Engineering Units and Lessons for Grades 7-9
|
Life Science
Grades 4-6 |
Physical Science
Grades 4-6 |
Earth and Space Science
Grades 7-9 |
Engineering
Grades 7-9 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
|
|
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics |
Students perform a series of simulations to explore the theory and practice of flight. Keywords: Newton's Laws of Motion, forces of flight, lift, drag, thrust, engineering design process, kites |
1 Hour per computer simulation | 1 Hour per computer simulation | Advanced |
| Getting Off the Ground into the Smart Skies! |
Computer-based mathematics-focused introduction into the Air Traffic Control, or ATC, system. Using the Smart Skies: Line Up With Math activity, students learn how NASA engineers use ATC simulations to make flying safer and more efficient. Keywords: air traffic control, simulator, computer-based |
1 Hour | 3 Hours | Moderate |
| Getting the Drop on Flight with the 'X' Planes |
Students learn how small-scale models developed with simple materials can result in new aircraft and future space launch vehicles. Keywords: X-planes, gliders, flight testing, models |
1 Hour | 1.25 Hours | Moderate |
| Learning the 'Wright' Way to Fly! |
Students construct 3 different kite models and predict the most effective design. Design and test and aircraft given several parameters and explain how early flight was influenced by kites. Keywords: kite, forces of flight, Newton's laws, laws of motion |
1 Hour | 2.5 Hours | Moderate |
Challenges Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Electrodynamic Propulsion | Activity challenges students to solve a real-world problem that is part of the space program using creativity, cleverness, and scientific knowledge, while learning about electricity, magnetism, forces and energy transfer. | 4-8 Hours | Twelve 45-Minute Sessions | Advanced |
| On Target Challenge |
Students modify a paper cup so it can zip down a line and drop a marble onto a target. Keywords: engineering challenge, scientific method, rockets, moon, Newton's laws, engineering design process, moon, Mars, acceleration, vector, trajectory, potential energy, kinetic energy, LCROSS |
15-30 Minutes | 1 Hour | Basic |
| Spacecraft Structures |
Activity challenges students to solve a real-world problem that is part of the space program using creativity, cleverness and scientific knowledge while learning about forces, structures and energy transfer. Keywords: engineering challenge, scientific method, rocket, thrust structure, engineering design process, force, motion, energy transfer,potential energy, kinetic energy, unbalanced forces, compression |
4-8 Hours | Six 45-Minute Sessions | Moderate |
| Thermal Protection Systems Challenge |
Activity challenges students to solve a real-world problem that is part of the space program while learning about heat and heat transfer. Keywords: engineering challenge, scientific method, heat transfer, transfer of energy, engineering design process, space shuttle, tiles, conductor, insulator, radiation, ablative shield |
4-8 Hours | Seven 45-Minute Sessions | Advanced |
| Touchdown Challenge |
Students design and build a shock-absorbing system that will protect two "astronauts" when they land. Keywords: engineering challenge, scientific method, rockets, moon, Newton's laws, engineering design process, moon, Mars, energy |
15-30 Minutes | 1 Hour | Basic |
Design Process Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Build a Solar Oven |
Engineering design challenge to design and build a solar box cooker, and test it out to see if it works well enough to make S'mores. Keywords: energy, solar radiation, data |
1 Hour | 1 Hour | Basic |
| Lunar Plant Growth Chamber |
Activity to grow plants in an environment similar to the moon designed in a unique partnership between NASA scientists and engineers and education professionals. Keywords: botany, design process, ecosystem |
3 Hours | 12-18 Days | Advanced |
| Make a Balloon-Powered Nanorover |
Design and build a robotic rover with cardboard and a balloon. Keywords: design process, energy, motion, robotics, vision, direction |
40 Minutes | 1 Hour | Moderate |
| Mars Pathfinder Egg Drop Challenge |
Design, build and drop your "Pathfinder" from a high place and see if your payload (egg) survives. Keywords: design process, landing, Newton's laws |
20 Minutes | 45 Minutes-1.5 Hours | Moderate |
| Project X-51 - Water Rocket Construction |
Students form "rocket companies" and compete in a commercial endeavor to construct a rocket capable of lifting payloads into Earth orbit. Keywords: rockets, design process, business plan |
2 Hours | 2 Weeks | Moderate |
| Spaghetti Anyone? Building With Pasta |
Engineering design process to build a structure to handle the greatest load. Gain first-hand experience with compression and tension forces. Keywords: design process, structures, geometry, failure |
15 Minutes | 1.5 Hours | Basic |
| Student Glovebox - Droplet Investigation of Liquids |
Inquiry-based technology lesson to construct a sealed container with built-in gloves and to explore the properties of liquids. Keywords: fluids, viscosity, design process |
1 Hour | 4-8 Hours | Moderate |
| Water Filtration System |
Lesson challenges students to create and test a water filtering system. Activities focus on water recovery and management. Keywords: water quality, filtration, remediation, scarcity |
1 Hour | 5-6 Hours | Moderate |
Exploration Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Crew Exploration Vehicle |
Students design and build a crew exploration vehicle, or CEV, that will carry two cm-sized passengers safely and will fit within a certain volume (size limitation). Keywords: engineering, design process, rovers, entry, descent, landing |
15-30 Minutes | 1-2 Hours | Intermediate |
| Landing a Rover |
Teams' challenge is to design and build a model of a lunar transport rover that will carry equipment and people on the surface of the moon. Keywords: exploration, engineering, design process, rovers, planet surface, energy, force, momentum |
30-60 Minutes | Three 1-Hour Sessions | Intermediate |
| Moon Rovers |
Students design and build a rubber band-powered rover that can scramble across the room. Keywords: exploration, engineering, design process, rovers, energy, force, momentum |
15-30 Minutes | 1 Hour | Basic |
| NASA Simulations |
Students use NASA web-based simulators to follow sequenced directions and complete ordered tasks while learning how the shuttle is made ready for flight, how the shuttle docks with the International Space Station, how the shuttle lands, and how NASA retrieves the solid rocket boosters. Keywords: simulations, computer simulations, computer-based |
15-30 Minutes | 1 Hour | Basic |
Robotics Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Heavy Lifter |
Students design and build a crane out of cardboard. Determine methods to reinforce the crane's arms so it doesn't collapse under a heavy load, and build a crank handle. Keywords: engineering, design process, rovers, entry, descent, landing |
20 Minutes | 1.5 Hours | Basic |
| Robotics - Hands Down! |
Lesson includes a series of activities that are based on robotics applications. Keywords: effector, pick up, grab, space station, glove |
20 Minutes | 3 Hours | Basic |
| Using Robotics |
Students simulate operating a planetary rover and problem solve solutions. Work within a mission team setting to problem solve and accomplish a common goal, and research examples of real world applications of robotics. Keywords: programming, control, remote |
20 Minutes | 3 Hours | Moderate |
Rocketry Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Heavy Lifting Air Engines |
Students use balloons to demonstrate concepts applied by jet and rocket engines to supply thrust for movement. Keywords: jets, airplanes, balloons, aeronautics, thrust, rockets, vectoring, Newton's Laws of Motion |
30 Minutes | 1-2 Hours | Basic |
| Nose Cone Aerodynamics |
Students compare the aerodynamic features of different nose cone designs. Keywords: engineering design process, Newton's Laws of Motion, engine, gravity, drag, parachutes, fin, payload, trajectory, stability, launcher rocket,wind tunnel, propulsion, lift, drag, weight, thrust |
30 Minutes | 1 Hour | Moderate |
Some of the links within the lessons may take you off the NASA Summer of Innovation website.
NASA Summer of Innovation takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over, the organizations, views, or accuracy of the information contained on these websites.
Thank you for visiting our site.