Schools & GroupsEducational StandardsGrades 9-12
NGSS & Common Core Projects:
Grades 9-12
Build creative confidence and technical literacy, while meeting state and national academic standards. Every activity kit includes illustrated instructions, age-appropriate readings, and kid-led discoveries. Projects can also be extended to enrich any NGSS or Common Core lesson plan.
Stereo Headphones
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2-In-1 Lantern
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Trashketball
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Geometric Laser Projector
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Hand-Crank Flashlight
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Light-Up Speaker
See standards ➜Stereo Headphones
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NGSS
HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
Activity Applications
Engineer a solution to the crate’s Design Challenge (invent a sound amplifier using only materials from home) and answer the given design questions.
HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
Activity Applications
Assess how well the headphones create stereo sound. Explore how prototypes from this crate and inventions throughout history were redesigned.
HS-PS3-3 Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
Activity Applications
Build headphones that convert electrical energy to sound. Use the headphones to listen to audio clips and experiment with sound.
Common Core
RH.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
RH.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
Activity Applications
Describe the progression of key inventions throughout history and how they developed into modern-day products.
RST.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.
RST.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.
Activity Applications
Summarize and explain complex scientific concepts, from circuits to sound waves to mechanical equilibrium.
RST.9-10.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
RST.11-12.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.
Activity Applications
Refer to multi-part, highly technical instructions to construct and troubleshoot the project.
RST.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
RST.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11-12 texts and topics.
Activity Applications
Analyze diagrams and symbols, as well as acquire and use technical vocabulary related to sound and engineering (e.g. Geneva drive, stereo, switch).
RST.9-10.9 Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
RST.11-12.9 Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
Activity Applications
Compare information in the text about stereo sound with observations from your own experiments.
2-In-1 Lantern
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NGSS
HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
Activity Applications
Engineer a solution to the crate’s Design Challenge (invent a hands-free using only materials from home) and answer the given design questions.
HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
Activity Applications
Assess how well the lantern (using diffused reflection) and flashlight (using focused reflection) light up a space. Explore how prototypes from this crate and inventions throughout history were redesigned.
HS-PS3-3 Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
Activity Applications
Build a portable lantern that converts chemical energy to light.
Common Core
RH.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
RH.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
Activity Applications
Describe the progression of key inventions throughout history and how they developed into modern-day products.
RST.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.
RST.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.
Activity Applications
Summarize and explain complex scientific concepts, including optics and reflection.
RST.9-10.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
RST.11-12.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.
Activity Applications
Refer to multi-part, highly technical instructions to construct and troubleshoot the project.
RST.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
RST.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11-12 texts and topics.
Activity Applications
Analyze diagrams and symbols, as well as acquire and use technical vocabulary related to light and engineering (e.g. LED, reflector, heat sink).
RST.9-10.9 Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
RST.11-12.9 Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
Activity Applications
Compare information in the text about optics with observations from your own experiments.
Trashketball
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NGSS
HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
Activity Applications
Engineer a solution to the crate’s Design Challenge (develop new features for the trashketball) and answer the given design questions.
HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
Activity Applications
Assess how latches, hinges, and linkages work in a pop-action lid. Explore how prototypes from this crate and inventions throughout history were redesigned.
Common Core
RH.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
RH.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
Activity Applications
Describe the progression of key inventions throughout history and how they developed into modern-day products.
RST.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.
RST.11-12.2 Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; summarize complex concepts, processes, or information presented in a text by paraphrasing them in simpler but still accurate terms.
Activity Applications
Summarize and explain complex scientific concepts, including parabolas, inertia, and gravity.
RST.9-10.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
RST.11-12.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.
Activity Applications
Refer to multi-part, highly technical instructions to construct and troubleshoot the project.
RST.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
RST.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11-12 texts and topics.
Activity Applications
Analyze diagrams and symbols, as well as acquire and use technical vocabulary related to engineering (e.g. latch, linkage, angled connector).
RST.9-10.9 Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.
RST.11-12.9 Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.
Activity Applications
Compare information in the text about parabolas, angle, and gravity with observations from your own experiments.
Geometric Laser Projector
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NGSS
HS-PS4-5 Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.
Activity Applications
Explain properties of lasers and describe how the laser inside the projector reflects off mirrors to create changing patterns.
Common Core
RST.9-10.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
RST.11-12.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on explanations in the text.
Activity Applications
Refer to multi-part, highly technical instructions to construct and troubleshoot the geometric laser project.
RST.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
RST.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 11-12 texts and topics.
Activity Applications
Analyze symbols in a circuit diagram, as well as acquire and use technical vocabulary such as potentiometers, resistors, and electric motors.
RST.9-10.5 Analyze the structure of the relationships among concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms (e.g., force, friction, reaction force, energy).
Activity Applications
Identify and explain connections between concepts like electrical energy, electromagnetism, and resistance.
Hand-Crank Flashlight
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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.
Activity Applications
Build a battery-free flashlight that successfully lights up and can be used in outdoor adventures or emergencies.
HS-PS3-3 Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
Activity Applications
Build a flashlight that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy to light, using only the given materials.
Common Core
RST.6-8.3 Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
RST.9-10.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
Activity Applications
Refer to multi-part, highly technical instructions to construct and troubleshoot the hand-crank flashlight.
RST.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
RST.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
Activity Applications
Analyze symbols in a circuit diagram, as well as acquire and use technical vocabulary related to electrical energy, electromagnetism, and circuits.
RST.6-8.7 Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
Activity Applications
Compare symbols in a circuit diagram with written explanations of breadboards, stepper motors, and capacitors.
Light-Up Speaker
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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.
Activity Applications
Build a speaker that successfully lights up and produces sound.
HS-PS3-3 Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
Activity Applications
Build a speaker that converts electrical energy to light and sound, using only the given materials.
Common Core
RST.6-8.3 Follow precisely a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.
RST.9-10.3 Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.
Activity Applications
Refer to multi-part, highly technical instructions to construct and troubleshoot the light-up speaker.
RST.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
RST.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.
Activity Applications
Analyze symbols in a circuit diagram, as well as acquire and use technical vocabulary related to sound, electromagnetism, and resistance.
RST.6-8.7 Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
Activity Applications
Compare symbols in a circuit diagram with written explanations of breadboards, transistors, and speakers.
