ITEST Resources

A Community-Connected Elementary Geotechnical Engineering Unit In the “Make Way for Trains” unit (MWT), students explore key concepts of geotechnical engineering in the context of a train track expansion for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA): as railway corridors are widened, the sloping earth material surrounding the tracks must simultaneously support existing structures and not fall onto the tracks. Developed specifically for the Boston, Massachusetts, context, the unit begins with a look at how MBTA workers employ science and engineering for the geotechnical support for

Overview: This course prepares learners to teach coding in grades 5-8 with the Scratch Encore curriculum and was designed to be completed over the course of 6 weeks. Each week learners are introduced to a new computer science concept and the Scratch Encore module that teaches that concept. Many coding and debugging scaffolds that have been used and refined in classrooms are introduced. Week 1: Scratch Basics Introduction to the Scratch Encore curriculum, the Scratch programming environment, and the Scratch Basics module Week 2: Events Introduction to the Events module, helpful Scratch skills

Artifacts in space​ Essential Question: How can I increase students’ knowledge about astronauts of color and expose them to careers in aerospace and engineering?​ Learning Objective: Students will be able to develop listening, reading, and comprehension skills by hearing and reading stories about contemporary astronauts and make a model of a space shuttle. Lesson 1: Astronauts of Color and the Space Shuttle Lesson 2: Culturally Relevant Artifacts for Space Launch Lesson 3: Mission Mars

Protect Belle Isle from Invasive Species! Invaders are taking over Belle Isle! We need your help to protect the island from invasive species. In this game learn what you can do to prevent the spread of nature’s enemies. The fate of Belle Isle is up to you! Chutes and Ladders Board Character Cards Instructions

The Computational Thinkers With the permission of Computing at School’s Barefoot initiative (https://barefootcas.org.uk/), we have adopted both the concepts implicated in computational thinking and the approaches most likely to be adopted fruitfully by an individual who is engaged in computational thinking. Computational Thinking (CT) Concepts While adopting the Computing at School’s Barefoot initiative’s concepts and approaches, we have opted to use a different set of icons to associate with each. For each element of the curricular activity system, we designate which of the processes we

What is a unit fraction? Why is one-half of one-fourth of one whole the same value as one-eighth of the whole? Why can three-fourths of one whole also be expressed as one-fourth of three wholes? These are questions that fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students, including students with learning disabilities and math difficulties, encounter and wonder about. Through our design, development, and testing of a game based curriculum called Dream2B, we hope to support students to develop a deep understanding of fractions. Our curriculum addresses six big ideas that extend across third through sixth

Airplane EngineeringWhat A Drag!: Presentation, Lesson Conservation of EnergyPart I: Conservation of Energy: Lesson, Egg Drop Experiment PART II: Energy Transformations: Presentation, Lesson, Card Sort, Evaluation PART III: Roller Coaster Energy: Lesson, Worksheet, Evaluation DNAPart I: Presentation, Lesson, DNA Bracelet Activity, DNA Evaluation Part II: Lesson, Build a DNA Ladder Part III: Presentation, Lesson, Berry Full of DNA - Exploring properties of Strawberry DNA, Berry Full of DNA - Strawberry DNA Extraction, DNA Evaluation, DNA Evaluation KEY ElectricityIntroduction: Presentation

Project STEMulate utilizes a Problem-based Learning model and approach to stimulate STEM interest, knowledge and skills of Hawai’i’s high school students. Specifically, providing a STEM curricula that actively engages students in real-world, technology-based problem solving and learning. Project STEMulate seeks to transform the learning experience for high school students to motivate and prepare them for the STEM careers of tomorrow by supporting today’s teachers. Project STEMulate created, implemented, and iterated the design of a Problem-based Learning in STEM Professional Development and

In the “Motion and Design of Accessible Playgrounds” unit, 3rd grade students will explore core ideas of balanced and unbalanced forces, changes in motion, and interactions between magnets. They will have an opportunity to extend and refine these ideas as they address engineering and technology standards during an accessible playground design challenge. This teacher guide begins with a navigation guide that overviews each day of the unit, focus questions, NGSS and Massachusetts (MA) standards, and science and engineering practices (SEPs), followed by the detailed lesson plans and required