Engineering Adventures: An Out-of-School Time Curriculum
Please note the deadline for applications is Tuesday, May 15th at 5:00pm.
Engineering Adventures (EA) is a fun, engaging, hands-on, design curriculum being created by the Engineering is Elementary team at Museum of Science, Boston for use in out-of-school-time (OST) settings such as after-school and camp programs. EA challenges children to solve design challenges using creativity, teamwork, science, and engineering. EA is arranged as a series of thematic units, each focusing on a field of engineering.
Engineering Adventures (EA) is not yet available to the public. The first EA unit will be pilot and field tested nationwide in the spring of 2011 thanks to the generous support of the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
Context and content for the program:
Engineering Adventures is being specifically designed to capitalize on the teamwork, community atmosphere, and creative thinking often encouraged in OST programs. While each EA unit will have its own theme, several key components are present in every unit. These include:
I have one student in particular who has asked me about the project daily! She absolutely loves engineering, especially when it’s oriented around helping others. It’s been wonderful to see her excitement and self-discovery.
-California Afterschool Educator
- Multicultural and real-life contexts for problems.
- 10-12 hours of activities with flexible scheduling options.
- A brief share-out activity to start each session. This activity allows children to share their preconceptions related to the day’s topic, and cues them about the activity’s focus.
- Science activities during which children learn information to help them with their design challenge.
- Engineering activities in which children explore the engineering field of focus for the unit.
- A design challenge engages children in the Engineering Design Process, asking them to apply the science and engineering knowledge they have gained.
- Suggestions for language arts, fine arts, culture, cooking, and community group extensions and connections for each unit.
To learn more about the Engineering Adventures curriculum, visit our units page.
For more information, or to be added to our email list, please contact us via email: EngineeringAdventures[at]mos.org.
