Summary: Students will create a model of an object of their choice using LEGOs. The students should sketch as they build their objects. This activity will facilitate a discussion on models and there usefulness.

Summary: The invasion has taken place and it is time that we need to find a new home. To insure your survival past earth?s occupation you must design a shelter that can be built on another planet. Students will research the characteristics of a planet of their choice. They will design a shelter that will allow them to survive on a new planet, and explain it in words.

Summary: Students will construct bird nests and birdhouses. The students will research a bird of their choice in order to design a house that will meet that bird?s specific needs. This activity works well in conjunction with a 9th ? 12th woodshop class whose students would partner up with your class. However this is not a necessity.

Summary: After reading the story Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, students will build an alarm system for something in the classroom, as the main character Leigh does to protect his lunchbox from thieves. Students will learn about alarms and use their creativity to create an alarm system to protect their lockers, desk, or classroom door. Note: this activity can also be done without reading Dear Mr. Henshaw.

Summary: As Charlotte uses her web to communicate, the students will also create a web to send a small message. The students will learn how a spider creates its web. They will learn about the different types of webs spiders make. With this knowledge the students need to design and create their own web and incorporate a message.

Summary: One of the best ways to learn about how something works is to take it a part, look at the pieces and how they are connected. Unfortunately with technology getting smaller and more complex, this method becomes increasing more difficult. One device that has managed to stand the test of time, at least for a little while is the click pen. In this activity students will disassemble and analyze a click pen.

Summary: Depending on your local climate the features of your house will be different to satisfy your particular needs; hot, cold, windy, and/or rainy weather. Students should be aware of the different types of roofs found on various houses in different environments throughout the world. This can be done with books and photos. Models of the houses will be constructed and tested against various climate elements.

Summary: Students brainstorm and discuss the different types of materials used to build houses in various climates. Small models of houses are built and tested against different climates.

Summary: One of our most valuable and often over looked resources is water. We can survive for a couple of weeks without food but only a few days without water. Having clean water to drink is a luxury. The water that comes out of our faucets does not always start off safe to drink. Most often it has visited a treatment plant prior to reaching our glass. Students will learn about the importance of water and the role it plays in our lives. Students will be exposed to what occurs each day so that they will have clean water.

Summary: Heat flows from hot to cold an unfortunate truth of life, people have put a lot of effort into stopping this fact, however all have been able to do is slow the process. Working in groups of three to four, the students will investigate the properties of insulators in attempts to keep a cup of water from freezing, and once it is frozen, to keep it from melting.

Summary: Earth is running out of space in our landfills and our non-renewable resources are being depleted! How can we reuse some of our garbage so that we begin to throw away less? Students will design a game where players try to come up with alternative uses for used products. Students will brainstorm ideas for an effective board game format.