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TryEngineering Together Middle School -
Standards Alignment (for Each Unit)
Topic-related standards are addressed in specific TryEngineering Together units. See ELA standards for standards that are addressed in all units.
| Unit | Description | Subject Focus | Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Printing | Students work in teams to create a 3D model using the same methods used by 3D printers. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Aircraft | Students read about different types of aircraft and design a paper helicopter. | Science | Next-Generation Science Standards * MS-PS2-2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions. Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object. * MS-ETS1-1 Engineering Design: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Engineering Design: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Engineering Design: Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. |
| Alternative Energy | Students design an anemometer using every day materials. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ESS3-1. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth's mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes. * MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century. * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. * MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved. |
| Artificial Intelligence | Students design a list of instructions that a computer can use to win tic-tac-toe games. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Bridges | Students work in teams to design and test a bridge. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. |
| Cybersecurity | Students will create and text strong passwords. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. Computer Science Standards (CSTA) * 2-NI-05. Cybersecurity 7.2: Explain how physical and digital security measures protect electronic information. * 2-NI-06. Cybersecurity 4.4: Apply multiple methods of encryption to model the secure transmission of information. |
| Deep Sea | Students will build a submarine and "drive" it to a specific place in a water bottle. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Design Process for Inventing | Students identify a challenge and then plan an invention to address the challenge. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. |
| Drones | Students will design a drone to carry out a specific mission. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Electricity | Students design a battery using everyday materials such as a lemon, a potato, or a cup of salt water. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-PS2-3. Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces. * MS-PS2-5. Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact. * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Energy from the Sun | Students work in teams to design a solar oven. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-PS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer. * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Engineering Careers | Students will design a package that will safely ship a single chip through a simulated mail journey. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Engineering Is Everywhere | Students work in teams to engineer the tallest tower they can build to support a small ball, using just straws, pipe cleaners, and paperclips. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Everyday Engineering | Students design and build a bed that will fit a given figure. The bed will be tested for its ability to fit the figure and hold it (or a given weight) a given height (such as 1 inch) off the table. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Getting Started with TryEngineering Together | Students are introduced to the program and to their eMentors. Focus is on ELA, SEL, ISTE standards rather than specific content standards. | ELA | Focus is on ELA standards. |
| Human Space Flight | Students will design a rocket, aimed at a target, that will travel the greatest distance possible. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Living in Space | Students design a small dome that can hold a weight on top without collapsing. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. * MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved. |
| Managing Natural Disasters | Students design a tower that can hold a weight on top, while resisting the force of wind provided by a fan (and possibly rain provided by a spray bottle). | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Matter Matters | Students will work in teams to create slime that has specific properties. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Protecting Wildlife | Students will design a model of a wildlife overpass that allows wildlife to safely cross a dangerous road. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Reflection | There is no focus article or hands-on activity in this unit. As the last unit of the year, students will reflect upon their correspondence and learning. | ELA | Focus is on ELA standards. |
| Robotics | Students will work in teams to design a robot that solves a problem, by choosing sensors provided by their teachers. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Slime | Students design a slime recipe with the look and feel that they want. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-PS1-3: Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society. * MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Sound Energy | Students read about how engineers use sound, then design a musical instrument. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-PS4-1. Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer: Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave. * MS-ETS1-1. Engineering Design: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Engineering Design: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| Sports Innovation | Students read about innovations in sports equipment then design a piece of sports equipment. | Science | Next-Generation Science Standards * MS-PS2-1 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions. Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects. * MS-PS3-5 Energy. Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object. * MS-PS3-1 Energy. Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object. * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| STEM Career Pathways | Students imagine three different STEM careers that interest them and design a presentation about each career. | Career Readiness | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| STEM through Hobbies | Students will design a spinning top using everyday materials. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. |
| Telescopes | Students design a simple telescope using everyday materials. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ESS1-3. Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system. * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. |
| The Future of Cars ... Is Now! | Students will design a car to meet a specific need. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. |
| The Science of Data | Students will work in teams to design a data visualization that represents a set of data. | Science | Next Generation Science Standards * MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. * MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. * MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success. |
