In today’s ever-evolving education landscape, hands-on learning remains one of the most effective ways to engage students, deepen their understanding of complex concepts, and ignite a passion for learning. This is especially true with students who are interested in engineering, where experiential learning allows students to see theory in action, solve real-world problems, and explore future careers in STEM.
As educators, you have the opportunity to shape the next generation of engineers through interactive projects that make classroom learning both relevant and exciting. Here are a variety of engineering activities, organized by grade level, to help you integrate hands-on learning into your lesson plans. At WorldStrides, we understand the importance and impact hands-on learning experiences can have, so we’ve created this mini-guide to make it easy for you to bring engineering activities into the classroom.
Inspo for Hands-on Engineering Activities for Students of All Ages
Activities for Elementary School Projects (Grades K-5)
- Building with LEGO: Structural Design (K-2)
Using LEGO blocks, students can dive into the world of construction and design. This activity introduces fundamental engineering principles, as students experiment with different types of structures, exploring balance, stability, and creativity. It’s a simple, tactile way to teach problem-solving through trial and error.
- Mountain Rescue Litter: Biomedical Engineering (Grades 2-6)
Students can step into the shoes of biomedical engineers by designing a lightweight, portable rescue litter using household materials like popsicle sticks, straws, and plastic bags. The goal is to create a sturdy structure capable of carrying a simulated patient (a potato), teaching students about real-world engineering challenges and design constraints.
- Create a Box Lid Maze (Grades 3-5)
A box lid maze is a 3D maze that is made inside the lid of a box using straws as the walls and a small bead or ball. Akin to a pinball game, the aim is to get the ball from a starting position to a finish while avoiding obstacles and dead ends. This hands-on learning activity helps the young engineer to think strategically and create structures that require them to predict the future action.
- Problem-Solving with Waste Disposal Engineering (Grades 3-5)
In this activity, students investigate the environmental impact of technology and create innovative solutions for waste disposal. With access to internet research tools, students engage in critical thinking and teamwork to propose systems that reduce environmental damage—an important lesson in today’s climate-conscious world.
- Animals and Engineering (Grades 3-5)
Pairing biology and engineering, students design model ecosystems, or biodomes, based on their understanding of different environments. They use the engineering design process to ensure these systems function well, teaching students about both life science and the practical application of hands-on learning of engineering solutions.
As teachers strive to encourage elementary-age students to get hands-on engineering experience, they may explore local museums or online opportunities to dabble in projects related to life, earth, and physical sciences, such as:
- Human Body & Organisms: Exploring the mechanics of the body and how living things function.
- Earth & Space Science: Air, Weather, and Rocks: Engage students with the forces of nature.
- Physical Science: Electricity and Energy: Introduce students to the fundamentals of power.
These activities can offer dynamic, inquiry-based learning experiences that will foster curiosity and encourage students to begin to think like engineers.
Activities for Middle School Projects (Grades 6-8)
- Water Clock Construction
In this project, students create a functioning water clock using simple materials like soda bottles and graduated cylinders. While constructing the clock, they learn about engineering design principles, including accuracy, measurement, and iteration. This project also encourages critical thinking, as students must consider how to improve their designs for better functionality.
- Water Filtration System
In this project, the objective is to understand and build a basic water filtration system using everyday materials. Design a system using materials such as sand, gravel, cotton, and activated charcoal. The simplest way is to layer these materials in a plastic bottle cut in half, with the neck of the bottle serving as the spout for filtered water, but there are multiple other variants you can reliably create. By testing this system with dirty water (made with harmless materials like soil), observe the filtration process and tabulate the results.
- Learn to Code
Learning to code is a useful skill in today’s technology-infused, DIY landscape. Give your students the opportunity to learn to code using fun online programs:
Activities for High School Projects (Grades 9-12)
- Exploring Angular Velocity with LEGO MINDSTORMS
In this activity, students use LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots to investigate the relationship between wheel radius, linear velocity, and angular velocity. By programming the robots and analyzing their movements, students learn about the physics of rotational motion, all while engaging in the engineering design process.
- Build an Actual Robot
High school students can dive into hands-on learning for engineering by developing an actual robot. This type of project introduces them to coding, the engineering design process, and robotics in a highly engaging way, offering a glimpse into the world of space exploration and autonomous technology.
- Harness Solar Energy
Working in teams, students design and build organic solar cells using dye extracted from berries. This project combines chemistry and renewable energy engineering, offering hands-on experience in sustainability and green technology. Students learn how solar cells function and how their designs can be optimized to improve efficiency.
- Rocket Science 101
For students fascinated by space, this lesson focuses on the principles of rocket design and flight. After analyzing a model rocket’s performance, students compare it to real rockets, gaining insights into aerodynamics, propulsion, and engineering innovation.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers
At Envision, we believe in putting learning back in the hands of students through hands-on experiences that bring classroom lessons to life. By integrating real-world projects into your teaching, you can help your students not only understand engineering principles but also discover their passions and interests in potential career paths in STEM fields.
Envision by WorldStrides is passionate about guiding students each step of the way as they rise to their highest potential through transformative experiences. Our programs offer hands-on experiences that allow high schoolers to test the waters of possible career tracks in:
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