What shapes do animals use to build their shelters? Where do they build their shelters? In this activity, you will design a shelter to keep your stuffed animal safe and cozy using newspaper dowels. Have fun creating and innovating with this engineering design challenge.
LEGO® robotics uses LEGO®s as a fun tool to explore robotics, mechanical systems, electronics, and programming. This seminar is primarily a lab experience which provides students with resources to design, build, and program functional robots constructed from LEGO®s and a few other parts such as motors and sensors.
Download this librarian’s guide to see how to implement Paper Circuits activities in your library. This guide includes a list of what you’ll need, tips for choosing a theme, ideas to run a library activity, and a DIY guide for students. You will also need the "Looming Code Level Cards" also available in eMedia.
Download these premade Looming Code Level Cards to help you run an effective Looming Code activity in your library or classroom. Be sure to also search for the "Looming Code: A librarian's guide" resource in eMedia to support your use of these cards.
Download this librarian’s guide to see how to implement Makey Makey activities in your library. This guide includes a list of what you’ll need, tips for choosing a theme, ideas to run a library activity, and a DIY guide for students
This course introduces the fundamentals of machine tool and computer tool use. Students work with a variety of machine tools including the bandsaw, milling machine, and lathe. Instruction given on MATLAB®, MAPLE®, XESS™, and CAD. Emphasis is on problem solving, not programming or algorithmic development.
As students are learning about substances, mixtures, and solutions, they will participate in several experiments that involve chemical reactions using regular household products. Some experiments will produce gas or create something that will grow. Students will work in groups of 2-3 students to make a car move using the result of a chemical reaction from combining two or more household substances. They will present their project to the class.
A collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the CK-12 Foundation, this book provides high school mathematics and physics teachers with an introduction to the main principles of modeling and simulation used in science and engineering. An appendix of lesson plans is included.
In this Night Sky Activity, students use a simple indoor Earth-Moon-Sun model to explore and learn about Moon phases and eclipses. Many children (and adults) have misconceptions about what causes the phases of the Moon, and helping them confront those misconceptions with evidence makes this activity pretty enthralling. While it’s pretty easy to see the phases of the Moon in the sky, it’s not possible from our perspective to observe the entire system, which often leads to inaccurate explanations of what’s going on, most commonly that Moon phases are caused by Earth’s shadow. It’s a perfect situation to use a scientific model. Students are challenged to use the model to struggle to figure out, develop understanding of, and explain the phases of the Moon, discuss ideas with others, then adjust their ideas based on evidence from the model. This activity usually includes a lot of big, “aha’s!” as participants encounter evidence while using the model that often contradicts what they previously thought was going on.
The focus of this unit is to introduce the concepts of force and motion. Specifically this unit will address the forces of push, pull, gravity, and work. It also introduces students to the concepts of friction and slope. The unit begins with an introduction to the scientific method and addresses the differences between scientists and engineers. Students will be both scientists and engineers while completing this unit.
Students work to build a dam that protects Salmon (fish) on the McKenzie River while creating hydroelectric power.
See how the equation form of Ohm's law relates to a simple circuit. Adjust the voltage and resistance, and see the current change according to Ohm's law. The sizes of the symbols in the equation change to match the circuit diagram.
Download this librarian’s guide to see how to implement Osmo activities in your library. This guide includes a list of what you’ll need, tips for choosing a theme, and ideas to run a library activity.
Download this librarian’s guide to see how to implement Paper Circuits activities in your library. This guide includes a list of what you’ll need, tips for choosing a theme, ideas to run a library activity, and a DIY guide for students
Second part to the C2 Superlesson for ROV's from Kim Stokes and Ben Wells, Siuslaw Elementary School.
In this document, we offer suggestions for developing and maintaining engagement agreements that promote safe student-driven learning experiences in remote learning environments. Remote learning environments might be synchronous experiences enhanced by technology that allows educators and learners to see and talk with each other, asynchronous communications that may or may not be aided by technology, or somewhere in between. When technology is used in remote learning, there will be variation in the skill and comfort level among teachers and students. Whatever approach you use for digital technology, be aware of your district and school policies in selecting tools to use.
After conducting an assessment that showed their buildings vulnerability to wind damage, the Nicklaus Childrens Hospital in Miami looked for a way to improve safety for patients and staff.
Last year the Siuslaw 97J School District changed our food service operation from a national supplier (Chartwell’s) to in-house food service. Our Food Service Manager instituted an organic philosophy and wanted to source local produce. Utilizing our school garden program we now help supply fresh produce for our Siuslaw Elementary School cafeteria. Crop production is stronger in the 4/5 wing because of wind protection from the building. Florence experiences high winds and we are located close to the beach so we have constant sand blowing into our crops. The K-3 garden beds do not have the same protection as the 4/5 beds, and as a result have a lower yield. Our goal is to have students design and engineer wind barriers for these beds and then present the best solutions to our school board so that we can get funding to implement our ideas. This project can be used in any school with a garden by using preexisting barriers on a the school property. The unique environment of the school would dictate the lessons required to be adapted to fit the environmental needs of the community. If the school is lacking a garden, the students can focus on an at home garden project.
Download this librarian’s guide to see how to implement Scratch activities in your library. This guide includes a list of what you’ll need, tips for choosing a theme, and ideas to run a library activity.
At the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, this engineering professor and her team demonstrate that science or engineering lessons can be found in almost anything -- and a sense of play can make those lessons accessible and incite young minds.