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Marveling at an elk in Great Sand Dunes National Park (photo), it's easy to overlook the role of engineers in preserving - and accessing - America's pristine wild areas. Yet their contributions range from firefighting gear to critter crossings to campgrounds. Your eco-engineers will nest like the best in this month's activity marking the Wilderness Act's 50th anniversary. Happy trails!
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| Activity: Think Like a Bird!
In this activity from the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, students in grades 2 to 4 learn about wildlife habitats, environmental engineering, and the complexities of nest construction by attempting to design and build a nest themselves.
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RELATED LESSONS
Live Like an Animal (Grades 6-8)
Map the Green Space (Grades 5 -9)
Where's Your Teacher? (Grades 7-9)
MORE LESSONS:
Grades K-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-12
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Feature: Sculptures Revive Coral Reefs
Every so often, a project comes along that not only bridges art and science but also manages to leave you completely awestruck. Such is the case with the haunting underwater sculpture of Jason deCaires Taylor, a Mexico-based artist and scuba diver whose installations restore coral reefs.
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RELATED FEATURES:
National Park Service Promotes STEM
Turning Air Into Water
7th Grader Invents Solar Tree
Barkitecture
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| Spotlight: A Showcase of Bright Ideas
 Want to spark invention? The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office does. Highlights of its updated website for kids, teens, teachers, and parents include a video series on innovation created with NBC Learn and the National Science Foundation that covers such topics as 3-D printing, self-driving cars, and synthetic diamonds.
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Announcements
Einstein Fellowships for STEM Teachers. -- Applications are due Nov. 20 for this unique opportunity to work on national education policy at a federal agency. Learn more.
SMART Competition. -- High school students apply their knowledge of science, math, and physics to design an intelligent building, in this case, a school's gym. Learn more.
TEAMS Competition. -- Students address real-world energy challenges in the 2015 Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science. Register today. Learn more.
Code Studio. -- To encourage more schools to teach computer science, Code.org has created a set of free tools, lessons, curriculum, and teachers' dashboard. Learn more.
Google RISE Awards. -- Receive up to $50,000 to start or expand a computer science program for girls or underrepresented groups. Apply by Sept. 30. Learn more.
STEM Teacher Scholarships -- Apply by Oct. 10 for Engineering is Elementary's professional development workshops. Funds include travel to Boston. Learn more.
Verizon Innovative App Challenge. -- Middle and high school students need not be techies to dream up a $20,000 winning app idea. Submissions due Nov. 24. Learn more.
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 It's never too early to learn about engineering. Along with our 5th Edition magazine and classroom cards, Engineering, Go For It offers an engaging children's book in its collection of learning materials.
"If I Were an Engineer," from the American Society for Engineering Education, is a fun, 40-page rhyming book that introduces engineering to kids 5 to 8 years old. It includes a parent page that explains the various engineering disciplines. Price: $7.95 Now available in our store. |
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