Support for long-term classroom planning and professional development. Information covering important topics for today's educators and parents. Developed by a team of teachers and engineers to enhance middle school students' learning of and interest in mathematics and science, this booklet contains problems illustrating engineering concepts and experiences. Chapters include a lesson plan, enrichment activities, student readings, teacher demonstrations, and applied engineering problems illustrating and utilizing concepts in the chapter. Chapter one examines the nature of engineering and the engineering problem solving process.
Students apply the problem solving model to the problem of planning and conducting a school picnic.
In Chapter two, students investigate gear ratios and relate the concept to engineering design. In Chapter three, students investigate flight, pressure differentials, the Bernoulli equation, wind tunnels, air foils, lift, angles of attack, and thrust. Teacher demonstrations include using a hair dryer to illustrate the Bernoulli equation and using a Styrofoam airfoil to demonstrate how the flow of air against an airfoil creates lift. In Chapter four, students investigate engineering problems related to the design and construction of an amusement park roller coaster. Concepts introduced in the lesson include potential energy, kinetic energy, centrifugal force, gravity, and velocity.