Lessons

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  Build a Better Pencil

  K-2  |  Hands-On
  This investigation uses a pencil to introduce the idea of planning and evaluating designs.
• 

  Farming 1: Farm Machines

  K-2  |  Hands-On
  This lesson is the first of a two-part series on how machines help people grow, package, transport, and store food.
• 

  Putting It All Together

  K-2  |  Hands-On
  This lesson is devised to enable students to create, design, and evaluate different structures.
• 

  Buoyant Boats

  3-5  |  Hands-On
  In this lesson, students will design and construct a boat that takes into account buoyancy, materials, and design constraints.
• 

  Engineering Solutions

  3-5  |  Hands-On
  In this lesson, students explore the side effects of technology by designing, implementing, and evaluating solutions related to the problem of waste disposal.
• 

  Power Up!

  3-5  |  Interactive
  In this lesson, students compare and contrast different energy sources and the trade-offs of using them.
• 

  Systems 2: Systems, Up, Up and Away!

  3-5  
  This lesson is designed to allow students to explore how changing parts or amounts will impact the properties of a system.
• 

  Systems 1: Simple Machines

  3-5  
  In this lesson, students take a closer look at a variety of simple hardware devices.
• 

  Building a Water Clock

  6-8  |  Hands-On
  In this lesson, students get to build a feedback-controlled system (a water clock) and research ways to improve the system design.
• 

  Chemical Engineers and the Things They Do

  6-8  
  In this lesson, students explore the field of chemical engineering and identify the contributions of chemical engineers to society.
• 

  Leonardo's Machines

  6-8  
  This lesson will highlight some of Leonardo's futuristic inventions, introducing the elements of machines.
• 

  Make a Mission

  6-8  |  Interactive
  The focus of the lesson is technology, not only how it allows humans to collect scientific data and information on a faraway terrestrial planet, but also the constraints involved in designing the spacecraft to carry this technology.
• 

  Ships 2: What Floats Your Boat?

  6-8  
  This lesson teaches students about load lines and cargo.
• 

  Chemistry of Petroleum 3: Distillation of Hydrocarbons

  9-12  |  Video
  In this lesson, students learn how hydrocarbons in crude oil are distilled and treated in the refinery process to produce useful materials.
• 

  Rocket Launch

  9-12  |  Hands-On
  In this lesson, students will explore design considerations of model rockets.

Tools

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  Discover E/K-12

  K-12  |  Hands-On
  Discover E/K-12 is a way for engineers to help you discover the exciting worlds of engineering and technology.
• 

  Invention at Play

  K-5  |  Interactive
  This site challenges you to explore, question, invent, and collaborate to make your own discoveries.
• 

  Break It Down

  3-8  |  Interactive
  This resource is an interactive in which you need to manipulate a system made up of ramps, switches, and gears to roll marbles through the system to eventually hit a lever on a flagpole.
• 

  Discover Engineering

  3-8  |  Website
  This engaging website is designed to introduce students to engineering.
• 

  Integrated Design Engineering Activity Series (IDEAS)

  6-8  |  Website
  This resource provides low-cost, hands-on engineering projects for use in middle-school math, science, and technology classes.
• 

  Destroy the Castle

  3-12  |  Interactive
  Have fun thinking about physics while doing this online interactive. The goal of this activity is to adjust a trebuchet, one of the most devastating weapons of the Middle Ages, in order to crush a castle wall.
• 

  Try Engineering

    |  Website
  Try Engineering is a portal for engineering information, lessons, activities, and careers for students, parents, teachers, and school counselors.
• 

  Roadmaps and Rampways

  6-12  |  Website
  This book profiles young people who have overcome disabilities to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• 

  The Secret Life of Scientists & Engineers

  6-12  |  Video
  From the makers of NOVA, every two weeks, Secret Life premieres another set of videos about a new scientist or engineer, who happens to have a secret.

Science Updates

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  Brain to Brain Interface

  6-12  |  Audio
  This Science Update examines how scientists have successfully transmitted information from one brain to another.
• 

  Gecko Feet

  6-12  |  Audio
  This Science Update explains how scientists are trying to create artificial microfibers that act like gecko feet.
• 

  Resilient Robots

  6-12  |  Audio
  In this Science Update, learn why scientists have taught a robot to limp—and why that's actually a big step forward.
• 

  Stonehenge Engineering

  6-12  |  Audio
  A new hypothesis explaining how prehistoric people transported the huge slabs of rock to create Stonehenge.
• 

  Fuel-Saving Speed

  6-12  |  Audio
  This Science Update discusses the best speed for fuel efficiency.
• 

  Ultra-White Beetle

  6-12  |  Audio
  In this Science Update, studying a ghostly beetle could help engineers create brilliantly white materials.
• 

  Cold Car Start

  6-12  |  Audio
  In places where it gets below freezing in the wintertime, weather reports always include both the air temperature and the wind chill—that is, how cold it feels with the wind blowing. Wind makes the temperature feel colder because it carries heat away from our bodies. In this Science Update, you'll hear how the wind affects car engines in a similar way.
• 

  Super Water Repellent

  6-12  |  Audio
  Engineers studied the hairs on spider legs to develop the ultimate water-repellent surface.

Collections

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  Material Marvels

  9-12  |  Video
  Material Marvels is a collection of video podcasts hosted by science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez covering an assortment of fascinating materials.