7th Grade Science Simulations

Learning the Engineering Design Process includes a variety of hands-on lessons to help students understand how engineers work and encourage record keeping in project based learning.

In these lessons, students are provided with a short matching activity to learn the vocabulary words associated with the Engineering Design Process. A printable template for the Engineering Design Process lets individuals or teams plan their project and follow the steps as the project progresses. Another version of the template gives hints about what students do at each step, which is perfect for differentiation. These can be used with any classroom project, but the lesson includes 12 task cards with different engineering scenarios that are great for students to use to brainstorm and plan a solution. Also included is a sample lesson with rubric for use with the cards.

A PowerPoint presentation of the Engineering Design Process is included with the lesson to introduce the concept to the class prior to starting the lessons, as well as links to other resources to enrich the learning experience.

Files Included with this Lesson

• Teacher Notes and Resources

• PowerPoint presentation

• Vocabulary Matching Activity (with answer key)

• Engineering Design Process printable template (includes version with hints)

• Student Expectations, Project Instructions and Rubric

• Engineering Design Process scenario cards (12) includes blanks for customization

I've used this primarily with 8th graders, but it would work well for grades 5-9. I hope your students enjoy!

Related Products
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⭐ Real World Math - How Engineers Use Math

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Are you looking for a hands-on, inquiry-based lab for your middle school students that demonstrates natural selection? This lab will do just that as it guides students to act as birds in a forest as they prey on skittles to see how the adaptation of camouflage helps a species survive. They will then collect data to see how the organisms with the fittest traits survive. The lab can be completed in one day and the graph and reflection questions will most likely take a second day to complete.

The simulation activity includes warm up questions, step by step instructions, a data table, line graph, and reflection questions. Students also use math skills to calculate population percentages and display them on a line graph.

Materials needed: skittles & green paper or green napkins (optional: polka dot napkins)

An answer key is included.

Your students will:

• Engage in visual and hands-on learning
• Apply knowledge
• Practice concepts 
• Collect data
• Analyze data
• Draw conclusions
• Use math skills
• Explore real world application of science knowledge

Put the STEAM in STEM with this unit! Sound Engineering is a Project Based Learning unit that teaches students the physics and basic concepts of sound engineering, especially as it relates to music. This lesson can be used in Career and Technology classes, Science classes, or Music classes. I have used it with an 8th grade Engineering class.

Students start the unit by reading information about the topic from a handout and answering questions about the reading, as well as defining terms related to sound engineering. In the next phase of the project, they work with a team to utilize a Slinky toy to replicate wave patterns and analyze them. Finally, they work with a team to research and build a musical instrument that demonstrates their learning of the topic. The unit ends with a written reflection on the project.

Files Included with this Unit:

1. Teacher Resources

2. Physics of Sound Reading

3. Introduction to Sound Engineering (research and vocabulary) – includes answer key

4. Slinky Waves – group lab expectations and student worksheet

5. Team sign-up sheet

6. Musical Instrument Building Project – student expectations and resources

7. Team planning sheet (2 versions, color & black and white)

8. Teacher evaluation tracking sheet

9. Project Written Reflection

I hope your students enjoy it!

Related Products
⭐ Creating and Editing Audio & Music in Audacity
⭐ Design and Build a Skyscraper
⭐ Digital Engineering Notebook - Fully Editable in PowerPoint & Google Slides

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Are you looking for a hands-on, inquiry-based lab for your middle school students that covers watersheds and human impact on water supply? Then check this out! In this lab, students will crumple a piece of paper, use markers to draw various landmarks and landforms on the paper, and then spray water over the paper to simulate rain flowing through a watershed. Students will be able to observe how water travels from areas of higher elevation to lower elevation due to gravity. Additionally, students will learn how humans impact the environment by leaving pollution on Earth's surface, which gets transported into the water supply. This lab also includes detailed step by step instructions and post-lab questions.

An answer key is included.

Materials needed: markers, plain paper, spray bottles, and water.

Your students will:

• Apply knowledge
• Practice concepts 
• Use observation skills
• Demonstrate understanding
• Analyze data
• Apply key terms and definitions
• Engage in visual and hands-on learning
• Explore real world problems