6.1 STEAM Discomfort by Clifford Sweezey

E is for Engineering

cliffordsweezey — 2025-08-04 20:34:00 UTC

Engineering to my understanding is the ability to create or improve something. That can be something that is altogether brand new, or creating something to improve a long standing mechanism or system.

Engineering in Social Studies

cliffordsweezey — 2025-08-04 20:37:56 UTC

I feel that engineering has the hardest time finding its way into the social studies curriculum. Yes, my goal is to get students to create things such as opinions, claims, beliefs, etc. Intangible things are not necessarily what is dealt with by engineers aside from perhaps the mathematics and theory that are needed to bring an idea to life. Social studies students, especially at the secondary level, are seldom building things by hand and in a way that is related to the frameworks set forth by New York State. With that in mind, many teachers might be perverse to incorporating engineering standards into their social studies classrooms with state testing and curriculum looming over their heads.

Engineering Activities in Social Studies?

cliffordsweezey — 2025-08-04 21:11:13 UTC

1.) In an introductory lesson to aviation and flying (leading up to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart) in Mysteries of History, I have students make paper airplanes and test their durability in the hallway.

2.) Students in our crime and delinquency class "build" their ideal prison/jail.

3.) An activity in American history and discussing the downsides to the growth of the American suburb post WW2: ie the detriments of Robert Moses keeping minorities off Long Island through low bridges, parkways that went through minority communities, and restrictive covenants in suburban housing.

Other SS Teachers and Engineering

cliffordsweezey — 2025-08-04 21:21:08 UTC

1.) Combining Social Studies and STEM in a Project-Based Learning Unit

2.) Use the engineering design process to recreate instruments, homes, or tools from the different people groups or time periods throughout history. (Option 4)

Additional "E" Resources

cliffordsweezey — 2025-08-04 21:25:27 UTC

1.) 4 Educators’ Keys to Connecting STEM and Social Studies

2.) Everything Is Connected: Integrating Science and Engineering with Instruction in Other Subjects