---
title: Getting Ready for State Tests? Make Math “Stick” With Engineering
description: Trying to help students remember all of the math they've learned this year? An engineering challenge can keep math concepts fresh in their minds!
image: https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/Blog_Images/AH0A0873-1.jpg
---

[![Return to yes.mos.org](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/YES-Horizontal-4c.png "Return to yes.mos.org")](https://yes.mos.org)

![](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Logos/blog-pipe.png)

[![Go to the YES Blog homepage](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Logos/blog-title.png "Go to the YES Blog homepage")](https://yesblog.mos.org)

# Getting Ready for State Tests? Make Math “Stick” With Engineering

Posted by [Annie Whitehouse](https://yesblog.mos.org/author/annie-whitehouse) on Thursday, January 25, 2018

![EIE.jpg](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/AH0A0873-1.jpg?width=300&name=AH0A0873-1.jpg)State tests are right around the corner, and educators are working hard to remind their students of everything they’ve learned this year. That’s no easy feat! The recent Edutopia article “[Why Students Forget—and What You Can Do About It](https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-students-forget-and-what-you-can-do-about-it)” suggests “making as many connections as possible—typically to other concepts” to keep lessons fresh in students’ minds. Most students won’t make these connections on their own, so it’s important for educators to make these connections explicit. An engineering design challenge can be an effective (and fun!) way to make explicit connections to math concepts and strengthen students’ math skills. As students walk through the engineering design process, excited to design and improve their own technologies, educators can encourage students to productively use math to solve the problem. Below, we highlight EiE units that have strong math connections to demonstrate how educators can reinforce math concepts in a way that will stick.

#### Look Out Below

In our aerospace engineering unit, [*A Long Way Down: Designing Parachutes*](https://www.eie.org/eie-curriculum/curriculum-units/long-way-down-designing-parachutes), students are tasked with designing “mission ready” model parachutes to deploy on other planets. Students need to account for the size of their payloads and the planet’s atmosphere in their designs, which requires them to apply several key math skills. In their design challenge, they’ll need to measure the radius and diameter of their parachute canopies; measure suspension line lengths, drop heights, and drop speeds; and calculate the average drop speed from multiple trials. Best of all, their hard work pays off with a super-fun testing procedure—check out the video below!

 

 

First Rate

![EIE 2015 JR_1164.jpg](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/EIE%202015%20JR_1164.jpg?width=300&name=EIE%202015%20JR_1164.jpg "EIE 2015 JR_1164.jpg")Students may have a difficult time grasping the concept of rate calculation without understanding how it is applied in the real world. Two of our environmental engineering units; *[Water, Water Everywhere: Designing Water Filters](https://www.eie.org/eie-curriculum/curriculum-units/water-water-everywhere-designing-water-filters) *and [*Just Passing Through: Designing Model Membranes*](https://www.eie.org/eie-curriculum/curriculum-units/just-passing-through-designing-model-membranes); challenge students to calculate the rate of dripping water. In *Water Filters*, they’ll design a water filter that protects a turtle from polluted water, and in *Model Membranes*, they’ll design a model membrane that keeps a frog moist. They’ll also get the chance to practice measuring liquids using standard units as they apply their math skills to help animals in need.

#### What’s Your Angle?

![EIE 2015 JR_0371.jpg](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/EIE%202015%20JR_0371.jpg?width=300&name=EIE%202015%20JR_0371.jpg "EIE 2015 JR_0371.jpg")In our lighting and optical engineering unit, [*Lighten Up: Designing Lighting Systems*](https://www.eie.org/eie-curriculum/curriculum-units/lighten-designing-lighting-systems), students are tasked with designing a system to illuminate hieroglyphics in a model tomb. They utilize mirrors and flashlights to direct the path of light to the correct area of the tomb, which requires them to apply their knowledge of angles, symmetry, geometry, and quantitative reasoning. Students will also get invaluable practice with math tools as they measure the perfect angle for their mirrors with protractors.

Whether you’re teaching one of our EiE units or conducting your own engineering design challenge, make sure that the students use their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways that will contribute to their overall understanding of each subject. If you're interested in learning more about the math connections in all of our units, check out our handy guide to [Common Core math standards](https://eie.org/eie-curriculum/math-common-core-standards-mapping), or take a look at our [classroom video library](https://www.eie.org/eie-classroom-video) to see educators making math connections crystal clear for their students.

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

#### Written by [Annie Whitehouse](https://yesblog.mos.org/author/annie-whitehouse)

Annie Whitehouse is a Marketing Specialist at EiE.

[Next Post](https://yesblog.mos.org/4-stem-activities-that-bring-the-olympics-into-your-classroom) [Blog Home](https://yesblog.mos.org) [Previous Post](https://yesblog.mos.org/beta-testers-needed-for-eie-digital-storybooks)

### Subscribe to Email Updates

**Recent Posts**

[Engineering Practices: Envisioning Multiple Solutions](https://yesblog.mos.org/engineering-practices-considering-multiple-solutions)

Mon, May 11

[Engineering Practices: Balancing Criteria and Constraints](https://yesblog.mos.org/engineering-practices-criteria-and-constraints)

Sat, Apr 18

[Simple Ways Teachers Can Involve Families in STEM Learning](https://yesblog.mos.org/help-families-engage-with-stem)

Thu, Mar 26

[Plan a Super STEM Summer Camp with YES Engineering Activities](https://yesblog.mos.org/summer-2026)

Thu, Mar 19

### Posts by Topic

- [Create a Generation of Problem Solvers (129)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/create-a-generation-of-problem-solvers)
- [EiE Resources for Teachers (114)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-resources-for-teachers)
- [EiE Teaching Tips (107)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-teaching-tips)
- [Engineering for All (85)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-for-all)
- [Early Childhood STEM Education (77)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/early-childhood-stem-education)
- [Implementing EiE (71)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/implementing-eie)
- [Professional Development (69)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/professional-development)
- [Out-of-School time (65)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/out-of-school-time)
- [STEM Implementation (54)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-implementation)
- [Computer Science (50)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/computer-science)
- [Virtual Learning (42)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/virtual-learning)
- [Engineering is Elementary (40)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-is-elementary)
- [Profiles (40)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/profiles)
- [Engineering Habits of Mind (37)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-habits-of-mind)
- [Afterschool/Summer Camp (29)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/afterschool-summer-camp)
- [Early Engineering (28)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/early-engineering)
- [Engineering Activities (25)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-activities)
- [Engineering Everywhere (25)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-everywhere)
- [Afterschool (23)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/afterschool)
- [EiE Research Results (21)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-research-results)
- [EiE for Families (21)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-for-families)
- [Engineering in Elementary STEM Education (19)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-in-elementary-stem-education)
- [Engineering Adventures (17)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-adventures)
- [Engineering Design Process (16)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-design-process)
- [Museum of Science (16)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/museum-of-science)
- [STEM Education (16)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-education)
- [Wee Engineer (15)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/wee-engineer)
- [MOS at School (14)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/mos-at-school)
- [Classroom Organization (13)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/classroom-organization)
- [Scholarships and Awards (13)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/scholarships-and-awards)
- [YES Curricula (13)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-curricula)
- [Classroom (12)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/classroom)
- [Digital Storybooks (12)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/digital-storybooks)
- [EiE Ambassador (12)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-ambassador)
- [STEM Learning (12)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-learning)
- [Social Emotional Learning (12)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/social-emotional-learning)
- [EiE for Kindergarten (11)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-for-kindergarten)
- [Engineering and English Language Arts (11)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-and-english-language-arts)
- [Funding (11)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/funding)
- [STEM Funding (11)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-funding)
- [Careers for Engineers (10)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/careers-for-engineers)
- [Climate Change (10)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/climate-change)
- [EiE Families (10)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-families)
- [Learn.EiE (9)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/learn-eie)
- [Pre-K (9)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/pre-k)
- [Preschool (8)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/preschool)
- [Professional Learning (8)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/professional-learning)
- [Durable Skills (7)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/durable-skills)
- [Elementary School (7)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/elementary-school)
- [Kindergarten (7)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/kindergarten)
- [Black History Month (6)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/black-history-month)
- [Engineering Practices (6)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-practices)
- [Middle School (6)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/middle-school)
- [Online PD (6)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/online-pd)
- [Women's History Month (6)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/womens-history-month)
- [Assessment (5)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/assessment)
- [Christine Cunningham (5)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/christine-cunningham)
- [Engineering Education (5)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-education)
- [Webinar (5)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/webinar)
- [Curriculum (4)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/curriculum)
- [EiE Partnership (4)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/eie-partnership)
- [Pilot Testers/Pilot Testing (4)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/pilot-testers-pilot-testing)
- [STEM Activities (4)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-activities)
- [YES Enrichment (4)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-enrichment)
- [Cross Curricular Connections (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/cross-curricular-connections)
- [Earth Day (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/earth-day)
- [Emergent Multilingual Learners (MLLs) (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/emergent-multilingual-learners-mlls)
- [English Language Learners (ELLs) (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/english-language-learners-ells)
- [Interviews & Appearances (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/interviews-appearances)
- [Mass STEM Week (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/mass-stem-week)
- [MathWorks (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/mathworks)
- [Media (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/media)
- [NASA (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/nasa)
- [Pride in STEM (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/pride-in-stem)
- [STEM Day (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-day)
- [STEM Teachers & Educators (3)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-teachers-educators)
- [AAPI (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/aapi)
- [AAPI Heritage Month (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/aapi-heritage-month)
- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/artificial-intelligence-ai)
- [Essentials (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/essentials)
- [High school (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/high-school)
- [Indigenous Peoples' Day (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/indigenous-peoples-day)
- [Latin Heritage Month (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/latin-heritage-month)
- [Math Connections (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/math-connections)
- [NSF- National Science Foundation (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/nsf-national-science-foundation)
- [National Grid (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/national-grid)
- [Out of School (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/out-of-school)
- [Podcast (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/podcast)
- [Preservice Teachers (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/preservice-teachers)
- [STEM Careers/Careers in STEM (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-careers-careers-in-stem)
- [STEM Event (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-event)
- [Scientific American (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/scientific-american)
- [Spanish Resources (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/spanish-resources)
- [Teacher Appreciation Week (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/teacher-appreciation-week)
- [Teacher Educator Institute (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/teacher-educator-institute)
- [YES in the Media (2)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-in-the-media)
- [Asteroid Day (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/asteroid-day)
- [Augmented Reality (AR) (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/augmented-reality-ar)
- [Behind the Scenes (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/behind-the-scenes)
- [Careers (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/careers)
- [ChangED (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/changed)
- [Childhood Learning (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/childhood-learning)
- [Climate (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/climate)
- [Computational Thinking (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/computational-thinking)
- [Conference (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/conference)
- [Congress/Congressional Briefing (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/congress-congressional-briefing)
- [DEAIB (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/deaib)
- [Day of AI (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/day-of-ai)
- [Dell Technologies (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/dell-technologies)
- [Dream Big (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/dream-big)
- [EarthShot (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/earthshot)
- [Earthshot/Year of Earthshot (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/earthshot-year-of-earthshot)
- [Engineering Careers & Jobs (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/engineering-careers-jobs)
- [English Learner (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/english-learner)
- [Environmental Education Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/environmental-education-week)
- [Explore Interactive, Inc./MindLabs (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/explore-interactive-inc-mindlabs)
- [Great Outdoors Month (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/great-outdoors-month)
- [Halloween (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/halloween)
- [Holiday STEM (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/holiday-stem)
- [Holiday STEM (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/holiday-stem)
- [International Science Museum Day (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/international-science-museum-day)
- [Lemelson Foundation (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/lemelson-foundation)
- [MA STEM Teacher Fair (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/ma-stem-teacher-fair)
- [MA STEM Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/ma-stem-week)
- [MCIU Learning Network (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/mciu-learning-network)
- [Mass EoE (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/mass-eoe)
- [Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit)
- [National Coding Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/national-coding-week)
- [National Engineers' Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/national-engineers-week)
- [National Robotics Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/national-robotics-week)
- [National Science Foundation/NSF (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/national-science-foundation-nsf)
- [National Space Day (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/national-space-day)
- [Native American Heritage Month (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/native-american-heritage-month)
- [Op-eds/Opinion Editorials (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/op-eds-opinion-editorials)
- [Outreach/Social Media (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/outreach-social-media)
- [Overdeck Family Foundation (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/overdeck-family-foundation)
- [PLANETS (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/planets)
- [Problem Solvers (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/problem-solvers)
- [Project Vaccine (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/project-vaccine)
- [Reading/Writing (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/reading-writing)
- [SLECop Convening (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/slecop-convening)
- [STEM Careers (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-careers)
- [STEM in the Future (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/stem-in-the-future)
- [Scratch Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/scratch-week)
- [Summer Learning (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/summer-learning)
- [Sustainability (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/sustainability)
- [TeacherCast (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/teachercast)
- [Technology (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/technology)
- [Technology/Education Technology (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/technology-education-technology)
- [Thanksgiving (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/thanksgiving)
- [Women in Engineering Day (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/women-in-engineering-day)
- [World Computer Literacy Day (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/world-computer-literacy-day)
- [World Space Week (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/world-space-week)
- [YES Careers (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-careers)
- [YES Teacher Development (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-teacher-development)
- [YES in School (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-in-school)
- [YES/EiE at Home (1)](https://yesblog.mos.org/topic/yes-eie-at-home)

see all

| [![Facebook](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Social/sm.fb.icon.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/yesatmos/) | [![logo-black-1](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-black-1.png?width=32&height=33&name=logo-black-1.png)](https://twitter.com/yesatmos) | [![Pinterest](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Social/sm.pin.icon.svg)](https://www.pinterest.com/yesatmos/) | [![YouTube](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Social/sm.yt.icon.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/@youthengineeringsolutions) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

Search the EiE Blog

Search

| [![MOS](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Logos/EiE.MOS.EiE%20Full%20Lockup-939086-edited-997523-edited.png?width=64&name=EiE.MOS.EiE%20Full%20Lockup-939086-edited-997523-edited.png)](https://www.mos.org) | ![](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Logos/blog-pipe.png) | [![YES logo horizontal](https://yesblog.mos.org/hubfs/YES-Horizontal-4c.png)](https://eie.org) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [![Facebook](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Social/sm.fb.icon.png?width=24&height=24&name=sm.fb.icon.png)](https://www.facebook.com/yesatmos/)  [![logo-black](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-black.png?width=24&height=24&name=logo-black.png)](https://twitter.com/yesatmos)  [![Pinterest](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Social/sm.pin.icon.png?width=24&height=24&name=sm.pin.icon.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/yesatmos/)  [![YouTube](https://yesblog.mos.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2017%20Redesign%20Template%20Resources/Social/sm.yt.icon.png?width=24&height=24&name=sm.yt.icon.png)](https://www.youtube.com/@youthengineeringsolutions)  |  |  |

© 2026 YES | Museum of Science