| Strong-Arm Tactics |
Students generally do not know the complexity that goes into building and programming a robotic arm. In actuality, creating such an arm comes from a design that involves mechanical, electrical, and co...
... moreStudents generally do not know the complexity that goes into building and programming a robotic arm. In actuality, creating such an arm comes from a design that involves mechanical, electrical, and computer science engineers. This activity allows students to control a robotic arm from both a machine's and a computer science engineer's perspective by letting them perform a simple task with a few entertaining instructions and constraints.
...less |
7 (6-8) |
Colorado (1995):
 Science
S1000830 S100D7F5 S1014E28 S1015D9B |
50 minutes |
2 |
US$ 70.00 |
| Racing with the Sun - Creating a Solar Car |
Students use engineering design principles to construct and test a fully solar powered car. Several options exist, though we recommend the "Junior Solar Sprint" (JSS) Car Kits that can be purchased w...
... moreStudents use engineering design principles to construct and test a fully solar powered car. Several options exist, though we recommend the "Junior Solar Sprint" (JSS) Car Kits that can be purchased with direction from the federal government. Using the JSS kit from Solar World, students were provided with a photovoltaic panel that produces ~3V at ~3W. An optional accessory kit also available from Solar World includes wheels, axels and drive gears. A chassis must be built additionally. Balsa wood provides an excellent option though many others are available. The testing of the solar car culminates in a solar race between classmates.
...less |
6 (6-8) |
North Carolina (2004):
Science
S1028437 S1028499 S10284D2 S102851E S102851F S1028527 |
4 hours |
2 |
US$ 35.00 |
| I'm Not in Range |
In this role-playing activity, students learn how cellular phone service works, its advantages and its limitations. Students also learn about the advantages and limitations of satellite phone service....
... moreIn this role-playing activity, students learn how cellular phone service works, its advantages and its limitations. Students also learn about the advantages and limitations of satellite phone service. Phone communication involves many aspects of science, math and engineering, and this activity conveys to students how these technologies help people to stay better connected. Students use what they learn to understand what communication options might be available for Maya and her parents, Spacewoman Tess and Spaceman Rohan.
...less |
4 (3-5) |
Colorado (1995):
Science
S1002447 S100D7F5 S1014E28 S1015D9B
Math
S103C21C |
50 minutes |
30 |
US$ 30.00 |
| Hydraulic Arm Challenge |
Students will design and build a mechanical arm that lifts and moves an empty 12-ounce soda can using hydraulics for power. Small design teams (1-2 students) will design and build a single axis for us...
... moreStudents will design and build a mechanical arm that lifts and moves an empty 12-ounce soda can using hydraulics for power. Small design teams (1-2 students) will design and build a single axis for use in the completed mechanical arm. One team will design and build the grasping hand, one team the lifting arm, and the last team the rotation base. The three design groups must work to communicate effectively through written and verbal communication and sketches.
...less |
7 (6-8) |
Massachusetts (2001):
Science
S1009558 S1010C69 S1011180 S1012153 S101D432 |
3 hours |
2 |
US$ 30.00 |
| Electrocardiograph Building |
This activity will build upon the concepts taught in the lesson The Strongest Pump of All. The activity will pull together the concepts of bioelectricity, electrical circuits, and biology. It will all...
... moreThis activity will build upon the concepts taught in the lesson The Strongest Pump of All. The activity will pull together the concepts of bioelectricity, electrical circuits, and biology. It will allow the students the opportunity to use deductive and analytical thinking skills in connection with an engineering education. The students will be able to interact with a rudimentary Electrocardiograph circuit and examine the simplicity of the device. The students will be to visualize their own cardiac signal and test the device themselves. The second part of the activity will be a series of worksheets where the students examine different EKG printouts and look for irregularities. The irregularities will be connected to disease detection using EKG.
...less |
8 (8-9) |
NSES (1995):
Science
S1005356 S101E0C9 |
50 minutes |
4 |
US$ 25.00 |
| Forces and Graphing |
This activity can be used to explore forces acting on an object, to practice graphing experimental data, and/or to introduce the algebra concepts of slope and intercept of a line. A wooden 2x4 beam i...
... moreThis activity can be used to explore forces acting on an object, to practice graphing experimental data, and/or to introduce the algebra concepts of slope and intercept of a line. A wooden 2x4 beam is set on top of two scales. Students learn how to conduct an experiment by applying loads at different locations along the beam, recording the exact position of the applied load and the reaction forces measured by the scales at each end of the beam. In addition, students will analyze the experiment data with the use of a chart and a table and model linear equations to describe relationships between independent and dependent variables.
...less |
6 (6-8) |
|
45 minutes |
4 |
US$ 20.00 |
| Light Plants and Dark Plants, Wet Plants and Dry Ones |
Students plant sunflower seeds in plastic cups, and once germinated, these are exposed to different conditions of light levels and/or soil moisture contents. During exposure of the plants to these di...
... moreStudents plant sunflower seeds in plastic cups, and once germinated, these are exposed to different conditions of light levels and/or soil moisture contents. During exposure of the plants to these different conditions, students measure growth of the seedlings every few days using non-standard measurement (inch cubes). After a few weeks, they compare the growth of plants exposed to the different conditions, and make pictorial bar graphs that demonstrate these comparisons.
...less |
1 (1-3) |
North Carolina (2003):
Math
S100282C S1008E25 S100A7C4 S100C8F7 S100E7F0
Science
S1028343 S102834D |
4 hours |
1 |
US$ 20.00 |
| Lights On! |
Students in this activity will build simple circuits using a battery, wires, and light bulbs. This activity allows students to examine how electricity is conducted through a light bulb using a battery...
... moreStudents in this activity will build simple circuits using a battery, wires, and light bulbs. This activity allows students to examine how electricity is conducted through a light bulb using a battery as a power source. Students will also able to observe the differences between a series circuit and parallel circuit by building each type of circuit.
...less |
4 (3-5) |
North Carolina (2004):
Science
S10283CC S10283CF S10283D0 S10283D1 S10283D2 |
1 hour |
2 |
US$ 20.00 |
| AM I on the Radio? |
During this activity, students create a working radio by soldering circuit components supplied from an AM radio kit. Since this activity is carried out in conjunction with the associated lessons conc...
... moreDuring this activity, students create a working radio by soldering circuit components supplied from an AM radio kit. Since this activity is carried out in conjunction with the associated lessons concerning circuits and how an AM radio works, students should be able to identify each circuit component they are soldering, as well as how their placement causes the radio to work. Besides reinforcing concepts from the lessons, this activity will also teach students how to solder. Soldering is an activity that many engineers perform regularly; by teaching students how to solder, they are able to engage in a real engineering activity.
...less |
7 (7-9) |
North Carolina (2004):
Science
S1028556 |
4 hours |
3 |
US$ 20.00 |
| Washing Air |
Students observe and discuss a simple model of a wet scrubber to understand how this pollutant recovery method functions in cleaning industrial air pollution. |
5 (4-6) |
Colorado (1995):
Science
S100D7F5 S100F4B7 S1015D9B
Math
S103C246 |
20 minutes |
28 |
US$ 15.00 |
