Engineering for Middle School Students
Pick-up-and-Go Engineering Modules for the Classroom
The students take on a challenge of designing a solution by only using the materials available that can help people pull on their socks independently.
Assistive Device (Grades 6-8)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH SCIENCES
Pulling on a sock is difficult for people with limited hand and wrist muscle control. It is a struggle for their muscles to overcome the sock’s elastic potential energy when stretched, and gravitational potential energy when lifted. The students take on a challenge of designing a solution by only using the materials available that can help people pull on their socks independently.
PROJECT FILES
The students solve this problem by designing a way to protect supplies from being damaged as they are sent to the town in need using only the materials provided.
Cracker Catapult (Grades 4-8)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION
An earthquake in Hawaii has collapsed the only bridge leading into or out of a town. The town’s people are stuck, and in need of supplies! In order to transport supplies over the collapsed bridge, the neighboring town built a catapult and is flinging materials from one side to the other! The students solve this problem by designing a way to protect supplies from being damaged as they are sent to the town in need using only the materials provided.
PROJECT FILES
The students’ challenge is to design, build, and test a filtration system that could be used for removing harmful pollutants/contaminants from water.
Filtration (Grades 4-7)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL ENGINEERING
In Africa, two out of five people do not have clean water. A source for clean water would help solve these problems and improve the lives of thousands of people. The students’ challenge is to design, build, and test a filtration system that could be used for removing harmful pollutants/contaminants from water.
PROJECT FILES
The students’ challenge is to design a more efficient system to help flight crew members in transporting luggage straight from the airplane to the conveyor belt where passengers pick up their belongings.
Marble Ramp (Grades 4-8)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS, ARCHITECTURE & CONSTRUCTION
The students’ challenge is to design a more efficient system to help flight crew members in transporting luggage straight from the airplane to the conveyor belt where passengers pick up their belongings. The design must transfer marbles from an elevated cup (symbolizing the airplane) to a cup on a lower level (symbolizing the baggage claim area) using only provided materials and must finish in the time allotted.
PROJECT FILES
The students’ challenge is to use supplies to create a life vest that will keep Max, the family dog who fell overboard, afloat.
Save Max! (Grades 6-8)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, ANATOMY, GEOLOGY
The students’ challenge is to use supplies to create a life vest that will keep Max, the family dog who fell overboard, afloat. The vest must be able to be put on quickly and easily to save the dog. Students can only use the provided materials and must follow all time restrictions.
PROJECT FILES
Mount St. Helens is erupting shortly! The students’ task is to create a structure that will save the surrounding building before the lava places the civilians in danger.
Save the Building (Grades 4-8)
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
Mount St. Helens is erupting shortly. The students’ task is to create a structure that will save the surrounding building before the lava places the civilians in danger. They have around 15 minutes to complete the task and save the building from the flow of lava from the volcano.
PROJECT FILES
The students’ challenge is to build a surgical instrument that can safely remove an object from a goat’s stomach.
Smooth Operator (Grades 4-8)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, MEDICAL CARE
The students’ challenge is to build a surgical instrument that can safely remove an object from a goat’s stomach. The design cannot hurt the goat or damage the objects. The dominoes represent the goat’s stomach, so the students need to be careful not to hurt the goat by knocking over dominoes.
PROJECT FILES
The challenge is to build three different houses, each constructed with a material similar to what The Three Little Pigs used.
Three Little Pigs (Grades 5-8)
CIVIL ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION
The challenge is to build three different houses, each constructed with a material similar to what The Three Little Pigs used. Straw, stick, and brick houses, built by The Three Little Pigs, were tested for their ability to withstand the destructive force of The Big Bad Wolf’s huffing and puffing. Your drinking straw, Popsicle stick, and card houses will be tested for their ability to withstand the destructive forces of a hurricane’s wind, rain, and hail.
PROJECT FILES
The students are to design and build a cradle that will safely transport one islander at a time across the zip line from the island to the neighboring city.
Zip Line (Grades 3-8)
CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS, HUMAN SERVICES
A recent earthquake has collapsed a bridge, which was the only way out of an island. The islanders are running out of resources quickly, and need help. The only means of transportation remaining is the island’s famous zip line, which includes a section leading from the island to a neighboring city. The students are to design and build a cradle that will safely transport one islander at a time across the zip line from the island to the neighboring city.