Student teams follow the steps of the engineering design process to meet the challenge of getting their entire class from one location on the playground to the sidewalk without touching the ground between. The class develops a well thought-out plan while following the steps of the engineering design process. Then, they test their solution by going outside and trying it out. Through the post-activity assessment, they compare their problem-solving experience to real life engineering challenges, such as creating new forms of transportation or new product invention.

In this problem-based learning module, students will research health issues that are relevant to elementary students k-3. Students will look at perceptions, influences, education, research and discussion.Information will be provided through various ways including direct instruction, small group instruction by the classroom teacher, online research, and real-life research. Students will research media influences on health and develop a student-produced Public Service Announcement that will be shared with their peers as well as k-3 students in the district. Students will also have the opportunity to learn from each other and share their ideas with community stakeholders and plan next steps to promote healthy lifestyles in our community.

This problem based learning (PBL) activity allows students to become educated on how excess waste can harm the environment. This activity then has the students form a plan on how their school can limit trash output in their cafeteria, and then sending a letter to their principle describing their plan.

This is a guided inquiry in which the students determine how a light bulb works.

In this problem-based learning module, students will research the needs vs wants of a typical family in the US. They will also research  the basic bills a typical family pays throughout a month, create a budget plan for a fictional family assigned to each group, and present budgets to authentic audience.

To prosper, firms must develop major product and service innovations. Often, though, they don’t know how. Recent research into the innovation process has made it possible to develop “breakthroughs” systematically. 15.356 presents several practical concept development methods, such as the “Lead User Method,” where manufacturers learn from innovative customers. Expert guest speakers present case studies that show the “art” required to implement a concept development method. 15.356 is a half-term subject.

The goal of this book is to teach you to think like a computer scientist. I like the way computer scientists think because they combine some of the best features of Mathematics, Engineering, and Natural Science. Like mathematicians, computer scientists use formal languages to denote ideas (specifically computations). Like engineers, they design things, assembling components into systems and evaluating trade offs among alternatives. Like scientists, they observe the behavior of complex systems, form hypotheses, and test predictions.The single most important skill for a computer scientist is problem-solving. By that I mean the ability to formulate problems, think creatively about solutions, and express a solution clearly and accurately. As it turns out, the process of learning to program is an excellent opportunity to practice problem-solving skills. That’s why this chapter is called “The way of the program.”

This article highlights the four recommended research-based practices described in the How to Organize Your Teaching U.S. Dept. of Education What Works web site.

A checklist used by teachers to assess how elementary students identify and describe problems.

A rubric in student language used by elementary students to assess how they identify and describe problems.

This activity is a student based inquiry looking at various natural disasters and their impact.

This activity allows students to deduce part of Newton's Law of Inertia that states an object in motion will stay in a straight line motion unless an outside force acts on it.

Students will create and investigate testable questions about how basil changes based on growing conditions.

This resource is a lesson plan and project used to teach 3rd graders regional weather patterns. Students will gain an awareness on seasons and how they are different in different regions of the country. They will learn how people have to prepare for and adapt to different weather conditions.

During this activity, students will investigate leech behavior. Students will learn to ask a question about leech behavior that can be investigated.

In this hands-on inquiry activity, students will design and construct an apparatus that will permit an egg to survive a nine foot fall. Students are given limited materials, so they must critically think about the design and improvise strategies during the building of the apparatus

Challenge your word and math skills while you learn about the International Space Station. Download and print these crossword and emoji math puzzles. Emoji math uses icons and popular emojis in place of numbers, letters and variables in a math problem. Themed puzzles celebrate Nov. 2, 2000, as the first day of continuous habitation of humans living and working on the station.

This activity is an introductory activity where students observe the characteristics of ionic compounds and crystals They also work on making observations and writing hypotheses.

1.012 introduces students to the theory, tools, and techniques of engineering design and creative problem-solving, as well as design issues and practices in civil engineering. The course includes several design cases, with an emphasis on built facilities (e.g., buildings, bridges and roads). Project design explicitly concerns technical approaches as well as consideration of the existing built environment, natural environment, economic and social factors, and expected life span. A large design case is introduced, which is used in the subsequent specialty area design subjects (1.031, 1.041, 1.051) and the capstone design subject (1.013).