The Importance of Engineering
Engineering provides a context in which students can test their developing scientific knowledge and apply it to practical problems. If not included explicitly in science curricula, students may not get the opportunity to explore how science concepts can inform the design of solutions to everyday problems.
Check out the following Gizmos to bring more engineering design into your classroom and be sure to read our article, How to Introduce Students to Engineering, for more tips.
Grades 3 - 5
Earthquake-Proof Homes Gizmo
With our Earthquake-Proof Homes engineering simulation, students will design a house to withstand an earthquake and protect the people living inside. They will start by selecting a location in San Francisco, then choosing the design and materials for a foundation, frame, walls, and roof. Students are able to test each house in an earthquake and assess the damages, ultimately trying to arrive at a house design that results in the least damage.
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Flood and Storm-Proof Homes Gizmo
With our Flood and Storm-Proof Homes engineering simulation, students will build a home to survive a flood or a hurricane and protect the people inside. They will start by choosing the design and materials for a foundation, frame, walls, and roof. Students are able to test each house in a flood or storm and see how well their design worked.
View Flood and Storm-Proof Homes Gizmo
Pendulum Clock Gizmo
With our Pendulum Clock engineering simulation, students will find the effect of length, mass, and angle on the period of a pendulum. The pendulum is attached to a clock that can be adjusted to tell time accurately. The clock can be located on Earth or Jupiter to determine the effect of gravity.
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Programmable Rover
With our Programmable Rover engineering simulation, students will program a rover to explore the surface of Mars. They will start by using tiles to create simple programs involving moving forward or backward, turns, jumps, loops, and picking up rock samples. Then use text instructions to optimize your code. Students use their skills to program the rover to complete six challenging missions on Mars.
View Programmable Rover Gizmo
Grades 6 - 12
Crumple Zones Gizmo
With our Crumple Zones Gizmo, students will design a car to protect a test dummy in a collision. Adjust the length and stiffness of the crumple zone and the rigidity of the safety cell to determine how the car will deform during the crash. Add seat belts and/or airbags to prevent the dummy from hitting the steering wheel. Three different body types (sedan, SUV, and subcompact) are available and a wide range of crash speeds can be used.
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Genetic Engineering Gizmo
With our Genetic Engineering Gizmo, students will use genetic engineering techniques to create corn plants resistant to insect pests or tolerant of herbicides. They will identify useful genes from bacteria, insert the desired gene into a corn plant, and then compare the modified plant to a control plant in a lab setting.
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GMOs and the Environment Gizmo
With our GMOs and the Environment Gizmo, students will explore how farmers can maximize yield while limiting ecosystem damage using genetically modified corn. They can choose the corn type to plant and the amount of herbicide and insecticide to use, then measure corn yields and monitor wildlife populations and diversity. Students can observe the long-term effects of pollutants on a nearby stream ecosystem.
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Trebuchet Gizmo
With our Trebuchet Gizmo, students will design their own trebuchet to fling a projectile at a castle wall. All of the dimensions of the trebuchet can be adjusted, as well as the masses of the counterweight and payload. Select a target on the Launch tab, or just see how far the projectile will go.
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Grades 9 - 12
Feel the Heat Gizmo
With our Feel the Heat Gizmo, students will create their own hot and cold packs using various salts dissolved in water and different bag materials. They will learn about exothermic and endothermic processes and how energy is absorbed or released when bonds are broken and new bonds form.
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Looking for different grade-level solutions?
Check out our other math and science products.