Engineering is Elementary

Museum of Science, Boston

Engineers….build buildings.

Engineers….build bridges and roads.

Engineers….fix cars, engines, and machines.

Engineers….use or fix computers.

Engineers….drive trains.

Why Elementary Engineering?

• Technological literacy is a basic 21st century literacy

• Makes math and science relevant, integrates other disciplines

• Builds and reinforces skills

• Increases students’ awareness of and access to engineering and science careers

Engineering is Elementary (EiE)

Lessons that integrate engineering and technology concepts into elementary science.

Goal 1. Increase children’s technological literacy.

Goal 2. Increase elementary educators ability to teach engineering and technology.

Goal 3. Increase the number of schools in the U.S. that include engineering at the elementary level.

Goal 4. Conduct research and assessment to further the first three goals and contribute knowledge about engineering teaching and learning at the elementary level.

EiE UnitsScience Topic Eng Field Technology CountryWater Environmental Water Filters IndiaInsects/Plants Agricultural Pollinators Dominican RepWind & Weather Mechanical Windmills DenmarkSimple Machines Industrial Chip Factory Design USA (Af Am)Earth Materials Materials Walls ChinaBalance & Forces Civil Bridges USA (Hisp)Sound Acoustical Sound Representation GhanaOrganisms Bioengineering Model Membranes El SalvadorElectricity Electrical Alarm Circuits AustraliaSolids & Liquids Chemical Playdough Process CanadaLandforms Geotechnical Bridge Siting NepalPlants Package Plant Package JordanMagnetism Transportation Maglev Vehicle JapanEnergy Sustainable Solar Cooker BotswanaSolar System Aerospace Parachute BrazilRocks & Minerals Materials Replicate an Artifact RussiaFloating & Sinking Oceans Submersible GreeceEcosystems Environmental Oil Spill Remediation USA (Nat Am)Light Optical Lighting System EgyptHuman Body Biomedical Knee Brace Germany

EiE

Storybooks

EiE Teacher Guide Structure

• Lesson 1: Engineering Story• Lesson 2: A Broader View of an

Engineering Field• Lesson 3: Scientific Data

Inform Engineering Design• Lesson 4: Engineering

Design Challenge

Teacher Guides Include

• Teacher lesson plans• Student duplication masters

– Basic– Advanced

• Assessment materials• Background resources

Skill Building

• Problem Solving• Analysis and

data-driven decisions

• Variables and optimization

• Teamwork• Communication• Creativity

Curriculum Development ProcessStandards-Based, Research-Driven, Classroom-Tested

Initial Unit Development

Regional Pilot Testing (MA)

Unit Revisions

National Field Testing (MA, MN, CO, NC, CA)

Unit Revisions

Final Unit Released

It takes about 3000 hours to develop a unit that is 8-10 hours of classroom time.

Educator Resources

• Content Connections– Mathematics– Social Studies– Language Arts– Science– Fine Arts

• Multimedia Resources– How-To Videos

EiE Use

EiE National Use (as of June 2011)

Students 1,833,755

Teachers 26,744

States 50 + D.C.

Contact Information

• Engineering is Elementary: EiE@mos.org

www.mos.org/EiE

• National Center for Technological Literacy: www.nctl.org