Description
NOTE: See Introduction To Engineering (Creative Problem Solving) STEM STEAM Camp (Week 2) - also available at TpT!
Introduction To Engineering (Week 1) is a video curriculum guide that introduces engineering (creative problem solving) via 5 "traditional" STEM / STEAM projects - which take a total of 20 hours to complete.
Our video guides are designed to "teach the teacher" to introduce and help students to complete these projects.
Check out the preview video - it presents the first 2 minutes of the I'm Thinking Of A Number Challenge (Introduction To Algorithms) guide!
Students culminate each project by reflecting on what they learned - and how it might be applied.
The list of projects (see below - including the title links to each project that can be purchased separately) cover algorithms and building (bridges, towers, water towers, and tables)!
1. I'm Thinking Of A Number Challenge (Introduction To Algorithms)
This lesson introduces Computer Science and algorithms (“recipes” for completing tasks) by teaching and playing a game that requires someone to “guess” the number that someone else is thinking. The “guesser” is allowed to ask a limited number of questions to help them guess correctly. Teams of 3-4 students will then study and play the game in multiple scenarios. The teams will then create presentations that teach the game to audiences of middle and high school students.
2. Straw Bridges
Working in teams of 2-3 students, our group will design and create bridges using plastic drinking straws and tape.
Their goal is to design and build the strongest bridge that …
1. Uses a truss pattern that they design.
2. Meets the design criteria and constraints.
Students can experiment with different geometric shapes to learn how shapes affect the strength of materials.
3. Tall Tower Challenge
Students work in teams of 3-4 to develop the tallest tower they can build with limited materials (straws, paper clips, and pipe cleaners) that can support the weight of a golf ball for two minutes.
They develop a design on paper, build their tower, present and test their tower to the class, and document and evaluate their results and those of their teammates.
4. The Tables Have Turned
Working in teams of 2 students, our group will explore the engineering design process by designing and creating tables using construction paper and masking tape.
Their goal is to design and build the strongest table that can support one (and possibly multiple) books.
Students will brainstorm, test, evaluate, and redesign their tables to support more weight - and figure out how to keep the table legs from buckling.
5. Water Tower Demonstration Challenge
This lesson focuses on understanding water storage - and how engineering helps communities preserve and supply water to populations.
Teams of 3-4 students then design and build a model water tower using the same materials.
The teams will then create presentations that explain how water towers work to audiences of younger students (grades K-2).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Introduction To Engineering (Creative Problem Solving) STEM STEAM Camp (Week 1)
Highlights
Description
NOTE: See Introduction To Engineering (Creative Problem Solving) STEM STEAM Camp (Week 2) - also available at TpT!
Introduction To Engineering (Week 1) is a video curriculum guide that introduces engineering (creative problem solving) via 5 "traditional" STEM / STEAM projects - which take a total of 20 hours to complete.
Our video guides are designed to "teach the teacher" to introduce and help students to complete these projects.
Check out the preview video - it presents the first 2 minutes of the I'm Thinking Of A Number Challenge (Introduction To Algorithms) guide!
Students culminate each project by reflecting on what they learned - and how it might be applied.
The list of projects (see below - including the title links to each project that can be purchased separately) cover algorithms and building (bridges, towers, water towers, and tables)!
1. I'm Thinking Of A Number Challenge (Introduction To Algorithms)
This lesson introduces Computer Science and algorithms (“recipes” for completing tasks) by teaching and playing a game that requires someone to “guess” the number that someone else is thinking. The “guesser” is allowed to ask a limited number of questions to help them guess correctly. Teams of 3-4 students will then study and play the game in multiple scenarios. The teams will then create presentations that teach the game to audiences of middle and high school students.
2. Straw Bridges
Working in teams of 2-3 students, our group will design and create bridges using plastic drinking straws and tape.
Their goal is to design and build the strongest bridge that …
1. Uses a truss pattern that they design.
2. Meets the design criteria and constraints.
Students can experiment with different geometric shapes to learn how shapes affect the strength of materials.
3. Tall Tower Challenge
Students work in teams of 3-4 to develop the tallest tower they can build with limited materials (straws, paper clips, and pipe cleaners) that can support the weight of a golf ball for two minutes.
They develop a design on paper, build their tower, present and test their tower to the class, and document and evaluate their results and those of their teammates.
4. The Tables Have Turned
Working in teams of 2 students, our group will explore the engineering design process by designing and creating tables using construction paper and masking tape.
Their goal is to design and build the strongest table that can support one (and possibly multiple) books.
Students will brainstorm, test, evaluate, and redesign their tables to support more weight - and figure out how to keep the table legs from buckling.
5. Water Tower Demonstration Challenge
This lesson focuses on understanding water storage - and how engineering helps communities preserve and supply water to populations.
Teams of 3-4 students then design and build a model water tower using the same materials.
The teams will then create presentations that explain how water towers work to audiences of younger students (grades K-2).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
