Students will be able to show their knowledge of the standard by creating various design challenges that show mastery of the standard. The goal of the unit is for students to learn the cycles and patterns of motion between Earth and the Sun, and how seasons result from these cycles and patterns. Students will demonstrate…
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Students will learn the 5th grade life science content through a real-world problem: How can a game be designed that simulates the survival of plant and animal populations in an ecosystem as it undergoes environmental changes? Some of the changes that might occur are the introduction of a new population (including invasive species), the removal…
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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…
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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…
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Teams of student engineers are challenged to design, build and test a prototype pirate ship design. The prototype ship is tested for its ability to float and to sail around obstacles in a baby pool while carrying a load consisting of a crew, food, and a retrieved hidden treasure. Students use force diagrams to communicate…
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In this unit, student design teams create a plan for an Eco Park that achieves multiple goals for their client, International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF). Students gain knowledge about the ecology of various ecosystems and explore both positive and negative ways in which humans impact the environment. They brainstorm solutions for reducing detrimental effects…
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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.…
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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…
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In this unit students will be engineering a systematic strategy for determining the volume of several rectangular prisms without actually being able to see them. Student groups will be given several boxes which contain different sized rectangular prisms. The lids of these boxes will have a coordinate grid which extends into all four quadrants. Each…
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Students will engineer a functional cafeteria floor plan when given the room’s area as well as specific stationary objects. The created floor plan will show both cafeteria functions (cashier, snack table, silverware station, trash, recycling, etc.) human traffic patterns which will be achieved with the tile patterning. Student engineers will work within a given budget…
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