Lesson Plans and Activities
KHCPL wants to make provide opportunities for teachers to find, quickly and easily, grade-level appropriate engineering and STEM lesson plans. We’ve found several reliable sources for you. Just click on the links.
For a Variety of Grade Levels
STEM Resource Clearinghouse.
Provides a variety of activities for learning science, technology, engineering, and math. Searchable by topic, age of student, and amount of time it takes to complete an activity.
http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/index.php?id_category=57&controller=categoryNBC LEARN FREE STEM VIDEOS
For more than 80 years, NBC News has been documenting the people, places, and events that shape our world. NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, is dedicated to making these historic stories, images and primary source documents available on-demand to teachers, students, and parents.
http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn/resourcesPBS LEARNING MEDIA
Browse by standards allows you to find all resources for pre-K to 13+ that support a given standards statement.
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/standards/0UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: TEACH ENGINEERING
TryEngineering offers a variety of lesson plans that align with educational standards to allow teachers and students to apply engineering principles in the classroom. Search by category or keyword.
http://tryengineering.org/lesson-plansTHE MATH FORUM AT NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SUPERVISORS OF MATHEMATICS
Lesson Plans/Activities searchable by grade level and topic.
http://mathforum.org/library/resource_types/lesson_plans/AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS
There are many resources available to help teachers of physics, astronomy, and physical science.
http://www.aapt.org/Resources/index.cfmNATIONAL SCIENCE DIGITAL LIBRARY
Lesson plans and other resources, searchable by grade level and subject.
https://nsdl.oercommons.org/THE STEM COLLABORATIVE
The STEM Collaborative was formed when four public television stations with a steadfast commitment to classroom and community education were awarded a Local Service Initiative grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to create innovative digital content in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subject areas. Maryland Public Television, Arkansas Educational Television Network, Alabama Public Television and Kentucky Educational Television formed key partnerships with education groups, subject area experts, and local organizations to assess the needs of middle school educators and students and chart an appropriate course for project development.
http://www.stemcollaborative.org/additionalResources.htmlU.S. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE
Classroom resources about nanotechnology, which is a part of various scientific disciplines, such as physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and more. As such, it can be taught at various levels and woven into various types of STEM learning.
http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definitionNATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has joined forces with NBC Learn and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry by creating "Chemistry Now"- a weekly, online video series that uncovers and explains the science of common, physical objects in our world and the changes they undergo every day.
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/chemistrynow/AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Educational and safety resources for teachers.
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/educators.htmlENGINEERING PLACE
Various lesson plans based on topic and age level. North Carolina State University College of Engineering
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/theengineeringplace/educators/k8plans.phpENGAGE KIDS IN HANDS-ON ENGINEERING
Use DESIGN SQUAD GLOBAL activities, animations, video profiles, and episodes in classrooms and afterschool programs, in libraries and museums, at events and at home. PBSskids.org - Design Squad
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/parentseducators/TEACHERS' VOICE
A blog about videos and resources for making STEM come alive for a variety of ages.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2014/04/23/make-stem-come-alive/NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
STEM activities and resources for K-12 teachers and students.
http://www.gk12.org/resources/stem-activities-and-resources-for-k-12-teachers-and-students/For Pre-kindergarten
The I-STEM Resource Network is a partnership of public and private higher education institutions, K-12 schools, businesses, and government, hosted by Purdue University. I-STEM includes committees comprised of educational content experts and practitioners who come together to design and employ programs to address STEM issues. I-STEM supports K–12 teachers and education leaders working to implement high academic standards towards STEM literacy for all students. It also provides Indiana education leaders with new knowledge about teaching and learning. I-STEM is funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Eli Lilly Company Foundation, Biocrossroads, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and the Indiana Department of Education, with support from Purdue University.
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/58647/20-awesome-science-projectsFor Kindergarten through Elementary
NASA
NASA Robotics Alliance Project
Lesson plans for K-5th grade.
https://robotics.nasa.gov/edu/k-5.phpPBS KIDSGO.ORG: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Zip Line
Elementary students design and build something to carry a Ping-Pong ball from the top of a zip line to the bottom.
ZiplinePBS KIDSGO.ORG: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Leave it to the Levers
Elementary school students learn when they need to lift a weight too heavy to lift by themselves, they can use a lever and follow a surprising rule: multiply the length of your lever and you will similarly multiply the weight you can lift.
Leave it to the LeversAMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
Cardboard Columns
Upper elementary students re-engineer a collapsed column and predict how performance will change. Source: American Society of Civil Engineers: Building Big
Cardboard ColumnsSCIENCE SPARKS
Strength of Domes
What does an egg, the Taj Mahal, the U.S. Capitol, and St. Peter’s Basilica all have in common? This experiment for elementary school students looks at how something we think of as being brittle and weak can actually hold a heavy load under certain conditions.
Source: www.discoverR.org
DomeFor Elementary to Middle School
CYBERCHASE
ROCKET-POWERED SKI LIFT
Upper elementary to middle school students explore the benefits of testing with models. Cyberchase is produced by THIRTEEN in association with Title Entertainment Inc. and WNET.ORG.
Skilift Rocket WWW.PLANETSMARTY.COMLet's Build a Roller Coaster
Geared toward elementary and middle school students to make them aware of the role engineers play in the design of thrill-producing rides in order to keep people safe. www.discoverE.org
Roller CoasterFor Middle School
NASA
NASA Robotics Alliance Project
Lesson plans for 6th-8th grade.
https://robotics.nasa.gov/edu/6-8.phpPBS KIDSGO.ORG: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Dance Pad Mania/p>
This activity for middle-schoolers demonstrate the engineering design process. Teams must work together to build a dependable, functional electric circuit.
Dance ManiaDISCOVER ENGINEERING/NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK FOUNDATION
Sun Central/p>
Middle-school students gain insight into saving energy by using solar power. Source: Tacoma Power/www.discoverengineering.com
Sun CentralDESIGN SQUAD
Kicking Machine
This activity for middle-schoolers demonstrates the engineering design process. Students will consider both potential and kinetic energy while they plan, design, build, test, and redesign. PBS Kids/Design Squad
Kicking MachineHEROES OF ENGINEERING FROM AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
Silver Streak
Middle-schoolers design a futuristic transportation device that will hold the most people (pennies) as possible and move across the room as fast as possible. www.discoverE.org
Silver StreakFor Middle School to High School
SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
Resistance Is Futile! Learning activity
Seventh- through 10th-graders learn the science behind how things move when forces are applied (physics) is of great importance to engineers.
Resistance Is FutrilePBS KIDSGO.ORG: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Feel the Heat
Sixth- through ninth-graders design and build a solar hot water heater to see how big of temperature change they can achieve.
Feel The HeatDESIGN SQUAD
Harmless Holder
Middle and high school students use the engineering process to solve a challenge and understand the difference between product design and process design. PBS Kids/Design Squad
Harmless HolderDISCOVERE.ORG
PROSTHETIC LIMB: An Engineering Feat
Teams of four students (appropriate for middle- and high-schoolers) will investigate the technology of prosthetics. The teams will design a model prosthetic lower leg using various materials. www.DiscoverE.org
ProstheticFor High School
NASA Robotics Alliance Project
Lesson plans for 9th-12th grade
https://robotics.nasa.gov/edu/9-12.phpSOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
Pump it Up!
High school students will build a gravity-driven water pump and learn how pumps work in terms of pressure and velocity. Students learn that engineers work in teams, using field work as well as math and science and then discussing their work products.
Developed in collaboration with Education Development Center Inc. Found on discoverengineering.org
Pump it Up