Design Challenge Lessons
| Magnet Circus | |
| Explore the properties of magnets by designing a device that can move as far as possible using only magnets to move it, and then design a machine that will stay in motion for the greatest period of time. |
Published July 26, 2006 Download 1.6MB PDF |
| Simplicity of Electricity | |
| This is a hands-on, "how-to" workshop for students to learn how to troubleshoot a circuit, design a switch and build and test a signaling device. |
Published July 26, 2006 Download 434k PDF |
| Exploring Buoyancy | |
| Design Challenge created to teach students about buoyancy, density, volume and pressure. |
Published July 26, 2006 Download 348k PDF |
| Physics of Roller Coasters | |
| Full-length lab curriculum was developed to teach Kinetic and Potential energies, Newton's Laws of Motion, velocity, friction and acceleration. |
Published July 26, 2006 Download 484k PDF |
| Building for the Big One | |
| Using this activity, students will learn about the effects of earthquakes and how various soil types react during an earthquake. This lesson gives students first-hand experience in making design decisions similar to those made in the real world. |
Published July 26, 2006 Download 2.3MB PDF |
| Oh Boy, Buoyancy! | |
| This teacher developed Design Challenge unit weaves engaging inquiry lessons and design challenges into the physical science content of buoyancy to create a hands-on, content rich unit of study. |
Published October 19, 2005 Download 1404k PDF |
| Human Body Exhibit | |
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Published October 19, 2005 Download 151k PDF |
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| Without CA Science Standards Human Body Exhibit (no CA) | |
| In this teacher developed Design Challenge unit, students learn about the systems of the human body by creating a "museum exhibit" for their classroom. Download with or without the California State Science Standards. |
Published October 1, 2005 Download 120k PDF |
| Rat Round Up | |
| Build a device that will capture and carry a pet rat (or other moving toy) safely back to its cage. |
Published March 10, 2005 Download 294k PDF |
| Pooper Scooper | |
| Build a tool to safely pick up poop so that no one is exposed to diseases that can be carried in animal waste. |
Published March 10, 2005 Download 246k PDF |
| Fire Brigade | |
| Build a device to deliver a new fire fighting material safely to the fire. (Note No real fire is used in this challenge.) |
Published March 10, 2005 Download 259k PDF |
| Rover Landing | |
| Students explore the concepts of forces and motion as they design protective devices that will enable their 'Egg Rovers' to safely land on a surface after being dropped from a designated height. |
Published March 24, 2004 Download 143k PDF |
| Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia An Ancient Civil Engineering Problem | |
| In this integrated, multi-day Design Challenge unit, students will explore simple machines, transportation of materials, and river systems using stream tables. They will discover the problems ancient farmers faced and design their own working models that will attempt to solve those unique problems (includes Design Challenges Flowing From Here to There and Two Rivers Ran Through It). |
Published November 20, 2003 Download 506k PDF |
| Flowing From Here to There | |
| Students explore simple machines to transport dry, but fluid, material from one container to another (also included as a part of Farming in Ancient Mesopotamiaunit). |
Published November 20, 2003 Download 260k PDF |
| Two Rivers Ran Through It | |
| In this challenge students will discover the problems that early farmers faced while developing agriculture in "the land between two rivers" and design a working model that solves those unique challenges (also included as a part of Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia unit). |
Published November 20, 2003 Download 324k PDF |
| Cup in the Cupboard | |
| In this challenge students are asked to design and build a device that can be used to place a cup in a high cupboard to assist a friend who uses a wheel chair. |
Published November 6, 2003 Download 253k PDF Download Unit 284k PDF |
| Circle of Pong | |
| Students use their knowledge of potential and kinetic energy, and explore forces and motion to place a ball into the center of a 6-foot diameter circle. |
Published July 31, 2003 Download 152k PDF |
| Free up the Ketchup | |
| Students demonstrate their knowledge of Newton's 1st Law of Motion with this introductory level Design Challenge. |
Published June 25, 2003 Download 52k PDF |
| Double Toss | |
| Students use their knowledge of potential and kinetic energy, and explore forces and motion as they work together to solve this introductory level Design Challenge. |
Published June 25, 2003 Download 207k PDF |
| Motion Commotion | |
| Inspired by the whimsical drawings of Rube Goldberg, students will leverage their knowledge of forces, work, simple machines and conservation of energy to design and build complex contraptions to complete a simple task. |
Published April 21, 2003 Download 151k PDF |
| Float A Boat | |
| Design and build a vessel with its own propulsion system that will carry cargo across a wading pool. |
Published March 24, 2003 Download 169k PDF |
| Listening Devices | |
| Design a listening device that will allow them to listen to the sound generated by a specific object inside of a box. |
Published March 24, 2003 Download 136k PDF |
| Seed Dispersal | |
| Create and test a wind dispersed seed designed by students. |
Published March 24, 2003 Download 143k PDF |
| Design a Bobsled | |
| Students explore the effects of gravity, friction and air resistance upon acceleration when they design their own bobsleds. |
Published December 31, 2002 Download 248k PDF |
| PUMP IT UP! | |
| Students learn about their circulatory system by designing a pumping device that will effectively pump fluid through a given cardiovascular system. |
Published December 31, 2002 Download 208k PDF |
| Spuds in Space | |
| Students investigate force and motion as they design spacesuits for their potato astronauts that can withstand the hazards of high velocity impacts from space debris and meteoroids. |
Published December 31, 2002 Download 148k PDF |
| Tree House Escape | |
| In this Design Challenge students explore how simple machines can make "work" easier while they design a device to retrieve their sibling from a tree house that has lost its ladder. |
Published November 20, 2002 Download 160k PDF |
| Pet Rescue | |
| In this Design Challenge activity students will explore how structure relates to function as they design devices to save Fido. |
Published November 20, 2002 Download 148k PDF |
| Freestanding Structures | |
| In this Design Challenge, families and friends work together to design the tallest structure that they can, using only the materials provided. |
Published November 19, 2002 Download 117k PDF |
| Energy at Play | |
| In this activity students will design a contraption using Tinker ToysTM, while exploring how Potential and Kinetic Energy are transformed and transferred. They will also gain a deeper understanding of the Law of Conservation of Energy. |
Published October 23, 2002 Download 117k PDF |
