areas of the […]
Students participate in hands-on inquiry-based centers and guided activities to increase knowledge of shadows and light. Students explore and manipulate light, using a light source to simulate the sun at various times of day and observe shadows, create and measure shadows, and test how various types of media block light. Students explore the shadows created […]
As we proceed into the future, space exploration is becoming an essential part of our own growth as humans. Space exploration requires innovative, creative, adaptable people to develop the technology necessary for these grand endeavors into new environments. Specifically, the first settlers on Mars will have to use technology developed on Earth in order to […]
In most car accidents, the bumper is the first point of impact and defense. The better the bumper is designed, the less possibility for damage and injury. Impact barriers, such as the barrels you see at a highway exit or the barriers separating oncoming traffic, are also important for limiting vehicle damage or human injuries. […]
In this unit, students explore the ways to dampen, mask, or stop a sound wave from propagating into a system (or material) and the surrounding environment. Students research and explore how sound waves are propagated and transmitted through various media. In the engineering design challenge, students will use their acquired knowledge to construct a portable, […]
Students conduct scientific investigations and use the engineering design process to solve a problem related to an adaptation of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The scientific investigations engage students in gaining knowledge about light and sound, materials, data collection and analysis, and human performance. Students create and test their own safety vest for […]
Students will use the Engineering Design Process to develop experiments to test various colors, the behavior of light, and different materials to see how these materials affect the speed of the solar car. Students will adapt a basic solar-powered vehicle in order to control the car’s speed. Students will work in Engineering Design Teams to […]
In this unit, students will compare the structural integrity of various shapes and materials in designing a temporary shelter. When weather turns extreme, homeless shelters can exceed capacity. In an effort to best prepare homeless shelters to support community homeless needs, students will be tasked to design a temporary structure for a single user. Design […]
Visitors to schools in underdeveloped countries have found that students suffer from a lack of technology. Some students do not even have access to a flat surface on which to write. Service groups and industries in the United States, have shown interest in providing learning materials for students of such schools. When groups ship materials overseas, […]
Student teams utilize the engineering process to build an eco-friendly, cost-effective packaging prototype for shipping products. In order to effectively complete the design challenge, students research recyclable packaging options for diminishing the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill. Teams follow the engineering design process to design a prototype, and utilize a Decision Analysis […]
