Summary: Race to see who can get Cy down the zip line the fastest using angles and slope.

Students will use their math skills to make a gondola for Cy the mini mascot to ride in down the zip line. This challenge uses angles and distance to see which team can keep Cy in the gondola, and get him down the zip line in the fastest time.

Iowa Common Core Science Standards: 4-PS3-1, 5-PS2-1, 3-5-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2

Iowa Common Core Math Standards: 4.MD.C.5, 8.EE.B.5

Iowa Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice: 1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

Duration: 30-50

Grade Levels: 3-9

Categories: Engineering, Math

Subjects: Physics, Math

Resources:

Summary: Use the engineering process to create a container safe enough to get the Pringle through a series of unknown challenges!

Students will brainstorm designs, create a prototype, and eventually test their Pringle protector. Students will discuss the importance of testing and redesigning throughout the development process.

Iowa Common Core Standard(s): 3-5-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2-3

Duration: 30-60

Grade Levels: 3-10

Categories: Engineering

Subjects: Product Engineering

Resources:

Summary: Design a clay object that will hold as much weight as possible without sinking!

Each student uses a small quantity of modeling clay to make a boat that will float in a tub of water. The object is to build a boat that will hold as much weight as possible without sinking. In the process of designing and testing their boats, students discover some of the basic principles of boat design and gain first-hand experience with concepts such as buoyancy and density.

Iowa Common Core Standard(s): MS-ETS1-1-3

Duration: 30-60

Grade Levels: 4-8

Categories: Science, Engineering

Subjects: Physics, Materials Engineering

Resources:

Summary: Students will observe the iodine color changing clock reaction to learn about reactions and their rates!

Two colorless liquids are mixed together and in a few moments, the mixture will turn a dark blue color. Many different chemical reactions are going on to make this “clock reaction” occur. Students will perform an experiment and record color changes and indicators that a chemical reaction has occurred. Explore how reaction times can be sped up or slowed down. This experiment helps introduce students to rates of reaction and the scientific process. 

Iowa Common Core Standard(s): HS-PS1-2,5

Duration: 30-60

Grade Levels: 8-12

Categories: Science

Subjects: Chemistry, Biochemistry

Resources: