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Balsa Towers
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Learners work in groups to design and build a tower out of balsa wood. As a motivator, they can compete to build a tower with the highest strength-to-weight ratio.

Bend That Bar
Learners play the role of materials engineers as they test the flexibility of different materials.

Dinosaur Breath
Through discussion and hands-on experimentation, learners examine the geological (ancient) carbon cycle.

Hand Biometrics Technology
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how engineers incorporate biometric technologies into products as well as the challenges of engineers who must weigh privacy, security and other issues when designin

Fun with Speedboats
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how boats are engineered to achieve speed.

The Boxes Go Mobile
Source Institutions
Learners display their findings after a study of surface area and volume. They build a mobile to show a commercially available box and a constructed cubical box of the same volume.

A Place in Space
Source Institutions
Learners construct and use a "real" 3D coordinate system out of balsa wood and foam core. They will then be able to locate coordinates in space.

How Fast Can a Carrot Rot?
Source Institutions
Learners design their own experiment to determine conditions that either help or hinder the decomposition of carrots by soil microbes.

New Boxes from Old
Source Institutions
Learners determine the surface area and volume of two identical boxes, and then figure out the dimensions of a cubical box with the same volume.

Map That Habitat
Source Institutions
Historically, sea floor mapping (bathymetry) was done by soundings.

Sliding and Stuttering
Source Institutions
Learners use a spring scale to drag an object such as a ceramic coffee cup along a table top or the floor.

Wet Pennies
Source Institutions
Learners initially test to see how many drops of liquid (water, rubbing alcohol, and vegetable oil) can fit on a penny.

Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor?
Source Institutions
Each learner chews a piece of gum until it loses its flavor, and then leaves the gum to dry for several days.

Ship the Chip
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore engineering package designs that meet the needs of safely shipping a product.

Nano Waterproofing
Source Institutions
This lesson focuses on how nanotechnology has impacted the design and engineering of many everyday items from paint to fabrics.

Measuring the Wind
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how anemometers work to record wind speeds and how the equipment has undergone engineering adaptations over time.

Stop the Stretching
Source Institutions
Learners work with plastic sheeting, masking tape, and string to design the perfect material for plastic chair webbing, and then construct their webbing.

Portable Sundial
Source Institutions
Learners construct one or more of the following kinds of sundials: a shadow plot, a horizontal sundial, and a diptych sundial.

Four Corners
Source Institutions
In this design challenge activity, learners build a machine out of cardboard that runs smoothly and dependably. Learners must be precise to make sure their component works properly.

Pedal Power
Source Institutions
In this engineering activity, learners examine bicycle mechanics and gear ratios. Learners determine which gears will help them bike a set course in the shortest amount of time.