75

Lesson 75 of 84 ยท Engineering and Design

Experimentโญ 30 XP๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Engineer Shop

Conservation: Protecting Our Resources (Part 4)

๐ŸงชLab Brief #75

Engineering and Design.

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

โšก The twist

Every solution creates a new problem. That's good โ€” that's the next project.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐ŸŒ‰ The Eiffel Tower can grow 6 inches taller in summer because metal expands when hot.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: which design will hold the most weight?

What You'll Learn

Conservation efforts protect natural resources and biodiversity. Reducing waste, recycling, protecting habitats, and using renewable energy all help preserve Earth's resources.

Key Words

  • conclusion
  • evidence
  • model

Materials Needed

  • string
  • cups
  • aluminum foil
  • ruler
  • markers
  • popsicle sticks

Safety First

  • Work in a well-ventilated area when using vinegar or other strong-smelling substances.
  • Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Review the background information on Engineering and Design before starting.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Design and build a bridge from newspaper and tape that can hold a textbook. Test it and redesign to make it stronger.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is the independent variable?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

Every bridge, building, and gadget you've ever used started with this.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Find something that's broken at home and try to figure out *why* it broke.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œWhat's something around the house you'd redesign โ€” and how?โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

๐ŸชจShare card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Engineering and Design for 7th Grade

Get the full Engineering and Design track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

View in Shop

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty

Browse our shop to find activities your kids will love