Q1 STEM Interactives: Engineering

Be an Engineer of technology advancements and learn about the changes that have taken place in the home technology use from 1900 to 2020.

Think about how you listen to music, watch your favorite videos, or help clean your home. Exploring the home innovations of the past and present will help you understand technology's impact on our lives. Maybe you will devise an idea to design a new technology tool that assists others daily.

Step 1. Use this recording document (Engineering Technology Over Time Activity) to work through the activity.

• You may need to share this document with your teacher as proof or a check for understanding.

Step 2. A little pre-reading.  Read the Background Essay of What Technology Engineers Have Designed and learn about a few home technology changes you may be familiar with (OR NOT!).

• Think about other technological advancements you are already familiar with in your home.  How might engineers come up with that idea?  What problem might they have been solving?

Step 3. Let's explore home technology innovations. Follow all the steps in the recording document linked in #1 above.

Step 4. Check with your teacher about handing in your work on your recording document.

Design Squad Nation puts the fun into learning all things Engineering. One cool thing about being an engineer is that any idea can become a final product that other people can use.  It is all about creativity, teamwork, and making awesome things happen.

Let's take some time to explore the Design Squad Nation by PBS. A National Science Foundation grant funded these resources —yahoo!

Step 1. Go to the Design Squad Nation website, which is linked here.

Step 2. Scroll down to the Clips (in orange) section.  Find two that interest you and take the time to play each one.  What problem might this project be solving? Is this a project you can do sometime? What are some things that you liked about the project?  

• To return to the home page, click on the Design Squad Nation logo/works in the top center of the webpage.

Step 3. From the home page, now scroll down to the Lean with Design Squad (in orange).  Take some time to explore the "How Does it Work," "Real Engineers," and "What is..."   Share some of your cool findings with classmates, your teacher, and at home with family.

• To return to the home page, click on the Design Squad Nation logo/works in the top center of the webpage.

Step 4. You could do some of the DO-IT-YOURSELF projects if you have time in class or at home. They're so fun!

Be an Engineer and learn about skate park basics to build your skate park.

To design a gnarly park, you will need to know some of the design features that impact the energy when riding the halfpipe and ramps, to have steez on the ride.  Once you have completed this activity, you will understand some of the basics that impact all thrashers at the park.

Step 1. Use this recording document (Skate Park Design Activity) to work through the activity.

Step 2. Check with your teacher about working individually or with a partner.

Step 3, You will explore a frictionless skateboard track, making predictions, and then testing those predictions.

Step 4. After you feel comfortable with the exploration, you will have a chance to design your own track. This will put your knowledge to the test. No POSER here!

Engineering games help you build your understanding of the physics and mathematics involved in designing tools for various work and life situations.

Below are three recommended games to play at Engineering.com.

Once you have played the recommended games, explore some other games that seem interesting to you.

1. Assembler game linked here.
   • Your goal is to stack the boxes in the shortest amount of time.
   • Follow the instructions on the first level page.
   • Complete as many levels as possible.
2. Dynamic Systems game linked here.
   • If this is the first time in the game, click on 1 to start level one.
   • Hit. When items are added to the workspace, clicking on them will allow you to move them around by grabbing the pink crossed arrows and rotate them by grabbing the black curved arrows.
   • Complete as many levels as you are able.
   • If you get stuck, get with a partner to discuss options.
   • Last resort, click on the Solution icon to help you.
3. Bridge Designer game linked here.
   • Click on the "?" icon to read through the tips/rules of the game.
   • Hint: You can end the connector pieces in the middle or randomly in the air to add new nodes.

Now go to Engineering.com to check out other games related to STEM concepts.