“I still remember my very first day as a teacher. A few days earlier, my principal had given me advice: ‘Whatever you do, do not start with an overview of your course. Do something active and set the tone….’ As I nervously awaited the arrival of my first-period physical science students, I wondered how they would react. To my relief, they jumped right in and remained engaged throughout the entire class—building, testing, and revising prototypes of paper towers. Since that day, I have continued to use design challenges as a way to engage students and teachers in classes and professional development.”
—
From the Introduction by Editor Eric Brunsell
From the very first day you use them, the design challenges in this compendium will spur your students, too, to jump right in and engage throughout the entire class. The activities reinforce important science content while illustrating a range of STEM skills. The 30 articles have been compiled from
Science and Children, Science Scope, and
The Science Teacher, NSTA’s journals for elementary through high school.
Integrating Engineering and Science in Your Classroom will:
• Excite students of all ages with activities involving everything from light sabers and egg racers to prosthetic arms and potatoes.
• Apply to lessons in life and environmental science, Earth science, and physical science.
• Work well in traditional classrooms as well as after-school programs.
Next time you need an engaging STEM activity, you’ll be glad you have this collection to help you blend meaningful and memorable experiences into your lessons. As Editor Eric Brunsell promises, “By exposing students to authentic engineering activities, you can help students uncover the profession that makes the world work.”
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part One
Engineering Design
1. The Engineering Design Process
Eric Brunsell
2. Science and Engineering Two Models of Laboratory Investigations
Jennifer Harkema, James Jadrich, and Crystal Bruxvoort
3. Using a Cycle to Find Solutions Students Solve Local Issues With
of a Four-Step Cycle
Glenn Fay Jr
4. Building Models to Better Understand the Importance of Cost Versus
Safety in Engineering
William Sumrall and Michael Mott
5. Miniature Sleds, Go, Go, Go! Engineering Project Teaches Kindergartners
Design Technology
Gina A. Sarow
6. Science and Engineering
Donna R. Sterling
7. Elementary Design Challenges Students Emulate NASA Engineers
Jonathan W. Gerlach
Part Two
Content Area Activities
Life and Environmental Science
8. Repairing Femoral Fractures A Model Lesson in Biomaterial Science
Jarred Sakakeeny
9. Get a grip! A Middle School Engineering Challenge
Suzanne A. Olds, Deborah A. Harrell, and Michael E. Valente
10. A Partnership for Problem-Based Learning Challenging Students to Consider Open-Ended Problems Involving Gene Therapy
Amanda Lockhart and Joseph Le Doux
11. Plastics in our Environment A Jigsaw Learning Activity
Elaine Hampton, Mary Ann Wallace, Kristan Keele, and Wen-Yee Lee
12. Designed by Nature Exploring Linear and Circular Life Cycles
Sandra Rutherford, Bonnie Wylo, Peggy Liggit, and Susan Santone
13. The Sport-Utility Vehicle Debating Fuel-Economy Standards in Thermodynamics
Shannon Mayer
Earth Science
14. Design Challenges Are “ELL-ementary” English Language Learners Express Understanding Through Language and Actions
Nancy Yocom de Romero, Pat Slater, and Carolyn DeCristofano
15. Save the Penguins Teaching the Science of Heat Transfer Through Engineering Design
Christine Schnittka, Randy Bell, and Larry Richards
16. Shake, Rattle, and Hopefully Not Fall Students Explore Earthquakes and
Building Design
Adam Maltese
Physical Science
17. Gravity Racers
Dawn Renee Wilcox, Shannon Roberts, and David Wilcox
18. The Egg Racer
Jeremy Brown and John Corbin
19. Engineering for All Strategies for Helping Students Succeed in the
Design Process
Pamela S. Lottero-Perdue, Sarah Lovelidge, and Erin Bowling
20. Fuel-Cell Drivers Wanted
Todd Clark and Rick Jones
21. The Science of Star Wars Integrating Technology and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Stephanie Thompson
22. Catapulting Into Technological Design
Kristen Hammes
23. Potato Problem Solving A 5E Activity Addresses Misconceptions About Thermal Insulation
Sarah J. Carrier and Annie Thomas
24. Nanoscale in Perspective
Elvis H. Cherry, Weijie Lu, and R. P. H. Chang
25. What’s So Big About Being Small?
MaryKay Orgill and Kent J. Crippen
Part Three
After-School Programs
26. Fueling Interest in Science An After-School Program Model That Works
Kathleen Koenig and Margaret Hanson
27. The Invention Factory Student Inventions Aid Individuals With Disabilities
Thomas W. Speitel, Neil G. Scott, and Sandy D. Gabrielli
28. Engineering-A-Future for Tomorrow’s Young Women
Susan Gore
29. A Model of the INEEL Science and Engineering Expo for Middle Schools
Elda Zounar
30. Engineering in the Classroom
Kathleen Matthew and Stacy Wilson
Index