Intro to Engineering through Sports and the Olympics
Olympics and EngineeringCopyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
Students learn about the techniques of engineering problem solving, including brainstorming and the engineering design process. Students review what they know about kinetic and potential energy as they investigate the design of energy-absorbing materials, relating this to the design of lighter, faster and stronger sports equipment to improve athletic performance and protect athletes. Students consider states of matter and material properties as they see the role of chemical engineering in the Olympics.
Working in teams, engineers approach creative problem-solving by using the techniques of brainstorming and following the cyclical steps of engineering design process. Engineers are challenged to think "outside of the box" as they envision, design and create complex projects, structures, products, materials and processes. Engineers are intimately involved in transportation, the environment, architecture, sports—and really everything in our human-made world.
- 2-PS1-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.
Grade 2
This resource focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS:
Science & Engineering Practices- Plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer a question.Do you agree with this alignment?
Disciplinary Core Ideas- Different kinds of matter exist and many of them can be either solid or liquid, depending on temperature. Matter can be described and classified by its observable properties.Do you agree with this alignment?
Crosscutting Concepts- Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed.Do you agree with this alignment?
Do you agree with this alignment? - Plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer a question.
- 3-5-ETS1-2 Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Grades 3-5
This resource focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS:
Science & Engineering Practices- Generate and compare multiple solutions to a problem based on how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design problem.Do you agree with this alignment?
Disciplinary Core Ideas- Research on a problem should be carried out before beginning to design a solution. Testing a solution involves investigating how well it performs under a range of likely conditions.Do you agree with this alignment?
- At whatever stage, communicating with peers about proposed solutions is an important part of the design process, and shared ideas can lead to improved designs.Do you agree with this alignment?
Crosscutting Concepts- Engineers improve existing technologies or develop new ones to increase their benefits, to decrease known risks, and to meet societal demands.Do you agree with this alignment?
Do you agree with this alignment? - Generate and compare multiple solutions to a problem based on how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design problem.
- Day 1: Olympic Engineering: Design Process to Create Competition Venues lesson
- Day 2: History and Testing Shapes of Strength for Buildings activity
- Day 3: Transportation and the Environment: Energy, Fuels and Emissions lesson
- Day 4-5: Cars from the Future: Presenting Your Eco-Friendly Design Ideas activity
- Day 6-7: Architects and Engineers: Working Together to Design Structures lesson
- Day 8-9: Requirements & Constraints: Making Model Parking Garages activity
- Day 10: Engineering in Sports: Energy Transfer in Athletic Gear lesson
- Day 11: Bumps and Bruises in Sports: Protect Your Egg activity
- Day 12: Chemical Wonders: Materials and States of Matter lesson
- Day 13: Solid, Liquid or Gas? Material Identification Using Five Senses activity
- Day 14: Homeward Bound: Engineers in Action Everywhere lesson
- Day 15: Communication Skills: Making Engineering Types Flyers & Quizzes activity
- Intro to Engineering through Sports and the Olympics
- Olympic Engineering: Design Process to Create Competition Venues
- Transportation and the Environment: Energy, Fuels and Emissions
- Architects and Engineers: Working Together to Design Structures
- Engineering in Sports: Energy Transfer in Athletic Gear
- Chemical Wonders: Materials and States of Matter
- Homeward Bound: Engineers in Action Everywhere
Supporting Program
Integrated Teaching and Learning Program and Laboratory, College of Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
Acknowledgements
This digital library content was developed under grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation (GK-12 grant no 0338326). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Copyright
2006 by Regents of the University of Colorado