Reinvention: From Rubbish to Recyclable Humans create more garbage than is recycled or reused. As a result, landfills are growing in size and number worldwide, many of which are approaching capacity. This presents a significant risk to Earth’s environment as we know it. Though recycling infrastructure and participation have grown around the world, there is…
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Next Generation Super Hero Student teams are challenged to genetically alter a Superhero so that the Superhero is able to conquer a major disaster facing the nation. In order to effectively overcome the disaster, students will acquire knowledge of the disaster and the skills needed to be successful. Then, student groups will be provided with…
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Droppin’ the Beat 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…
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Universal Cell Phone Sound Amplifier Student teams are challenged to create an energy-free speaker system for any hand-held device. In order to effectively complete the design challenge, students will explore the wave behaviors and transfer of energy in a sound wave. Students will also analyze the volume of the device and the speaker system as…
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Battery Design Challenge Batteries are important form of technology for society. Batteries serve as a stored energy source. You can quickly think of multiple instances in where you are dependent on a battery (some examples are: car (electric started), calculator, iPod, hand held video game, smoke detector, or key fob). For engineers at the Air…
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Using Nanoparticles to Deliver Targeted Chemotherapy Drugs Cancer is a part of our daily lives. The treatment for most cancer patients is usually achieved through aggressive chemotherapy. Unfortunately this treatment has major side effects as it destroys not only the cancer cells but also the non-cancerous cells around it. Is there a method of treating…
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Bending Light to Communicate Lasers can be used for many purposes such as targeting and communication. Light is refracted (“bent”) as it travels from one medium to another. This can be demonstrated by a straw appearing to be “bent” when placed into a glass of water. Throughout this inquiry STEM lesson, student will have students…
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Electric Vehicle: Body Design This lesson is designed to be done independently, consecutively, or concurrently with the Rolling Resistance, Transmission, Electric Power Source, and Electric Motor Lessons for the Electric Vehicle (EV) Unit. Power efficiency is the goal of all good environmentally conscious designs. As you will see throughout the EV unit, there are many…
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Security Alert Teams of students are presented with a scenario in which they are employees at a local museum. Each team member assumes a different job within the museum and completes research based on that role. Teams are tasked to boost museum attendance at their museum by acquiring an exhibition from the Smithsonian SITES program.…
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This activity will explore heat transfer and temperature conversion. Students will conduct Internet based inquiries on conduction, convection, and radiation to understand a thermal sensor lab. Use of the data collected from this lab will be implemented in the investigation, design, and testing of solar cooker. Through a provided scenario students employ their knowledge to…
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