Science Resources - Secondary Level (RFA)

From a teaching and learning point of view, it is the iterative cycle of design that offers the greatest potential for applying science knowledge in the classroom and engaging in engineering practices” (NRC 2012, pp. 201-2). The Framework recommends that students explicitly learn how to engage in engineering design practices to solve problems...

...In some ways, children are natural engineers. They spontaneously build sand castles, dollhouses, and hamster enclosures, and they use a variety of tools and materials for their own playful purposes. …Children’s capabilities to design structures can then be enhanced by having them pay attention to points of failure and asking them to create and test redesigns of the bridge so that it is stronger. (NRC, 2012, p. 70).

- from Engineering Design in the NGSS, nextgenscience.org

Engineering Design Challenges

• Using common disposable materials collected by the teacher. See:
  • Design Thinking Products & Challenges (Stanford Institute of Design, K-12 Lab)
  • Advancing STEM Challenges
• Using non-consummable construction-type kits, e.g., borrowed from the M-O BOCES SNAP media catalog. Tip: go to snap.moboces.org and type the name of the item in the search box. For instructions for logging into/using SNAP, go to our SNAP support page.
  • See:
    • ZomeTools.  Creator 3 kits (2 available). Teacher Resources page. Challenge cards. Lesson plans. 
    • Keva Blocks. 400 plank sets (6 available). How to build a STEM challenge, Activities/Lesson Plans.
    • Brain Flakes. Some building ideas. 

Computer scientists and engineers use coding to design solutions to problems. Coding (Robotics) Design Challenges use simple computer coding, such as drag and drop, to program a robot to behave in a certain way. The robot offers tangible results to computer programming, allowing students to instantly test their code and engage in iterative design process.

CLICK HERE to see the robotics and coding kits available through the SNAP media catalog. 

Workshop: Coding & Creating with Sphero Spark Robots. Thursday, August 17, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Click here for MLP registration link. 

Hosted by M-O BOCES SLS/CIS (Media Library Service). Participants will get priority booking for the Sphero Spark Class Set of Robots for the 17-18 school year.