UNIT 6 Renaissance Engineering - DA VINCI

Renaissance engineering was a blend of art, science, and innovation, driven by curiosity and the revival of classical knowledge. Engineers of this period, like Leonardo da Vinci, applied mechanics, anatomy, and physics principles to create designs for machines, buildings, weapons, and infrastructure. 

They worked across disciplines, pioneering ideas in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and aeronautics. Unlike modern specialists, Renaissance engineers were polymaths, combining creativity with technical skills to solve practical problems and push the boundaries of human knowledge. 

Grade 1 & 2: Start with a Dot—Think Like Da Vinci!

Grade 3: Parachutes: Da Vinci’s Dream of Flight

Grade 4: Analog Clock Build: Time, Design, & Da Vinci 

Grades 5: Water Clock Build: Time, Design, & Da Vinci

Grade 6: Water Rockets:  Launching Like Leonardo

UNIT 5: Structural Engineering: Home Construction 

In this unit, students will explore the principles of structural engineering by learning how buildings are designed and constructed for strength and stability. They will examine key components such as framing, load distribution, and material selection.

Through hands-on activities, students will construct scale models of utility buildings, test different structural techniques, and refine their designs. By the end of the unit, they will understand how engineers create safe and durable homes while applying problem-solving and teamwork skills in a real-world context.

Grade 1: Code, build, and haul with Bee-Bot! 

Grade 2: Design, build, and solve with hands-on STEM

Grade 3: Build 3D shapes with straws and creativity! 

Grades 4 & 5: Design, build, and engineer structures

Grade 6: Hands-on framing—build, learn, and create! 

UNIT 4: Environmental Engineering: Natural Resources

In this unit, students will explore environmental engineering, discovering how to design and build sustainable solutions using natural resources. They’ll learn about renewable energy sources like solar and wind power while tackling challenges that inspire problem-solving and innovation.

Through hands-on activities, students will create solar-powered cars and wind turbines, experimenting with energy capture and conversion. By the end of this unit, they will understand how environmental engineering contributes to a greener, more sustainable future—and how their creativity can help shape it.

Grades 1&2: Renewable Energy Pack

Grade 3: Mini Wind Turbines

Grades 4 & 5: SunEzoon Solar Car

Grade 6: Clearly Solar Car

UNIT 3: Electrical Engineering: Circuits

In this unit, students will dive into the fundamentals of electrical engineering through hands-on STEM activities that spark curiosity and imagination. They’ll explore the principles of circuits, energy flow, and electrical safety, experimenting with components like batteries, wires, and bulbs to create and control pathways for electricity. By designing and building simple circuits, students will uncover how these hidden currents power everyday life, igniting an appreciation for the invisible forces that bring our world to life. 

Grade1&2: Making Music with Makey Makey

Grade 3: STEAM Builder Bin: Ferris Wheel, Solar Rover, Fan, & Windmill

Grade 4: SNAP Circuit Jr. & RC SNAP Rover (Easy snap-on electronics for hands-on learning.)

Grade 5: SNAP Circuit 300R (Expanded snap-on electronics set for creative projects )

Grade 6: STEM Circuits (Hands-on circuit kit for STEM learning exploration)

UNIT 2:  Mechanical Engineering: Simple Machines

In this unit, students will explore the basics of mechanical engineering through hands-on STEM activities. They’ll learn about design, mechanics, and movement, experimenting with concepts like force, work, and efficiency. By using simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and gears, students will better understand how mechanical systems impact the world around us. 

Grade1&2: Stem in the Gym

Grade 3: Gears

Grade 4: Launcher

Grade 5: Rubber Band Racer 

Grade 6: STEAM Builder Bin Activities

UNIT 1:  Civil Engineering-Structures

In this unit, students will explore the fundamentals of civil engineering through hands-on STEM activities. They'll learn about design and construction and experiment with concepts like stability and strength. Through these hands-on activities, students will better understand how civil engineering shapes the world around us.

Grade1&2: Not a box. Read aloud

Grade3: Bird Feeders

Grade 4: Straw Structures

Grade 5: 3Doodler- 

Grade 6: Tower Prototyping and Shaker Table

First 3 Days' Activities

Welcome to the Engineering page! These lessons are focused on collaboration and fun! Students will create a tool to help them build a cup pyramid and use note cards and paper to build tall towers.