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The Squeeze is On
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Each group of learners uses everyday materials, such as paper, toothpicks, and tape to design and construct a structure intended to support the weight of a cinder block for 30 seconds.
Dinosaur Breath
Through discussion and hands-on experimentation, learners examine the geological (ancient) carbon cycle.
Move That Lighthouse!
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In this activity, learners explore how engineers work in a team to solve problems.
Popsicle Bridge
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In this activity, learners explore how engineering has impacted the development of bridges over time, including innovative designs and the challenge of creating bridges that become landmarks for a cit
Adaptive Device Design
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In this activity, learners explore the concept of how engineering has made possible the development of--and ongoing improvements to--adaptive devices that serve to help individuals with a wide range o
Wet Pennies
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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?
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Each learner chews a piece of gum until it loses its flavor, and then leaves the gum to dry for several days.
Critical Load
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In this activity, learners explore the concepts of structural engineering and how to measure the critical load, or the maximum weight a structure can bear.
Keep-a-Cube
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In this activity, challenge learners to keep an ice cube from completely melting in 30 minutes. Learners engineer a box or wrap to prevent an ice cube from melting.
Paper Towel Strength
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In this activity, learners will test the strength of different brands of paper towels.
How to Test The Strength of Shapes
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In this activity, learners explore the strength of different shapes. Fold paper into triangles, squares, and other shapes, then experiment with how much weight they can hold.
Bouncing Balloons
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In this sports-themed engineering activity, learners create super bouncy balls out of balloons. Learners brainstorm, test their designs, and share results.
Building Tall
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In this engineering activity (page 2 of PDF), young learners investigate how a wide base can make a building more stable. Learners use blocks or boxes of different sizes to construct stable towers.
Mechanical Grabber
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In this engineering activity, challenge learners to make a "grabber" that can pick up trash. Learners use simple materials to create pinchers that can grab small items.
Gumdrop Dome
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In this engineering activity, learners construct sturdy geodesic structures out of gumdrops and toothpicks. Use this activity to explore engineering principles as well as sturdy shapes and triangles.
Deep Sea Diver
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In this ocean engineering activity, learners explore buoyancy and water displacement. Then, learners design models of deep sea divers that are neutrally buoyant.
On Target
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In this design challenge activity, learners modify a cup so it can carry a marble down a zip line and also drop it onto a target.
As Straight as a Pole
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In this engineering activity (page 3 of PDF), young learners investigate how a pole can be made stable by “planting” its base in the ground or adding supports to the base.
Sticky Structures
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In this engineering/design/arts and crafts activity, learners design and build "platforms" or "bridges" that can hold weight, and test which glue makes the strongest structure.
A Question of Balance
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In this activity, learners explore how engineers use scales and measures when designing a manufacturing process to ensure that final products are uniform in weight or count.