Repairing Broken Bones: Biomedical Engineering Design Challenge

This STEM activity incorporates the engineering design process into a life or biomedical science activity. It can be used during an anatomy unit or in a health class.

Students will evaluate a broken femur from a model and an X-ray, design a procedure and medical device to repair the broken bone, and perform surgery to repair a model femur. Students will design their medical implantation device using their own materials to create and install the device – materials do not need to be sophisticated but can be collected from regular household items or from STEM library lab’s inventory (e.g. yarn, needles, screws). The instructor must decide what types of equipment/tools students will be allowed to use. Power tools are not necessary.

This lab is divided into 4 parts (Part I. Independent Design Solution, Part II. Group Design Solution, Part III. Prototype, Part IV. Surgery and Implantation) each of which can reasonably be completed in one 50-minute class period (totaling 4 class periods).

Lesson Files

Lesson Plans

Explore the Tides

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.ESS1B.a, MS.ESS1A.a,

Overview: Have you ever built a sandcastle on a beach only to find it washed away a few hours later? Every 6 to 12 hours or so, the water along most coasts rises and falls in...

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Build an Electromagnet

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.PS2B.b,

Overview: Student teams investigate the properties of electromagnets. They create their own small electromagnets and experiment with ways to change their strength to pick up...

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Tree Growth Study

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.LS4A.a, MS.LS4A.b,

Overview: How can the age of a tree be determined? Is there a way to tell a good year of growth versus a bad year? Trees contain some of nature’s most accurate records of...

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Investigating Shadows

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.ESS1B.a, UE.PS1A.c,

Overview: In this activity, students will explore what affects the size of a shadow and compare the shadows of various opaque, transparent, and translucent objects. Part I....

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The Dirty Water Project

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.ETS1B.c, UE.ETS1C.a, UE.ETS1B.b, UE.ETS1B.a,

Overview: In this hands-on activity, students investigate different methods—aeration and filtering—for removing pollutants from water. Working in teams, they design,...

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Drops on a Penny Experiment

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.PS1A.b, UE.PS1A.c,

Overview: Have you ever noticed on a rainy day how water forms droplets on a window? Why doesn’t it spread out evenly over the whole surface? It has to do with...

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Modeling Gravity

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.ESS1B.a, MS.PS2B.b,

Overview: Why can we feel gravity pull us down towards the Earth, but not sideways towards other big objects like buildings? Why do the planets in our solar system orbit the...

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Floodplain Modeling

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.ETS1B.a, MS.ETS1C.a, UE.ESS3B.a,

Overview: Students explore the impact of changing river volumes and different floodplain terrain in experimental trials with table top-sized riverbed models. The models are...

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Build a Waterwheel from Recycled Materials

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.ETS1B.b, UE.ETS1B.a, UE.PS3D.a, UE.PS3B.c, UE.ETS1A.a,

Overview: Students observe a model waterwheel to investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine. They work as engineers to create...

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Entanglement Challenge

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.EVS1B.a, MS.LS2C.b, UE.ESS3C.a, LE.ESS3C.a,

Demonstrate the challenges for marine animals who get entangled in common debris with this 10 –15 minute activity about marine conservation. Pair this activity with a...

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Animal Yoga

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.LS1A.a, UE.LS2D.a,

Stretch your way into different animal movements and poses to learn how they move, get food, and protect themselves. This 5-10 minute full-body activity for young learners...

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Weaving the Web of Life

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.LS2A.c, MS.LS2B.c, MS.LS2B.a, UE.LS2A.b, UE.LS2A.a,

Overview: In this hands-on activity, students construct a food web with yarn to learn how food chains are interconnected. Objectives: 1. construct a food chain and explain...

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Battle of the Beaks: Adaptations and Niches

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.LS2A.b,

Overview: In this simulation game, students learn about adaptive advantage, based on beak function, by simulating birds competing for various foods. Birds equipped with...

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Modeling the Seasons

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.ESS1B.b, MS.ESS1A.a,

This hands-on activity demonstrates and explains how seasons is caused by the tilt of Earth on its axis as it orbits around the sun. Students model the seasons with their...

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Ring and Discs Demonstration

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS3A.b, MS.PS3B.a, MS.PS3A.a, MS.PS2A.b, HS.PS2A.a,

Ready, Set, Go! A ring and disc of equal mass and diameter speed down an inclined plane. Which one wins? Not an easy prediction to make, but the victor will be clear. Results...

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Fire Syringe Demonstration

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS3A.b, HS.PS3B.a, HS.PS3A.a, MS.PS3B.a, MS.PS3B.b,

This is one of the most impressive demonstrations of the heat produced when a gas is rapidly compressed and is the principle behind how a diesel engine functions. How does it...

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Repairing Broken Bones: Biomedical Engineering Design Challenge

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.ETS1B.a, MS.ETS1A.a, MS.ETS1C.a, HS.LS1A.b, HS.ETS1B.a,

This STEM activity incorporates the engineering design process into a life or biomedical science activity. It can be used during an anatomy unit or in a health...

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Modeling Moon Phases

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.ESS1B.b, MS.ESS1A.a,

This lesson on the phases of the moon features just one of several hands-on activities you can do with our adaptable Moon Model Kit. In this activity students will: 1. use...

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Color-Changing Celery Experiment

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.LS1A.a,

This exciting experiment illustrates transpiration, the process of plants absorbing water through their roots. The water travels up tubes in the stems called xylem to all...

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10 Activities To Try With the Magnetic Water Molecules Kit

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Try out 10 exciting activities related to the properties of matter using our Magnetic Water Molecules Kit! The following topics are covered: Polarity Hydrogen...

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What's Your Blood Type?

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Overview Realistically simulate blood typing without the hazards of real blood. Using actual blood typing procedures, students classify four unknown samples of the simulated...

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Understanding Natural Selection Through Models

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Overview With this worksheet, students will explore one of the five mechanisms of evolution: natural selection. Students will analyze and interpret 3 models of natural...

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HIV/AIDS Test Simulation Lab

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Explore the immunological principle that antibodies bind to specific antigens. Your class will learn how ELISA – Enzyme Linked Immunoassay – is a fundamental...

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Egg in a Bottle

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.PS2A.b, MS.PS2A.b, UE.ESS2A.b,

Overview: In this classic demonstration, students will use differences in air pressure to force an egg into a bottle. This demonstration only takes 10 minutes and leaves your...

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Magnetic Meiosis Model Demonstration

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Teach the mechanisms of meiosis (and make it memorable!) with this simple and informative magnetic demonstration. Instead of struggling to tell which chromosome is which from...

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Modeling the Effects of an Introduced Species

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Overview Using a set of Food Web cards, each depicting an organism, students work in groups to model a food web for one of four ecosystems. Students are then given an...

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Natural Selection: Antibiotic Resistance and Engineering the Fastest Fish

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Overview Immerse your students in this engaging 3-part laboratory activity on evolution by natural selection! Your students will practice important science skills while...

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Estimating Populations

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Background The size of an animal population becomes newsworthy when it becomes very large (too many rats in one place) or very small (on the verge of extinction). How do...

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Butterfly Wings: Using Nature to Learn About Flight

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Background Have you ever seen butterflies fluttering around outside, gliding through the air and landing on flowers? While they are delicate and fragile, butterflies are...

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Osmosis and Diffusion Lab

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

This lab allows you to learn about two forms of passive transport: diffusion and osmosis. You will compare and contrast similarities and differences in the processes of...

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Seed Identification Activity

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

This laboratory activity will familiarize students with basic plant anatomy and the basic characteristics and functions of plant seeds. Students will practice using...

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Genetics: The Science of Heredity — Modeling DNA Structure and the Process of Replication

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

This lesson is the first unit of a 5 part module entitled “Genetics: The Science of Heredity” developed by ETA Cuisenaire. Modeling DNA structure and the process...

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Crime Scene Investigation Lab

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Innovating Science’s crime scene investigation lab is used to study forensic techniques and features an activity to solve the crime of the missing frogs from the...

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Measuring Precipitation of Hurricanes

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.ESS3B.a,

This lesson deepens students’ understanding of how and why we measure precipitation across the globe through the study of rainfall patterns caused by hurricanes. Students...

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Prey vs. Predator

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

The action in this fast-paced activity may become intense as student “predators” attempt to capture their “prey.” What happens when different organisms, living in the...

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What Is in the Food You Eat?

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

In this activity, students test representative food samples for the presence of certain types of matter (nutrients). This investigation allows students to discover some of...

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The Science of Spherification

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.PS1A.b,

Forget drinking your juice. Instead, try snacking on it! Use the steps and recipes in this food science project to transform drinks into semi-solid balls that pop in your...

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Turn Milk Into Plastic

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
MS.PS1A.b,

“Plastic made from milk” —that certainly sounds like something made-up. If you agree, you may be surprised to learn that in the early 20th century, milk was...

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Proper Hand Washing Can Stop the Spread of Disease

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
LE.ETS1B.a,

People used to believe that disease was caused by miasma, a poisonous vapor which carried particles of rotting materials that caused illness. People knew that eating spoiled...

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How Germs Spread

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
LE.ETS1B.a,

People used to think that angry gods caused disease, or that a poisonous vapor that came from rotting food or bad air caused illness. It took thousands of years for people to...

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7 Van De Graaff Generator Activities

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

A set of activities to show how the generator works and the principles behind it.

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Calorimetry Lab

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS3D.a, HS.PS1B.a,

How does the energy content in lipids and carbohydrates differ? Energy content is the amount of heat produced by the burning of a small sample of a substance and heating...

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Owl Pellet Surprise

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.ESS2E.a,

This fun, hands-on introductory dissection is a great springboard for teaching the techniques of using a science notebook while having students engage in the...

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Stream Table Investigation

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
UE.ETS1B.c, UE.ETS1C.a, UE.ESS2E.a, UE.ESS2A.a,

Overview: Students learn about water erosion through an experimental process in which small-scale buildings are placed along a simulated riverbank to experience a range of...

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Boiling by Pressure Drop

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS1A.c, HS.PS2B.c,

The goal of this experiment is to demonstrate that boiling is not just a function of temperature, as most people believe. Rather, it is a function of both temperature and...

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How to Make Water Cycle in a Bag

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
LE.ESS1C.a,

https://www.mobileedproductions.com/blog/how-to-make-a-water-cycle-in-a-bag

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How do Antibiotics Affect Bacteria When They are Put Together

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Plan and carry out investigations: collaboratively, in a safe and ethical manner including personal impacts such as health safety, to produce data to serve as the basis...

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Building a Generator

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

Students work individually or in pairs to follow a set of instructions and construct a mini generator which powers a Christmas light. Best done as a take-home assignment.

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Conservation of Momentum with Vernier

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS2A.b,

Teacher leads a demonstration with vernier carts of different/equal mass, equipped with bumpers and magnets to demonstrate a variety of scenarios in which as both carts...

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3rd Law with Vernier

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS2A.a,

After learning about the 1st law of motion, students partake in a teacher-led series of questions about 2 carts, and which cart will experience a greater force. The teacher...

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Gravitational Acceleration

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.PS2A.a,

In 2-3 person groups, students take the mass of assorted objects, then hang them from a spring scale to find their gravitational force. Using the F=ma equation, they rewrite...

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Electricity and Magnetism Stations

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,

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Egg Drop Lab

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.ETS1A.a, HS.PS2A.c,

Students work in teams to design a container for an egg using provided materials. Students drop their containers, then analyze factors which can minimize force on the...

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How Does Volvo Keep Drivers Safe?

Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,
HS.ETS1C.a, HS.PS2A.c,

Students watch a series of short videos explaining how cars are designed with crumple zones, airbags, and automatic braking to prevent passenger damage in a collision....

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