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		Engineering for Kids - DIY for Kids
		Engineering for Kids Do-it-Yourself Projects, Hands-on Electricity, Physics, Architecture, and Technology Beyond the obvious math and science learning, engineering brings an understanding of how the world works - how buildings stand up, how machines move, and how people make and use technology. Through hands-on projects, kids gain the confidence and know-how to tackle all kinds of "do-it-yourself" tasks. Kids start developing their engineering skills the first time they stack two blocks. Young children love to develop their design skills with building toys, or even by taping recycled containers together. By age 9 or 10, most kids can handle more complicated and skilled engineering - simple wiring, carpentry, and sculpture. It doesn't take much money to provide kids with everything they need: scrap lumber salvaged from a lumber yard, an inexpensive hammer and some nails add up to hours of engineering fun for just a few dollars. Here are links for learning engineering techniques big and small. Engineering for Kids Articles on BigLearning.org Book: Amazing DaVinci Inventions Newspaper Forts Toys to Make: Pinwheels Toys to Make: Whirligigs and Tops Make a Geyser Tinker Ball Boxes from greeting cards Making puzzles Knot tying Program a robot Book Review: Inventing Stuff Bird houses Book Review: A Kids' Guide to Building Forts Book Review: Constructions for Children Book Review: Battery Science Site Review: Building Big Paper Airplanes Paper Sculpture Kite Making Site Review : Balloon Animals Toy Review: Ultimate Rocket Kit More Engineering for Kids Resources Concepts Projects Online Simulations Tips and Techniques Concepts These pages will help kids learn about science and engineering concepts: Building Big (engineering skyscrapers, tunnels, bridges, etc.): (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/index.html) How Stuff Works site: (http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/) (Note: Some content on this site may not be OK for kids - for example, how weapons work.) Franklin Institute's guide to engineering simple machines: (http://www.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/spotlight3.html) Top Projects These pages have project ideas and instructions. Zoom Science Projects (Engineering Category: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/ Future Scientists and Engineers of America: http://www.fsea.org/ Hey Kids! (simple projects): http://www.new-sng.com/experiments.cfm Design Challenges from the Tech Museum: http://www.thetech.org/learning/challenge/design/ Toys kids can build: http://www.build-it-yourself.com. Article on how to have a "Take-it-Apart" party: http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr342.shtml. Top On-line Simulations Roller Coaster: http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/ Sodaplay (design and race online machines): http://sodaplay.com/ Top Tips and Techniques Model bridge design tips: http://abcdpittsburgh.org/kids/kids.htm. Glue types and when to use each type: http://members.rogers.com/andrews7624/GG/glues.html. Balsa wood: http://www.zimsweb.com/balsa. Woodworking, tools, metalwork: http://mysite.freeserve.com/designandtech/searchtesistant.html Woodworking tips: http://www.woodzone.com/tips.htm Recognizing electrical components: http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/handouts/elcomponents.html Styrofoam craft techniques: http://www.dow.com/craft/about/tips.htm Animated knot-tying: http://www.mistral.co.uk/42brghtn/knots/42ktmenu.html