Here at Engineering is Elementary we’re constantly brainstorming: “How ELSE can we support elementary teachers as they teach science and engineering?” Recently we decided to reinvest $200,000 from our project funds for a new round of professional development scholarships . . .  and today we’re delighted to announce the names (below) of 100 elementary teachers from 24 states who will receive the first awards under the new program.

Q: My students are starting their second EiE unit. Do they have to work through the “What is Technology” activity again?

A: The answer is, “It depends!” All EiE units start with the prep lesson "Tech in a Bag" where students open “mystery bags” that contain different kinds of technologies. 

Examining low-tech items like socks and spoons helps students to expand their understanding of what the term "technology" means.

(WATCH THE "Tech in a Bag" VIDEO)

If you teach EiE, you can probably recite the five steps of the EiE Engineering Design Process (EDP) from memory: ASK – IMAGINE – PLAN – CREATE – IMPROVE!

In our professional development workshops, however, we notice that educators who are new to classroom engineering sometimes can’t picture what these steps will look like when their students actually DO them. That’s one reason we created EiE Video Snippets. These super-short videos (most are about a minute long) show you, quickly and easily, how young children work through the five EDP steps. 

Maybe you’re teaching EiE for the first time this semester. Or maybe you already use the curriculum in your elementary classroom but want to brush up on your knowledge. Either way, EiE Spotlight Videos are a great way to refresh and expand your understanding of the EiE curriculum.

Watch this Spotlight Video, “The Engineering Design Process in Action,” to learn about the age-appropriate, five-step Engineering Design Process that’s at the heart of every curriculum unit.

From all of us here at EiE, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  We're excited to take this chance to thank you for all your support and feedback this year, and to say how grateful we are for the chance to work with you and grow with you.