Adventures in Engineering: Hands-On Challenges Inspired by Amazing Achievements
Put your engineering design and building skills to work while exploring great moments in engineering history
Ian Nelson
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(2,517)
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
Join Ian Genuity on his adventures around the world. Do you have what it takes to tackle these hands-on challenges? Each week, we will explore a great moment in engineering history before tackling a related hands-on design challenge We will open class with an overview of a historic engineering achievement before brainstorming our hands-on engineering design challenge for the week. I will give learners options for design challenges in addition to hearing their ideas of what might be a good design challenges. Learners will need to have hands-on building supplies in order to engage fully with the class. I recommend keeping a box of maker supplies that includes assorted recycled cardboard, clean recyclables, crafting supplies, and tools such as a hot glue gun and scissors. Reusable building toys can also be used in this class. I look forward to seeing how your learner will be inspired! Upcoming adventures and possible design challenges include: - Kitty Hawk (Week of January 15) Could you make a glider? - The International Space Station (Week of January 22) Can you make a module for a space station? - The Interstate Highway System (Week of January 29) How could you make a highway exit? - The Golden Gate Bridge (Week of February 5) Can you build a pair of towers that can support a bridge? - The Hoover Dam (Week of February 12) Can you build a hard hat? - The Lunar Module (Week of February 19) How could you build a spacecraft hatch? - The Transatlantic Cable (Week of February 26) Can you make a model telegraph key? - The Ford Factory (Week of March 4) How could you move a car along a conveyor? - The Brooklyn Bridge (Week of March 11) How could you make a model suspension bridge? - The Perseverance Rover (Week of March 18) How could you design a claw to pick up a rock? - The Transcontinental Railroad (Week of March 25) Could you build a model train station? - Citicorp Center (Week of April 1) Could you make a tall tower that can balance on four pillars? NOTE: These challenges do cycle. Learners should come with a box of home makerspace supplies in order to get the most out of class. Home makerspaces include things like craft supplies, recyclables, and building toys. Keep coming back to collect more stamps in your engineering passport!
Learning Goals
Students will:
- Develop increased appreciation for great moments in engineering history
- Practice using engineering design skills in an authentic problem-solving environment
- Participate in a community of like-minded kids
- Cultivate their creativity and curiosity
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Please review safe building practices with your students (particularly around cutting tools and the hot glue gun) and ensure that they have adult supervision during class time.
Supply List
Learners should consider keeping a dedicated bin of makerspace supplies that they use in this class. Examples of useful supplies include: - Cardboard of different weights from the recycling - Clean plastic containers that have not held dairy products or oils - Craft supplies such as buttons, ribbons, pipe cleaners, straws, and construction paper - Different options for tape - Tools such as a hot glue gun and scissors - Building toys such as interlocking bricks, wheel and spoke building systems, and magnetic construction toys
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2017
4.7
2517reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a mechanical engineer and engineering educator with extensive experience facilitating hands-on design challenges.Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 81 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
1-8 learners per class
