Top

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams

Elementary Science Ideas, Lessons, and Resources

STEM Engineering: Criteria & Constraints – Middle School Science Unit for NGSS MS-ETS1-1 and ETS1-2

by

This exciting and engaging unit will help your middle school science students identify criteria and constraints in three engineering challenges and in several engineering scenarios.

Your students will LOVE the engineering challenges!

Building a trebuchet

This unit is aligned with standards NGSS MS-ETS1-1 and MG-ETS1-2.

NGSS MS-ETS1-1:  Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

NGSS MS-ETS1-2: Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

This STEM Engineering unit includes:

A PowerPoint slideshow with a strategic notetaking guide, three STEM Engineering challenges (ping pong ball launcher, zipline, and tower), response pages, a group activity, and practice pages for identifying criteria and constraints.

I was delighted to find a unit that really explores the criteria and constraints. I loved that the real-life examples were used.

Peggy E.

I really enjoyed using this unit to teach criteria and constraints. The follow-up pages with the scenarios were really helpful for real-world criteria and constraints.

Adelle S.

Other teachers LOVE this unit!

Check out more of the dozens of perfect reviews on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Try this unit in your classroom TODAY:

Download NOW

This unit is available for download in two places:

  1. Here on teachingscience.us
  2. Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams on Teachers Pay Teachers

Both downloads are identical in every way – if you download directly from this site, you’re giving me the maximum amount of support!

Either way, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.

This site uses 100% secure checkout with PayPal, and after checkout your download is instantly available.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy using this unit in your classroom!

Start Here

As always, Lynda provides perfect alignment with the standards.

 
Age of the Earth and Geologic Time Scale NGSS MS ESS1-4

Sharon M

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
5
2016-05-03T18:24:44-06:00

Sharon M

As always, Lynda provides perfect alignment with the standards.   Age of the Earth and Geologic Time Scale NGSS MS ESS1-4
Thank you so much for creating this resource! It is such a fun and engaging activity for my students, especially during distance learning.

 
Honey Bee Digital Escape Distance Learning

Expedition Fourth

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
2020-11-03T20:44:55-07:00

Expedition Fourth

Thank you so much for creating this resource! It is such a fun and engaging activity for my students, especially during distance learning.   Honey Bee Digital Escape Distance Learning
My students loved this unit. I was able to present different elements of it throughout the month. It is hard to find interesting non-fictional, age-appropriate text for my students that they will enjoy. This was a great unit that aligned well for my students who have very different goals within the same group.

 
Compare and Contrast Two Texts on Reindeer

Heidi J

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
2020-11-03T20:45:49-07:00

Heidi J

My students loved this unit. I was able to present different elements of it throughout the month. It is hard to find interesting non-fictional, age-appropriate text for my students that they will enjoy. This was a great unit that aligned well for my students who have very different goals within the same group.   Compare and Contrast Two Texts on Reindeer
I am so impressed with this unit which manages to be distance learning and hands-on at the same time.  Really well thought out and engaging activities that allow students to practice each of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Really no prep for me!

 
Science and Engineering Practices Distance Education Unit

Tina S

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
5
2016-05-03T18:05:39-06:00

Tina S

I am so impressed with this unit which manages to be distance learning and hands-on at the same time.  Really well thought out and engaging activities that allow students to practice each of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Really no prep for me!   Science and Engineering Practices Distance Education Unit
The elephant article was excellent but I also thought the lab on dissecting a flower was broken down so easily, even telling me where to get inexpensive flowers!  This resource helped me teach this challenging standard in an engaging way.  Worth every penny!

 
Structure and Function NGSS 4-LS1-1 and 4-LS1-2

Richard S

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
5
2016-05-03T18:07:52-06:00

Richard S

The elephant article was excellent but I also thought the lab on dissecting a flower was broken down so easily, even telling me where to get inexpensive flowers!  This resource helped me teach this challenging standard in an engaging way.  Worth every penny!   Structure and Function NGSS 4-LS1-1 and 4-LS1-2
5
3
Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams

Free

Capillary Action Experiment

Get this free resource today

Check your email!

Access Purchases

Let’s Get Social