Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools Supported by: National Science Foundation Introduction to Engineering: 6.A.2 What is engineering, and what types of things do engineers create? Grade Level 6 Sessions 1 – approximately 60 minutes Seasonality N/A Instructional Mode(s) Whole class, and Groups Team Size 3-4 students in each group WPS Benchmarks None. MA Frameworks None. Key Words Introduction, Engineering, Disciplines Summary The students will begin the lesson by discussing what they think an engineer is and think of examples of what engineers create. The students will learn that there are many different types of practicing engineers that specialize in different areas of work to aid the public. The students will learn to identify what products are produced by which type of engineer in order to see the different responsibilities that each discipline of engineering has. Learning Objectives 2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 6 None. Additional Learning Objectives 1. Students will understand what engineering is and learn about what engineers produce (products based by the demand of the public). 2. Students will be able to identify various engineering fields. 3. At the conclusion of this lesson, given a list of types of engineers and definitions, the students will be able to associate the discipline with the correct definition. 4. At the conclusion of this lesson, the students will be able to match types of products that are associated with the different disciplines of engineering. Required Background Knowledge None 1
Transcript
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Introduction to Engineering: 6.A.2 What is engineering, and what types of things do engineers create?
Grade Level 6
Sessions 1 – approximately 60 minutes Seasonality N/A Instructional Mode(s) Whole class, and Groups Team Size 3-4 students in each group WPS Benchmarks None. MA Frameworks None. Key Words Introduction, Engineering, Disciplines
Summary The students will begin the lesson by discussing what they think an engineer is and
think of examples of what engineers create. The students will learn that there are many
different types of practicing engineers that specialize in different areas of work to aid the
public. The students will learn to identify what products are produced by which type of
engineer in order to see the different responsibilities that each discipline of engineering
has.
Learning Objectives 2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 6
None.
Additional Learning Objectives 1. Students will understand what engineering is and learn about what engineers
produce (products based by the demand of the public).
2. Students will be able to identify various engineering fields.
3. At the conclusion of this lesson, given a list of types of engineers and definitions,
the students will be able to associate the discipline with the correct definition.
4. At the conclusion of this lesson, the students will be able to match types of
products that are associated with the different disciplines of engineering.
Required Background Knowledge None
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Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation Essential Questions
1. What is engineering?
2. What do engineers do?
3. Is there more than just one type of engineer?
4. What kinds of things do various engineers create?
5. Do different engineers only practice their own discipline?
Introduction / Motivation Students will be taking the Pre-test if they were not already given it as past of an earlier
lesson. (10-15 minutes)
Ask the students if they know what engineering is. Engineering is the creative
application of science, math, and other information to solve a problem. Ask the class if
they think there are different types of engineers. Yes, there are many different types of
engineering. Someone who is trained to solve problems like creating medicines wouldn’t
also be able to solve problems involved in building a safe bridge. (10-25 minutes)
Procedure The instructor will:
1. Ask the students to name different disciplines of engineering and write them on
the chalkboard. (5-10 minutes)
2. Review the list of different disciplines of engineering and discuss the definitions.
For some of the types of engineers, mention specific examples of products that
that particular engineer would create. (See Examples of Engineering
Disciplines) (10-15 minutes)
3. Split the class into teams of 3-4 students each and explain to them that you may
quietly talk among the members of the group for the exercise you will be doing.
(< 5 minutes)
4. Hand out three or four pictures of different products (do not make all from the
same field) to each group. Explain to them that they must figure out among each
other what type of engineer created the product in the picture, out of a choice of
four different engineers: Civil Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Electrical
Engineer, and Mechanical Engineer. Give them time to talk among each other to
decide which type of engineer would create each product. (20 minutes)
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Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation 5. Once the students have decided which engineer would have created the product,
they will place the picture in the appropriate marked box in the front of the
classroom. ( 2 minutes)
6. Go through the boxes and identify which type of engineer created it, and decide
whether or not it was placed in the appropriate box. If the picture was misplaced,
explain why (See Teacher Reference Sheet). (20 minutes)
7. Explain to the students that although some of the toys were placed in the wrong
box, there is no truly wrong answer. Engineers often work together on a project
and create a product because many products have multiple functions that many
different engineers can help assemble (See Teacher Reference Sheet). (5
minutes)
8. Assign Introduction to Engineering Homeowork to match products with the
appropriate engineer.
Materials List Materials per class Amount Location
Poster board or chalkboard One Supermarket or Office Supply Store
Boxes or signs Four (Small) Office Supply Store or Shoe Box may be used.
Markers or Chalk One Supermarket or Office Supply Store
Materials per student Amount Location None N/A N/A
Vocabulary with Definitions (in alphabetical order) 1. Aeronautical Engineering – Aeronautical Engineering is the design of machines
that fly such as air planes and rockets.
2. Biomedical Engineering – Biomedical Engineering is the design of medical
devices and medicine.
3. Chemical Engineering – Chemical Engineering is the design of chemical and
chemical products through chemical processes.
4. Civil Engineering – Civil Engineering is the design of roads, bridges, and dams
using soil, rocks, and concrete.
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Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation 5. Computer Engineering – Computer Engineering is the design of computers and
how they are connected.
6. Electrical Engineering – Electrical Engineering is the design of electrical circuits
found in radios, televisions and computers.
7. Engineer – An engineer is a person who designs something to satisfy a need or
want; constructs new things using the engineering design process; assembles
known parts to make a whole object.
8. Engineering - the discipline dealing with the science of applying scientific
knowledge to practical problems.
9. Manufacturing Engineering – Manufacturing Engineering is the design factory
floor layouts and assembly lines containing various machining tools.
10. Mechanical Engineering – Mechanical Engineering is the design of machines and
devices with moving parts.
11. Scientist – A scientist is a person who looks closely at the world around him/her
to draw conclusions; performs experiments with the scientific method; studies a
whole object to identify the parts.
12. Structural Engineering – Structural Engineering is the design of buildings such as
bridges and skyscrapers with beams and supports.
Assessment / Evaluation of Students The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners:
1. Review the engineering “Pre-test” to access what students knew before the
lesson.
2. Check for participation in the group discussion on general engineering.
3. Check the homework assignment (Introduction to Engineering Homework).
Lesson Extensions The instructor might use this lesson as an introduction to the other lessons in this unit.
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Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester Public Schools
Supported by: National Science Foundation Attachments
1. Examples of products the different disciplines produce.
2. Pictures of different engineering products in the fields: Civil, Biomedical,
Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering.
3. Examples of misplaced pictures, and how engineers can work together to
complete a project.
4. Introduction to Engineering Homework Assignment.
Troubleshooting Tips None
Safety Issues None
Additional Resources None
Key Words
Introduction, Engineering, Disciplines
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Name ___________________________________ Date ______________________
Pre-Test 1.) What is an engineer? 2.) What is a scientist? 3.) What is the difference between science and engineering? 4.) Identify the following and write about what they are used for:
Name: Use:
Name:
Use:
5.) Have you ever heard the following term (please circle one answer)?
a.) Astronomy YES NO
b.) Biology YES NO
c.) Geology YES NO
d.) Mechanical Engineering YES NO
e.) Electrical Engineering YES NO
f.) Civil Engineering YES NO 6.) Define two of the terms in number 5. a.) _________________________ -- b.) _________________________ -- Additional Comments:
Aeronautical Engineering – design of machines that fly such as air planes & rockets. Biomedical Engineering – design of medical devices and medicines. Chemical Engineering - design of chemicals and chemical products through
chemical processes.
Civil Engineering – design of roads, bridges, & dams using soil, rocks & concrete. Computer Engineering – design of computers and how they are connected. Electrical Engineering – design of electrical circuits found in radios, televisions & computers. Manufacturing Engineering – design of factory floor layouts & assembly lines containing various machining tools. Mechanical Engineering – design of machines & devices with moving parts such as gears. Structural Engineering – design of buildings such as bridges & skyscrapers with beams & supports.
Teacher Reference Sheet Examples of how to positively correct which box a picture was supposed to go in: • If a video game console is placed in the civil engineers box, then explain that a video
game console is an electrical device, which was designed by electrical engineers. • If a bridge is placed in the mechanical engineers box, explain that a bridge is a type
of building, and that civil engineers design buildings. • If a roller coaster is placed in the biomedical engineers box, explain that a roller
coaster has many moving parts and must be tested for strength and their mechanical parts tested for safety. Roller coasters are designed by mechanical engineers.
• If a prosthetic is placed in the electrical engineers box, explain that a prosthetic is a device used to replace a human body part, and designing those types of devices is primarily done by biotech engineers.
Example of how engineers work together: For instance, a mechanical engineer needs the help of an electrical engineer when designing the stereo or other electronics for the car, and they also need the help of biotech engineers in making the car comfortable and safe to use for people.
Picture 1: Football Stadium: Civil Engineer
Picture 2: Tower Bridge in London: Civil Engineer Picture 3: Tunnel Junction Set: Mechanical Engineer Picture 4: Video Game Console Xbox: Electrical Engineer Also Mechanical Engineer for controller buttons Picture 5: Otto Bock Healthcare C-Leg (leg prosthetic): Biomedical Engineer Also Mechanical Engineer for moving parts Picture 6: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System: Biomedical Engineer Also Electrical Engineer Picture 7: Karaoke Machine: Electrical Engineer Also Mechanical Engineer for moving parts Picture 8: Trampoline: Mechanical Engineer Picture 9: Roller Coaster: Mechanical Engineer Picture 10: ECG Machine: Biomedical Engineer Also Electrical Engineer
Name:_____________________________ Date:_____________ Use what you learned in class today to complete the following homework. Place the letter of the Engineer responsible for each of the following items next to those items. 1)_______ School Building 2)_______ Flashlight 3)_______ Street Intersection 4)_______ Contact Lenses 5)_______ Bicycle
6)_______ Radio 7)_______ Artificial Heart 8)_______ Copy Machine 9)_______ Artificial Skin 10)______ Pair of Pliers
A. Biomedical Engineer B. Civil Engineer C. Electrical Engineer D. Mechanical Engineer
Introduction to Engineering Homework Possible Answers
Name:_____________________________ Date:_____________ Use what you learned in class today to complete the following homework. Place the letter of the Engineer responsible for each of the following items next to those items. 1)__B____ School Building 2)__C, D_ Flashlight 3)__B, C_ Street Intersection 4)__A___ Contact Lenses 5)__D___ Bicycle
6)__C, D_ Radio 7)__A, D_ Artificial Heart 8)__C, D_ Copy Machine 9)__A___ Artificial Skin 10)_D___ Pair of Pliers
A. Biomedical Engineer B. Civil Engineer C. Electrical Engineer D. Mechanical Engineer
