Strong course projects for more than 11 secondary school engineering courses

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When science majors combine natural curiosity with engineering know-how, the sky is the limit (literally, if you work on a rocket)! With a low PREP setup, challenging concepts, and the coolest finished project ever, these courses in these middle school engineering courses will surely inspire the next generation of future engineers in your class.

1. Make an indestructible mobile phone box

Challenge the 21st century with traditional eggs! Over the course of a week, a group of students designed a variety of materials they could use (including calculators used to use instead of those used in the phone).

The project is ideal for materials science or consumer engineering courses consistent with NGSS and can be used for any number of fragile items inside a powerless box, including water balloons or exquisite block creation.

2. Build the strongest bridge in the classroom

The team project is one of the classic STEM activities in the middle school, using elements of mechanical and civil engineering as well as teamwork. Provide students with basic building materials such as popsicles, straws, cardboard and tape to see who can create the most powerful bridge.

The program may require one to five courses, depending on the details of the bridge you wish to bridge. To last week’s icebreaking lessons in the first week of school, extend the entire classroom on a long bridge!

3. Create racing cars with daily items

When it comes to engineering activities in middle schools, nothing is better than one except another racing car. Students work on the final test of mechanical engineering, aerodynamics and creativity, and later they will fight each other.

Assign specific types of racing construction projects, such as rubber bands, balloon carts and bottle trucks, or allow students to use their own materials at home. Give the team or individual one to three days to build the vehicle, against which cars win in the front race, and start the engine!

4. Engineer a truly effective hydraulic arm

Let the project lend you one hand or even the entire arm. Students master the art of hydraulic and/or pneumatic technology through a creative project that brings together multiple engineering types. Without wiring, electronics or robotic functions, they can create an arm or claw that can actually lift the item!

This simple engineering project at the middle school may require a week or two of prerequisite courses, planning, construction and demonstration. Consider having the group work together in team building exercises, or letting the individual try it on the project themselves (get it?).

5. Design an environmentally friendly home for any climate

The next generation of engineers will need experience in environmental engineering and sustainable construction. Start early with an environmentally friendly housing planning project involving construction, energy-efficient design and collaborative architecture, the project may pursue some careers in green technology.

Use environmental engineering projects in a sustainable energy sector after students learn about solar panels, wind energy and other ways to power houses. Have them complete their residence within a week, or extend the project throughout the semester so that students can design when they learn more about climate change.

6. The reasons and impact of the Rub Goldberg machine

When scientists recall their favorite secondary engineering course project, they might consider a Rube Goldberg machine. With only one movement, the potential energy becomes kinetic energy, moving the marble into a series of mazes, allowing students to see the cause and effect with their own eyes.

The Rube Goldberg machine is an ideal way to start the school year in a secondary science or STEM course, as it allows students to visualize the basics of engineering, physics, and architecture. Alternatively, the Rube Goldberg Institute of Innovation and Creativity holds several competitions throughout the year that your students can participate. Bring cardboard and tape for students and be prepared to be surprised by their ideas!

7. Working with chemistry and electricity on potato clock

How do potatoes tell time? Use your eyes! This is not a good joke, but creating a potato clock is a great science experiment in middle school. Students saw how chemical energy became electrical energy in engineering and physics projects that were sufficient for diet. (But don’t eat it.)

To be more inspiring about potato physics projects, try making potato batteries and light bulbs. This task can allow students to complete between one and three classes, depending on the size of the group and their understanding of electrical engineering.

8. Make a cooking solar oven

Watch a pizza box cooking your own food with a solar oven project that demonstrates the transfer of energy. This thermal engineering project prompts students to use the ingredients on hand on bright and sunny days, including boxes (pizza or other ways), cooking food and sunshine.

Plans take about a week to complete the sun oven, although block cycles and extended building meetings may speed up the process. In a particularly delicious project test, marshmallows, chocolates and Graham cookies are served to cook and enjoy S’mores!

9. Let robots help with daily activities

What trivia will you give to complete? When middle school students use knowledge of magnetism, robotics and electrical engineering to create the most useful robots, they test this problem. It can take a week or two to complete the creation in a group unless you want to see what they can do in a course!

Provide students with a robot scenario, such as an agricultural robot or a choreographer, or let them discover their purpose. Keep it simple with Lego or other building materials, or make the project more advanced by coding and electric motors.

10. See the world through new eyes with a spectrometer

If you have always wanted to teach light engineering labs but can’t afford a range of spectroscopy, you’re in luck! Young engineers can work by building their own spectral mirrors using common household materials including empty tissue rolls, blank CDs and cardboard. They can also use PVC tubes and glue for more advanced models.

Once the range is completed, they can record observations on the spectrum. Provide students with a day or two for construction, and then for observation, recording and presentation of their findings for a few more days.

11. Invent the world’s first hover board

Toys tomorrow are today’s engineering projects! Using magnets or air pressure, students can experience the thrill of futuristic fun when they create hoverboards that really push the ground away.

While students may not be able to ride on hoverboards (unless your material budget is really high!), they can test the durability of the project using a variety of weighted materials such as small toys or rolls of paper. See which group can create a hoverboard that feels like it’s arrived from the time machine!

Simple single-phase engineering project

Only one or two days can the classroom engineering project be completed? Use these simple STEM programs to foster friendly competitive and collaborative learning in free classes or sub-days.

• Paper Airplane Competition: Have students work in teams or individuals to create the furthest paper planes.
• Paper Boat: Whose paper boat can maintain the longest level?
• Rotate the top: Give students metal washer, toothpicks, clay and rope to build a continuously rotating top.
• Lava lamp: Students only need oil, water, food coloring and foam slices, and students will make lava lamps, just like the explosions in the past.
• The tallest tower: Use a toothpick or pipe cleaner to build the tallest (strongest) tower in class.

Course projects that engineers will never forget

Engineering is the process of solving applied science problems. Whether they provide students with knowledge about mechanical engineering, electricity and electricity, or sustainable energy, these course projects for secondary engineering courses may provide a transformation for tomorrow’s thought leaders and problem solvers.

Use other secondary engineering resources to keep learning well after testing and grading the projects. When they are ready, introduce course projects for high school engineering classes to get middle school students to peek at next year’s science assignments!