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"Engineering is the process of creating and building structures, products, and systems by using math and science." The key to this definition is ''creating'; it is a process that requires a clear objective and reflection time to improve models.

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Idea #2
Egg Drop Challenge
For this activity students will create a way to protect the egg when dropped from a certain height. The teacher provides various materials to spark ideas for a device to protect the egg. Such materials include popsicle sticks, cotton balls, and or pipe cleaners.

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EGG DROP CHALLENGE!  Try not to break it!

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Idea #1:
DIY Robot Steam Hand
For this activity students will engineer a hand that can move. This activity supports the fundamentals of robotics and designing a robot.

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Motion & Matter
Idea #3: Pulley
A pulley is a made up of rope and a round with a groove (usually a wheel). For this engineering feet, I found a project through the "Little Bins, Little Hands" website.
INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Poke two holes in your cup. Thread the string through the holes and tie your string so it will lift the cup in the center.
STEP 2: Cut two circles from cardboard and poke a hole in the center of each.
STEP 3: Glue the cardboard circles to each side of the thread spool.
STEP 4: Thread the spool through a wire and then suspend the wire.
STEP 5: Fill your cup with marbles.
STEP 6: Pull your string across the thread spool pulley to lift your cup of marbles with ease!

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Ideas for my Classroom: Simple Machines 

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Ideas for my Classroom: Simple Machines 

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Motion & Matter Unit
Idea #2: Wedge
A wedge is a two inclined planes, brought together in a sharp edge. For this engineering project, I give my students a pile of play-dough. They will be tasked with cutting in half. Have them try using the flat palm of their hand. They’ll figure out it doesn’t work – it just squishes the play-dough, it doesn’t separate it. I would then give them a plastic knife to cute the playdough to create a sharp, thin edge. Demonstrating the necessary components of a wedge.

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Ideas for my Classroom: Simple Machines 

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Ideas for my Classroom: Simple Machines 

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Motion & Matter Unit
Idea #1: Screw
Teaching students that a screw is basically an inclined plane wrapped around a rod. My engineering idea will have students take paper plates and cute one edge to adjust a side higher to demonstrate an inclined plane. Then wrapping the class' plates around a rod we can drop a marble at the top in order to model the slope involved with a screw.

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Elementary Engineering: From Simple Machines to Life Skills

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At Charles R. Drew, educators use design thinking for teaching engineering concepts to elementary students.

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Video for Teachers to Support their Students 

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Video for Teachers to Support their Students 

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Learn that engineers use science and math to solve problems. In engineering, we design, build and test things to make them better. Watch now!

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Engineering seems to me as daring undertaking in a classroom. The first reason why I feel uncomfortable with engineering is because it requires much preparation. When I had my students complete their latest engineering project, my room was very chaotic. Students were working through different process to achieve a common result. That part was beautiful to watch. What I didn't appreciate was the supplies/room in order to have a well-done engineering project. My classroom lacks space for additional supplies so my desk became a storage area and, consequently, my room felt very cramped.

The second reason I feel uneasy with engineering is lack of background knowledge/time on the topics. Our current science unit has a handful of projects, but I find the curriculum at times overwhelming and unrealistic to complete. We only have 20-25 minutes a day for content. By the time students have transitioned, it is more like 15-20 minutes. In order to complete an engineering project, I have to stop and go throughout the week.  Causing me to teach in small chunks and often not having enough time for discussions.