Integration with Engineering Practices

This article outlines an integrated unit that highlights engineering practices. Students build models of Mars Landers that would safely land from the height of a building. This covers the... See More

This article outlines an integrated unit that highlights engineering practices. Students build models of Mars Landers that would safely land from the height of a building. This covers the engineering practices. For history they explored the history of spacecraft that have successfully landed. For language arts they read and wrote about Earth. Prompts are provided for non-fiction student created books. Although the math was not emphasized in this article I am sure it was covered in the engineering practices.

Student Engineers Design Space Crafts-Gym Landing

The article includes 4th grade lesson plans that expose students to skills needed in engineering careers - making models, testing designs, and comparing the effectiveness of different models... See More

The article includes 4th grade lesson plans that expose students to skills needed in engineering careers - making models, testing designs, and comparing the effectiveness of different models. I enjoyed reading about how students designed spacecraft that were launched from their gymnasium roof to simulate a safe landing on Mars' surface. This is an excellent article for so many other reasons, too. It includes best practice teaching strategies that are embedded in the lessons. You will find a strong writing component, use of both fiction and nonfiction books, incorporation of graphic organizers, and examples of students using science journals. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how these students were fired up to be student engineers!