Look Up! Educator Network

"Leonardo developed a unique new attitude about machines. He reasoned that by understanding how each separate machine part worked, he could modify them and combine them in different ways to improve existing machines or create inventions no one had ever seen before. Leonardo set out to write the first systematic explanations of how machines work and how the elements of machines can be combined."

"Simple Machines: These devices were all in common use for centuries before Leonardo's time. Each one makes work easier to do by providing some trade-off between the force applied and the distance over which the force is applied."

"students will complete four stations, discuss Rube Goldberg cartoons, review or learn about the six simple machines (inclined plane, wedge, pulley, lever, wheel and axle, and screw), and create their own Rube Goldberg contraptions using the simple machines."

"Helicopter Drop by Bryce Hixson Take a single strip of copy paper and make three cuts and five folds to create a ready-to-fly helicopter. You can experiment with surface area and friction, and have a lot of fun adapting the design. Great way to teach the effect of gravity and friction on a falling object, experiment with torque and changing forces, and open the door to imagination and engineering."

""Engineering Principles" description of the concepts, a "Thoughtful Questions" sheet, and an unit outline for teaching the course with a hands-on component. "

"Using simple, everyday materials, marshmallows and toothpicks, your students can build marshmallow structures. They practice math skills by adding together materials used to get the total number. This product offers background information to set the stage for this science and math project - talk about plate tectonics, earthquakes and why they occur, etc. Through this project, the students will learn about earthquakes and seismic testing of buildings."

"As students are working through their various build sessions, we pause ocasionally to talk about the variables they are changing (independent), the expected outcome (dependent variable), and the records and/or graphs they are keeping on the flight times of their rocket (data collection and repeatable expeirmentation)."

"PARACHUTE ENGINEERS!! In this lesson, your students will become parachute engineers. By using the principals of the scientific method and scientific inquiry they will design a parachute and make a modification to test a hypothesis."

"students will become "rollercoaster engineers" by designing a coaster out of pipe insulation tubing found at most home improvement stores. Through an iterative process they will test their coaster design with their "rider" a steel ball or marble. This is a great way to address the scientific method, inquiry, and current/upcoming engineering standards in science."

says kindergarten but would work for most k-8 "This is a combination of teacher made, and teacher found resources that I used as our Engineering unit for the year. Some great projects are listed and most of them are tied into liturature. "

engineering behind air traffic control systems. Students work in teams to evaluate data generated for a virtual air traffic system, and determine a plan to bring three planes safely through a set airspace. They then recommend engineering enhancement to the current system."

" includes 4 experiments you can do easily in the classroom with items you have handy! "

"We invite you to Learn, Connect, and Create with high-quality teaching and learning resources in applied science and math, engineering, computer science/information technology, and engineering technology for use by K-12 and university educators and students."

"Welcome to the Wired How-To Wiki Collaborate with Wired editors and add to our library of projects, hacks, tricks and tips. Browse more than 300 how-to articles and add to them, or start a new one."

"Curricular Resources - Our Favorite K-12 Engineering Collections: "

"Dan Rothstein is co-director of the Right Question Institute which had its first offices in Somerville. Dan and co-author, Luz Santana, wrote the book Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions published by Harvard Education Press. He shares with us the Question Formulation Technique™ and you have a chance to learn and experience it!"

Speaker Dan Rothstein is co-director of the Right Question Institute which had its first offices in Somerville. Dan and co-author, Luz Santana, wrote the book Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions published by Harvard Education Press. He shares with us the Question Formulation Technique™ and you have a chance to learn and experience it!

"A question is…a unique and potentially sophisticated instrument."