Engineering is Elementary - Lesson Plan Overview

Lesson 1: Beaufort Scale Lesson

Engage:
o Build background about Beaufort scale.
Explore:
o student work together to collect data using the Beaufort scale
Explain:
o discuss what data we have collected and what the scale is based upon
Lesson 2: Who are Mechanical Engineers?
Engage:
o Introduce Denmark and wind power
o Read Leif Catches the Wind
o Comprehension questions based upon story
Lesson 3: Who are Mechanical Engineers? (Continued)
Engage:
o Build background from Lesson 1
Explore:
o Explore different types of machines (egg beaters, glue stick, mechanical pencil,
can opener and stapler)
o Work in groups with each machine to:
o Discuss the purpose, where you act on the machine to make it work, where the
resulting motion is, and the advantages and disadvantages of the machine.
Explain:
o Share what we have learned
Lesson 4: Testing Sail designs Part 1
Explore:
o explore properties of good sails, what the purpose of the sailboat is, and
connections to wind mills
o Look at different materials (notecard, plastic cup, felt, copy paper, tissue
paper, plastic bag, plastic straws, and tin foil.) look at properties of each and
make predictions about what materials to use
o Draw sail designs first alone then with a partner
Extend/Elaborate:
o Talk about which materials would be a good idea and if direction matters for
the placement of the sails

Lesson 5: Testing Sail Designs Part 2

Engage:
o Talk about what we worked on last class, what their predictions are and what their
sail designs look like
Explore:
o Go over procedures and what the track looks like for the test
Elaborate:
o Students will have time to design their sails and test their sails.
o Students will be able to redesign their sails and test again.
o Teachers walk around and ask questions about designs
Evaluate:
o Students evaluate how successful they were with the sails.
o Whole group discussion about what worked and what did not depending on their
materials
o Discussion on their redesign and why
Lesson 6: Designing a Windmill
Engage:
o Discussion bridging sail designs and windmills
o Talk about materials that would be used for the blades and which would work best
based on their sail designs
Explore:
o Explore materials, how many blades, what direction the blades are facing
o Imagine how the blades should look, how big they should be
o Draw own blade designs,
o Talk with a partner about what design they will try first next time
Lesson 7: Designing a Windmill
Engage:
o Overview of part one
o Talk about what designs were successful in the sail designs
o Talk about ways to modify design if does not work
Extend:
o Construct their blades
o Attach to base and test
Evaluate:
o Discussion about experiment
o What properties work best?
o Does the number of blades matter?
o What mattered to make the windmill spin?
o Wrap up of lessons