| Biomimicry: Natural Designs |
Students learn about biomimicry and how engineers often imitate nature in the design of innovative new products. They demonstrate their knowledge of biomimicry by practicing brainstorming and designing a new product based on what they know about animals and nature. |
5 (3-6) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S1000830 S100D2A0 S100D7F5 S1012041 |
50 minutes |
2 |
US$ 0.00 |
| Blackout! |
Students read news reports and first-person accounts to imagine what it would be like to be in a blackout in a large city. They follow news reports as if the event were unfolding in real-time and keep... ... moreStudents read news reports and first-person accounts to imagine what it would be like to be in a blackout in a large city. They follow news reports as if the event were unfolding in real-time and keep weblogs or journals of their experience as they imagine it, taking on different roles of people who live in the city or commute there to work. They use their journal accounts to create a play or screenplay that depicts what the August 2003 blackout was like for the people in the U.S. and Canada who experienced it. Although this activity is geared towards fifth-grade and older students and Internet research capabilities are required, it could be easily adapted for younger students. ...less |
6 (5-8) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S100D7F5 S1022DDF |
100 minutes |
1 |
US$ 0.00 |
| Blood Cell Basics |
Students will make a proportional model of blood out of red gelatin, a plastic bag, and rice. They will learn about the different components that make up blood and will investigate what happens when t... ... moreStudents will make a proportional model of blood out of red gelatin, a plastic bag, and rice. They will learn about the different components that make up blood and will investigate what happens when the arteries and veins experience buildup from cholesterol. They will then work in pairs to brainstorm ways to clean our clogged arteries. ...less |
4 (3-5) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S100D7F5 S100E763 S1015D9B
Math S103C21C S103C242 S103C27F |
50 minutes |
2 |
US$ 1.00 |
| Blow-and-Go Parachute |
Students make a skydiver and parachute contraption to demonstrate how drag caused by air resistance slows the descent of skydivers as they travel back to Earth. Gravity pulls the skydiver toward the E... ... moreStudents make a skydiver and parachute contraption to demonstrate how drag caused by air resistance slows the descent of skydivers as they travel back to Earth. Gravity pulls the skydiver toward the Earth, while the air trapped by the parachute provides an upward resisting force (drag) on the skydiver. ...less |
6 (5-7) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S1002447 S10069B9 S100D7F5 S1012041 S1022DDF
Math S103C221 S103C25E S103C272 |
45 minutes |
2 |
US$ 1.00 |
| Bombs Away! |
Students will design and build a device to protect and accurately deliver a dropped egg. The device and its contents represent a care package that must be safely delivered to people in a disaster are... ... moreStudents will design and build a device to protect and accurately deliver a dropped egg. The device and its contents represent a care package that must be safely delivered to people in a disaster area with no road access. In a similar fashion to a team of design engineers, students will design their devices using a number of design constraints including limited supplies. The activity emphasizes the change from potential energy to kinetic energy of the device and its contents and the energy transfer that occurs on impact. Students will enjoy this activity and attain deeper understanding of mechanical energy. ...less |
6 (4-8) |
North Carolina (2003):
Math S100F71A
Science S1028407 S1028408 S102840B S102840F S102842D S1028435 S1028437 S1028491 S1028499 S10284C4 S10284C9 S10284D0 S10284D2 S102851E S1028520 S1028527 S1028546 S102854D S1028554 S1028556 |
2 hours |
2 |
US$ 4.00 |
| Bouncing Balls |
Students examine how different balls react when colliding with different surfaces, giving plenty of opportunity for them to see the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions, learn how to calculate momentum, and understand the principle of conservation of momentum. |
7 (6-8) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S1002447 S10069B9 S100D7F5 S1012041 S1022DDF
Math S103C221 S103C230 S103C246 S103C285 |
45 minutes |
3 |
US$ 5.00 |
| Bouncing Balls (for High School) |
In this activity, students examine how different balls react when colliding with different surfaces. Also, they will have plenty of opportunity to learn how to calculate momentum and understand the principle of conservation of momentum. |
10 (9-11) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S1002447 S10069B9 S100D7F5 S1012041 S1022DDF
Math S103C227 S103C235 S103C24D S103C289 |
45 minutes |
3 |
US$ 5.00 |
| The Boxes Go Mobile |
To display the results from the previous activity, each student designs and constructs a mobile that contains a duplicate of his or her original box, the new cube-shaped box of the same volume, the sc... ... moreTo display the results from the previous activity, each student designs and constructs a mobile that contains a duplicate of his or her original box, the new cube-shaped box of the same volume, the scraps that are left over from the original box, and pertinent calculations of the volumes and surface areas involved. ...less |
7 (6-8) |
North Carolina (2004):
Science S102851E |
1 hour |
1 |
US$ 0.20 |
| Break the Tension |
Students learn about and experiment with the concept of surface tension. How can a paper clip "float" on top of water? How can a paper boat be powered by soap in water? How do water striders "walk" on... ... moreStudents learn about and experiment with the concept of surface tension. How can a paper clip "float" on top of water? How can a paper boat be powered by soap in water? How do water striders "walk" on top of water? Why do engineers care about surface tension? Students answer these questions as they investigate surface tension and surfactants. ...less |
4 (3-5) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S1002447 S100351E S100D7F5 S1012041 S1015D9B |
50 minutes |
3 |
US$ 0.25 |
| Breaking Beams |
Students learn about stress and strain by designing and building beams using polymer clay. They compete to find the best beam strength to beam weight ratio, and learn about the trade-offs engineers make when designing a structure. |
6 (5-7) |
Colorado (1995):
Science S1002447 S10069B9 S100D7F5 S1012041 S1015D9B
Math S103C25E S103C272 S103C285 |
45 minutes |
2 |
US$ 2.00 |