Grades:
5th Grade
In this hands-on lesson, students will work together to build a system where energy is transferred between objects for as long as possible (i.e. Newton’s Cradle). Students continue the work that began
Grades:
5th Grade
In this lesson, students will be able to analyze and communicate evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of objects. They conduct research to provide evidence of the
Grades:
4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
In this hands-on lesson, students learn how to get their drone into the air. It covers hovering, yaw, roll, and pitch. Before the students launch their drones, there is a discussion about preparing
Grades:
5th Grade
This lesson is the 1st lesson in a series of 3 on balanced and unbalanced forces. Students will learn about the “Wonderland of Rocks” at Chiricahua National Monument near Willcox, Arizona, and view a
Grades:
7th Grade
Students will design balloon rockets in order to solidify an understanding of Newton's Third Law of Motion . Students will develop an investigation question and then perform their investigation. For
Grades:
10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
This lesson involves students calculating the density of various objects of differing sizes of the same substance. Each student group will need a balance, a ruler, and/or a graduated cylinder. They
Grades:
5th Grade
In this lesson students will explore engineering skills in the construction of hot air balloons. They will test their creations to see if they will fly/float and make adjustments if needed.
Grades:
5th Grade
This is part one of a design challenge where students are asked to brainstorm a device that allows energy to be transferred for as long as possible, similar to a Newton's Cradle. Students use the
Grades:
4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
This is the first lesson in a series of 4. Students gain an understanding of the forces that are acting upon a drone when it is flying. They will learn about how thrust, weight, lift and drag work
Grades:
5th Grade
Students will begin designing a container to keep and egg safe when dropped from various heights. As they begin the lesson, students will watch a video and discuss science and engineering practices
Grades:
4th Grade, 5th Grade
In this hands-on lesson, students will explore how speed is calculated, what inertia is and apply it to Newton’s Laws of Motion. They use the engineering design process to construct race cars out of
Featured
Flying High: Airplane Design
Grades:
5th Grade
In this engaging lesson, students explore the forces of flight and use the Engineering Design Process to improve the flight times and distance traveled with a paper airplane. Resources are included
Grades:
Kindergarten
This is a hands-on lesson about shapes! After listening to Jack and the Beanstalk, students will look at a collage of castles and try to identify shapes that they see in the construction of the
Grades:
6th Grade
Students will be thinking like engineers as they design their marble roller coasters using the principles of kinetic and potential energy.
Grades:
6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
This is an 8-lesson unit that is designed to be used together to learn about the health and diversity of your local watershed by placing leaf packs into a water source (natural or man-made ponds
Grades:
5th Grade
In this STEM lesson, 5th grade students will apply what they have learned about the affect gravity and friction have on an object’s mobility by engineering simple machines to change the ending of the
Grades:
5th Grade
This lesson focuses on kinetic and potential energy and features a rollback can. The can when complete can be rolled away from the student and then returns back to where it started. The purpose is to
Grades:
8th Grade, 9th Grade
Make quadratics come alive with stomp rockets! This is a 3-4 hour learning experience where students will build and launch paper rockets, then use the data to create quadratic equations.
Grades:
5th Grade
In this creative lesson, students will create a simple machine to retrieve objects through a makeshift storm drain. There is a potential literacy integration and a focus on the engineering design
Grades:
5th Grade
In this lesson, students comprehend basic physics concepts that are applicable to constructing a device that protects an egg from breaking when dropped. Team building and self-reflection are key
Grades:
6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
This hands-on science lesson will help students get a more accurate view of the solar system by making a scale model with play dough, balloons, rulers, and tape!
Grades:
5th Grade
Students will use the engineering design process to design, build, and test three different paper airplane designs. The goal will be to create one that can fly the fastest, one that can fly the
Featured Lesson Plans
Check out these notable lesson plans.
Featured
Zippy the Elf's Zipline Zone
Grades:
6th Grade
In this creative engineering design lesson, students are challenged to use an inclined plane to create a safe and exciting zipline park for Zippy the Elf. This lesson reviews simple machines and has
Grades:
3rd Grade
This lesson is about exploring Arizona's state bird, the cactus wren, that lives in the desert, has special body parts and behaviors that help it survive in its harsh environment. Students will learn
Grades:
Kindergarten, 1st Grade
In this primary Kindergarten-1st grade STEM lesson, students will learn to define algorithm, bug, and debug in reference to programming. Through engagement with a virtual simulation, students will