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English Language Arts
These design challenge lessons get students reading, writing and speaking about science and engineering. Check them out, and see how many opportunities there are to create cross-over in your curriculum!
Lessons marked with an orange gear icon address engineering within the Next Generation Science Standards.
Reading
Building for Birdie
Grades K-2
Apply knowledge of shapes to build a bird home that is structurally sound. 
Lesson: 60 minutes
Unit: 150 minutes
Activity: 30 minutes
Caution! Wildlife Crossing
Grades 1-5
Build a structure (bridge, tunnel, etc.) to get an animal safely across a road.
Tech at Home Activity: 20+ minutes
Animal Rescue
Grades 4-8
Teams gather information and scientific evidence to design a device that will help move endangered animals from one protected area to another.
Lesson: Eight to ten 50-minute sessions
Writing
Vocabulary Choice Board
Grades K-12
Vocabulary activities to pair with one of our labs or other STEM activities.
Lesson: 20-30 min
Cooking with the Sun
Grades 3-8
Engineer a solar oven and use solar energy and radiation to warm a chosen food item. (Lab Connection: Simplicity of Electricity Lab)
Activity: 40 minutes to build, 1 hour to “cook”
Engineering Journals
Grades 3-8
Practice writing and documentation skills, whether in-person or virtual, with this journaling lesson.
Lesson: 60 minutes
Shaky Shelves: Exploring Cause and Effect
Grade 6
Write a proposal to the mayor for a device that prevents product and profit loss caused by earthquakes.
Lesson: Four 45-minute sessions
Coastal Erosion: Designing and Debating Solutions
Grades 6-8
Make an argument supported with evidence for a solution to the environmental issue of coastal erosion.
Lesson: Five 60-minute sessions
Design for All: Designing for Dexterity
Grades 7-12
Students work in teams to design a user-centered device for someone who has a specific need related to hand mobility.
Lesson: 2 hours
Unit: 5 hours
Speaking and Listening
Design for All: Project Playground
Grades 3-5
Become playground designers, draw a playground for yourself and a fictional friend using a persona. Then pitch your design to get feedback.
Lesson: 60 minutes
Activity: 30 minutes
Energy at Play
Grades 3-6
Build a device that can move a ball to a target while exploring energy transfer.
Lesson: 60-90 minutes
Planet Protectors
Grades 3-12
Students work together to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) which educates others about protecting our planet.
Lesson: 120 minutes
New!
Engineering Takes Flight
Grades 4-8
Explore the flight characteristics of different materials while designing an aircraft.
Lesson: Five 50-minute sessions
Escape the Lava
Grades 4-8
Design a device to rescue researchers from a lava flow.
Lesson: Four 50-minute sessions
Interglactic Interview
Grades 4-12
Students will practice their interview skills by pitching an ordinary Earth item to a panel of alien investors. Groups will take turns acting as both the design team and the panel as they build skills in giving and receiving feedback.
Lesson: 120 minutes (Two 60 minute sessions)
New!
Earthquake in a Box
Grades 5-8
See first-hand how tectonic plates interact and the consequences. (Lab Connection: Engineering for Earthquakes Lab)
Lesson: 45 minutes
Green Pennies
Grades 5-8
Experiment with different oxidizing compounds to turn pennies green…and back to copper. (Lab Connection: Chemicals of Innovation Lab)
Activity: 30 minutes of set-up, 5 days of observation
Periodic Table Battleship
Grades 5-8
Develop a greater familiarity with the Periodic Table of Elements. (Lab Connection: Chemicals of Innovation lab)
Lesson: 30 mins
New!
AI Inclusiveness
Grades 6-8
Explore the problem of bias in artificial intelligence through design activities and a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, AI4ALL.
Lesson: 190 minutes
Medical Supply Availability
Grades 6-8
Explore the problem of medical supply availability through design activities and a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, Zipline.
Lesson: 180 minutes
Organizing Activism
Grades 6-8
Explore the role of the internet in an individuals’ ability to create change. Includes design activities and a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, Amandla.mobi.
Lesson: 190 minutes
The World’s Water Problem
Grades 6-8
Investigate global water issues through design activities and a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, Solvatten.
Lesson: 180 minutes
Scientist Stories
Grades 6-12
Reflect on the stories of a diverse set of role models through the Scientist Stories video series in our Solve For Earth exhibition. Students will explore their preconceived notions of scientists, connect with science careers and recognize the qualities they share with scientists.
Lesson: 60 minutes
Circular Economy Challenge
Grades 7-12
Consider the challenge of developing a circular economy. Each team of learners develops and presents ideas for sustainable approaches to how items are made and used.
Lesson: Four sessions, 60 minutes each
New Lesson!
Data Challenge
Grades 7-12
Analyze how The Tech for Global Good laureates use data as a tool to solve problems and affect change. As a team create a plan for collecting and using data to address a problem in your own sphere of influence.
Lesson: 90 minutes
Emerging Technologies
Grades 7-12
Examine environmental issues through the lens of four emerging technologies. Working in teams, students consider the challenges these technologies might face if they were adopted in their own communities.
Lesson: Three 60-minute sessions
Save the Species Challenge
Grades 7-12
Develop a solution that assists governments in protecting species in designated areas.
Lesson: Four sessions, 60 minutes each
Vaccine Distribution Challenge
Grades 7-12
Consider the complexities of infrastructure, public health and sociocultural landscapes in designing a solution to distribute a life saving vaccine.
Lesson: Four sessions, 60 minutes each
To Donate or Not to Donate
Grades 8-12
Students have small group discussion on the topic of whether or not to
donate their bodies to a future Body Worlds exhibition. (Lab connection: Chemistry of Plastination)
Lesson: Two 60-minute sessions