EiE: Engineering & Technology Lessons for Children!
The Engineering is Elementary (EiE) project aims to foster engineering and technological literacy among children. EiE is creating a research-based, standards-driven, and classroom-tested curriculum that integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with elementary science topics. EiE lessons not only promote K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, but also connect with literacy and social studies.
Storybooks featuring children from a variety of cultures and backgrounds introduce students to an engineering problem. Students are then challenged to solve a problem similar to that faced by the storybook character. Through a hands-on engineering design challenge, students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics; use their inquiry and problem-solving skills; and tap their creativity as they design, create, and improve possible solutions. In the end, students realize that everyone can engineer!
The Engineering is Elementary project also helps elementary school educators enhance their understanding of engineering concepts and pedagogy through professional development workshops and resources.
National Engineering is Elementary usage* |
|
Students |
1,021,725 |
Teachers |
15,660 |
States |
50 + Washington, D.C. |
*estimates through April 2009
News & Events
The June Content Connection Lesson of the Month is a design challenge connecting to math entitled "Tar-Pul Challenge" connecting to the EiE unit A Stick in the Mud: Evaluating a Landscape. This lesson was authored and classroom tested by Tonja Blase, Amy Frierson, and Gail Peterson of the Texarkana Independent School District.
St. Paul, Minnesota Public Schools will be rolling out the EiE program district wide in autumn 2009. A grant from the 3M Foundation is supporting implementation of the program in grades 2,4, and 6 over the next two years. The Science Museum of Minnesota will partner with the district to provide professional development.
The Minneapolis and Hopkins, Minnesota Public Schools are beginning a district-wide rollout of the EiE curriculum in grades 3, 4, and 5. A generous four-year grant from the Cargill Foundation to the Science Museum of Minnesota funds materials, teacher support, and classroom implementation.
Announcing the EiE Content Connection Lesson of the Month award! Submit lessons that you have developed to connect EiE units to math, science, language arts, or fine arts on our Educator Resources website. Each month, EiE staff will review the submitted lessons and select one to feature on our homepage the following month. The lesson author will receive a free EiE unit binder of his or her choice.
Have you, your school, or your district recently adopted EiE? Did you know that EiE offers Professional Development workshops that can be tailored to the specific units you are teaching? Click here or contact Valerie at vmaceachern[at]mos.org for more information.
