Class members become tree huggers with this terrific study of biodiversity among trees! They do so by examining different characteristics of trees: shape, leaves, bark, fruit or seeds, etc. After examining five concepts, they use their...

How tall is your marshmallow structure? Using only limited supplies (including uncooked spaghetti noodles, masking tape, and one marshmallow), teams endeavor to support the marshmallow atop the tallest spaghetti structure they can build....

Second graders take a field trip to a nearby church or other historical building and examine it from a mathematical perspective. In groups, they calculate the seating capacity, describe the window patterns, differentiate types of...

Design your own video game, engineer accident-proof highways, or even develop a new phone app! The Engineering Design Model can be used with all ages and in all subject areas to create a product, system or service. The resource explains...

High schoolers create maquettes of abstract sculptures utilizing the elements of art; line, shape, value, color, space and texture and the principles of design; balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm and movement, pattern and unity. These...

Students discuss the benefits of the International Space Station. They evaluate the challenges the designers faced when trying to design the space station. Students discuss the use of scale models when designing large structures and...

Let the resource stretch the minds of your young scientists with a lesson about tensile strength and stiffness of materials. Groups consider how easily materials stretch and relate this property to engineering design.

Pupils explore the use of design principles in the real world. They evaluate how problems can be solved using design principles. In groups, students design the floor plan for a building of their choice.

Your young architects use the Internet to research tall structures or sky scrapers to help in the design of their scale drawings. This is activity one of three in which learners design, build, and test model skyscrapers for seismic...

Students discover the history of mosaics through teacher-lead lectures and discussions. Individuals spend 3-4 weeks creatively constructing mosaic masks using step-by-step design instructions.

Collaborative groups work together with a variety of materials to design an eight-inch canoe that floats for at least three minutes. There is no direct instruction involved in this plan, just a list of materials and a procedure for...

Hold a competition in your science or engineering class to find out which group can design the most effective new style of paper cup from a single sheet of paper. Each group will be challenged by this activity and will have fun at the...

Students investigate how to design a jacket that can be worn in extremely cold temperatures. They use the internet to research materials and different types of designs. As an extension to the lesson students go to a sporting goods store...

Pupils examine the role of texture in various fashion designs. After watching a PowerPoint presentation, they identify the different types of textures they saw in photographs. To end the lesson, they create a portfolio using their...

Students understand the concept of a scientific model and how it relates to climate change.  For this obsesrvation and gathering data lesson students design a trial and error model using PowerPoint. 

Design a canal boat fleet by having students research canal boats and their original coloring. They will then work individually to create a 21st century design for a fleet of canal boats. Note: This is a UK lesson with great ideas that...

Students investigate the concept of building materials and how they are used to create different things. They focus upon the availability, cost, flexibility, and strength of different building materials. This is done by taking part in a...

Seventh graders investigate a ratio found in nature and in numerous pieces of artwork throughout history. The lesson is cross-curricular and builds a sense of appreciation of design for students.

Students study about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They express and share their thoughts and attitudes toward wars. They listen to a picture book about the Wall and read an introductory text about the Vietnam

Students spend some time in the world of marketing and advertising by analyzing and creating slogans and campaigns geared toward adolescents. Students work with a partner to create their design and share with the class

Sixth graders work in teams to design the perfect bedroom. The teams must create a room that is functional, original, and stays within a budget of $650.

Students design and construct an outfit for one member of their group using only newspapers and masking tape. This activity is designed to help students get acquainted with each other.

Students create a food package for a specific food.  For this marketing lesson students divide into groups and research, design, produce, market and analyze packaging. 

Students identify criteria and constraints related to the design and development of a plant growth chamber.  In this engineering lesson students apply the engineering design process to solve a problem.