Zip Line STEM Activity - Virus Protection Challenge (Elementary)

lesson overview

Virus Protection Device STEM Challenge - Elementary STEM Activity perfect for distance learning!
Your mission: Design a zipline to transport groceries from a store to a customer during a pandemic.

Supports Distance Learning:

• Editable Google Slides for a digital STEM Journal

• Instructional video: A mechanical engineer explains the design challenge along with an interview with a STEM professional, a virologist at Southwest Research Institute working on COVID-19.

Science background: Students first learn about the science of zip lines including thecenter of gravity and the forces acting on the vehicle such as friction and gravity. These concepts help inform the vehicle designs.

Engineering Challenge: Using common materials such as craft sticks, paper, and tape, students then design a vehicle to carry a ping pong ball to safety down a zipline! A full teacher guide includes links to videos, photos of student projects, and resources. The packet also include handouts to guide your students through the engineering design process to solve the challenge.

STEM Real-World Connections: The challenge describes the careers of a virologist and epidemiologist. A handout on the COVID-19 pandemic is included.

As with many STEM activities that are student-driven, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities.

Included in this product:

• Detailed teachers guide with links to resources

• Grading rubric for the engineering design process

• STEM Career Connections

• STEM Real-world Connection

• Real-world STEM history and science handouts

• Student handouts to guide them through the engineering design process

• Editable Google Slides for a STEM Journal

• Instructional STEM video with mechanical engineering and virologist

Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide

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