2 Lessons, 1 Tiny Concept: Intro to Nano

1) Lesson Plan 1 by TryEngineering.org

2) Lesson Plan 2 by TryNano.org

3) TryNano.oRg

4) TED-Ed Lesson

ESTIMATED COST PER STUDENT: 

Lesson 1 = $0.10

Lesson 2 = $0.04

Photo cred: TED-Ed

Required materials:

Lesson 1: scissors, pencil, crayon, eraser, pencil sharpener, index card, chalk, calculator, a doorknob (within classroom), roll of tape

Lesson 2: clear cups, antacid tablets, water

Description:

Lesson 1 focuses on how to measure at the nano scale and provides students with an understanding of how small a nanometer really is. Students learn about electron microscopes, participate in hands-on activities to measure common classroom objects in the metric scale, and then convert the result to nanometers.

Lesson 2 focuses on how materials behave differently as their surface area increases. Students will learn about nanotechnology and how engineers can harness the differences in how materials behave when small to solutions for challenges in many industries. 

Tips:

Many craft, household or classroom items that you already have will work for this activity and can be reused multiple times. One class can use one of each item if students can exchange or trade them between groups as they work through their data collection from measuring the length (or diameter for the tape).

NGSS alignment:

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)  2. Developing and using models  3. Planning and carrying out investigations 4. Analyzing and interpreting data 5. Using mathematics and computational thinking 6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering) 7. Engaging in argument from evidence 8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Functional Fashion Challenge

1) LESSON PLAN BY AC LANE

2) STUDENT HANDOUTS AND SLIDES

3) TED-ED LESSON

ESTIMATED COST: 

$0

PER STUDENT*

Required materials:

Any free CAD software i.e. Autodesk Inventor (free student version) or Morphi*

Description:

Design challenges provide opportunities to apply skills and knowledge in unique and creative ways. Designers are often asked to create or innovate products that solve complex problems, yet address aesthetic requirements to make the product as profitable as possible.  As you will discover with this challenge, designers sometimes have to embody the role of engineers and artists to ensure all solutions also are aesthetically pleasing and creative enough to serve multiple purposes.

Tips*:

No materials are needed for this project except the teacher's choice of CAD software and one compatible computer per 1-2 students. Basic craft materials can be used to prototype students' physical designs or elevate the activity by 3D printing the prototypes.

NGSS alignment:

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)  2. Developing and using models  6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)  8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Sink, Float, Hover Challenge

1) MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY LESSON PLAN 1

2) MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY LESSON PLAN 2

3) STUDENT HANDOUTS

4) TED-ED LESSON

ESTIMATED COST:

$0.05

PER STUDENT

Required materials:

small containers with lids (film canisters work best), variety of small, heavy objects (coins, washers, marbles, etc.), variety of small, lightweight objects (corks, beads, Styrofoam, etc.), rubber bands (optional to keep lid on canisters or modify distribution of mass), and large containers of water

Description:

Students will learn about density, buoyancy, and how submarines dive. Students will design and create a vessel that is able to sink, hover, and float.

Tips:

Many craft, household or classroom items that you already have will work for this activity and can possibly be reused. Items listed here have already been tested with students as a part of this lesson. Students should be given access to as many or as few materials as you can afford. This allows students to be more creative. 

NGSS alignment:

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)  2. Developing and using models 3. Planning and carrying out investigations  4. Analyzing and interpreting data   6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)  8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Pepsi v. Coke (or Aquafina v. Dasani) Experiment

1) Lesson Plan by Learn NC

3) Pedagogy in Action

3) TED-Ed Lesson

ESTIMATED COST:

$0.10

PER STUDENT

Required materials:

paper drinking cups, Pepsi and Coke (or Aquafina and Dasani)

Description:

Does gender actually affect your ability to taste? Can girls taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke better than boys? These may seem like silly questions, but they can be used to provide an introduction to designing scientific experiments. In this lesson, students will learn what experimental design is, as well as design and complete their own scientific experiment.

NGSS Alignment:

3. Planning and carrying out investigations  4. Analyzing and interpreting data  5. Using mathematics and computational thinking

On Target Challenge

1) NASA/Design Squad Lesson Plan

2) PBS Kids Build Site

3) TED-Ed Lesson

Estimated cost:

$0.10

per student

Photo cred: PBS Kids

Required materials:

zip line (wire or fishing line), index card, marbles, masking tape, paper clips, paper cups, scissors, a Target (can be drawn on a piece of paper)

Description:

This activity turns a paper cup into something that can zip down a line and drop a marble onto a target. Just as the success of NASA's LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite) depends on hitting the crater exactly, success in this activity depends on being able to hit the target accurately and consistently. As students test their designs, encourage them to find ways to make it work better.

Tips:

A few of the items needed for this activity are reusable or can be replaced by classroom or household items you already have, saving you even more money!

NGSS Alignment:

2. Developing and using models  3. Planning and carrying out investigations 

The Marshmallow Challenge

1) LESSON PLAN BY TOM WUJEC

2) LESSON PLAN BY AC Lane

3) TED-Ed LESSON 1

4) TED-Ed LESSON 2 (WITH TIMER)

ESTIMATED COST = 

$0.07

per student

Photo cred: MarshmallowChallenge.com

Required materials:

spaghetti, string, marshmallow, masking tape, paper lunch bag (optional)

Description:

The Marshmallow Challenge is a remarkably fun and instructive design exercise that encourages teams to experience simple but profound lessons in collaboration, innovation and creativity. The task is simple: in eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. (http://marshmallowchallenge.com/)

NGSS Alignment:

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)  6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)