These design challenge lessons get students reading, writing and speaking about science and engineering. Check them out, and see how many opportunties there are to create cross-over in your curriculum!
Lesson titles marked with an asterisk (*) address engineering within the Next Generation Science Standards.
Building for Birdie*
Apply knowledge of shapes to build a bird home that is structurally sound.
Duration: Lesson: 60 minutes; Unit: 150 minutes; Activity: 30 minutes
Grades: K-2
Lesson Plan Unit Tech at Home activity
Caution! Wildlife Crossing*
Build a structure (bridge, tunnel, etc.) to get an animal safely across a road.
Duration: 20+ minutes
Grades: 1-5
Tech at Home activity
Designing for Dexterity*
Students work in teams to design a user-centered device for someone who has a specific need related to hand mobility.
Lesson Plan Unit
Cooking with the Sun*
Engineer a solar oven and use solar energy and radiation to warm a chosen food item.
Duration: 40 minutes to build, 1 hour to “cook”
Grades: 3-8
Lesson Plan Tech at Home activity
Engineering Journals*
Practice writing and documentation skills, whether in-person or virtual, with this journaling lesson.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grades: 3-8
Lesson Plan Video
Animal Rescue*
Teams gather information and scientific evidence to design a device that will help move endangered animals from one protected area to another.
Duration: Eight to ten 50-minute sessions
Grades: 4-8
Lesson Plan
Shaky Shelves: Exploring Cause and Effect*
Write a proposal to the mayor for a device that prevents product and profit loss caused by earthquakes.
Duration: Four 45-minute sessions
Grade: 6
Lesson Plan
Coastal Erosion: Designing and Debating Solutions*
Make an argument supported with evidence for a solution to the environmental issue of coastal erosion.
Duration: Five 60-minute sessions
Grades: 6-8
Lesson Plan
Project Playground*
Students become playground designers tasked with designing and drawing a playground for themselves and a fictional friend using a persona. After sketching out their playground, they will pitch their design to get feedback.
Duration: Lesson: 60 minutes; Activity: 30 minutes
Grades: 3-5
Lesson Plan Tech at Home activity
Energy at Play*
Build a device that can move a ball to a target while exploring energy transfer.
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Grades: 3-6
Lesson Plan
Engineering Takes Flight*
Explore the flight characteristics of different materials while designing an aircraft.
Duration: Five 50-minute sessions
Grades: 4-8
Lesson Plan
Weight Distribution and Flight*
Conduct weight distribution experiments with paper airplanes to gather information for a short presentation.
Duration: Two 60-minute sessions
Grades: 4-8
Lesson Plan Tech Challenge activity Video
Escape the Lava*
Design a device to rescue researchers from a lava flow.
Duration: Four 50-minute sessions
Grades: 4-8
Lesson Plan
Green Pennies
Experiment with different oxidizing compounds to turn pennies green…and back to copper.
Duration: 30 minutes of set-up, 5 days of observation
Grades: 5-8
Lesson Plan Tech at Home activity
Scientist Stories
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.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grades: 6-12
Lesson Plan Videos
AI Inclusiveness*
In this lesson, students will 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.
Duration: 190 minutes
Grades: 6-8
Lesson Plan Video Clips
Medical Supply Availability*
In this lesson, students will explore the problem of medical supply availability through design activities and a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, Zipline.
Duration: 180 minutes
Grades: 6-8
Lesson Plan Video Clips
Organizing Activism*
In this lesson, students will explore the role the Internet plays in global campaigns and the effects of the digital divide on individuals’ ability to create change. Learners will do design activities and view a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, Amandla.mobi.
Duration: 190 minutes
Grades: 6-8
Lesson Plan Video Clips
The World’s Water Problem*
In this lesson, students will investigate global water issues through design activities and a series of video clips featuring The Tech for Global Good laureate, Solvatten.
Duration: 180 minutes
Grades: 6-8
Lesson Plan Video Clips
Data Challenge*
Analyze how The Tech for Global Good laureates use data as a tool to solve problems and effect change. Students will then work in groups to create a plan for collecting and using data to address a problem in their own sphere of influence.
Duration: 90 minutes
Grades: 7-12
Lesson Plan and Videos
Emerging Technologies*
Examine environmental issues through the lens of four emerging technologies. Then, students will consider the challenges these technologies might face if they were adopted in their own communities. Working in teams, students will develop both a potential solution and a pitch to address possible challenges.
Duration: Three 60-minute sessions
Grades: 7-12
Lesson Plan Videos
Save the Species Challenge*
Develop a solution that assists governments in protecting species in designated areas.
Duration: Four sessions, 60 minutes each
Grades: 7-12
Lesson Plan and Videos
Vaccine Distribution Challenge*
Consider the complexities of infrastructure, public health and sociocultural landscapes in designing a solution to distribute a life saving vaccine.
Duration: Four sessions, 60 minutes each
Grades: 7-12
Lesson Plan and Videos
