User:Vtaylor/Teaching K-8 Engineering/The Way Things Work

Based on the book The Way Things Work by David Macaulay, everyone can enjoy a light-hearted and remarkably thorough introduction to Engineering. The book and the notes here, provide a quick overview of every day objects and the engineering design and creativity that is behind each.

The objects range from the very simplest door stop wedge to incredibly complex space probes and nuclear reactors. There are examples to interest everyone.

How might we use the wonderful descriptions and illustrations in The Way Things Work to engage learners and provide a broader understanding of Engineering through these examples?

The Mechanics of Movement
 * The Inclined Plane (also a wedge) * "A can opener is a sharp-edged cutting blade or wheel that slices into the lid. A toothed wheel fits beneath the lip of the can, and rotates the can so that the cutting wheel is forced into the lid. Two further toothed wheels - one above the other - form a pair of spur gears to transmit the turning force from the handle."


 * Levers
 * The Wheel and Axle
 * Gears and Belts
 * Cams and Cranks
 * Pulleys
 * Screws
 * Rotating Wheels
 * Springs
 * Friction

Learn more...


 * MIT seminar notes - This seminar takes an in depth look at dozens of different inventions, mostly from the The Way Things Work books. Something like this could be an outline for a series of K-8 engineering lessons.