Engineering and Computer Science
Our computer science curricula span grades K–8 with EiE® for Kindergarten and Engineering and Computer Science Essentials®. With companion Engineering units, these programs bring together science, math, engineering, and computer science practices to help learners build problem-solving skills and resilience.
Engineering and Computer Science Units
EiE® for Kindergarten
Kindergarten
Engineering Unit: Here’s the Scoop: Designing Trash Collectors
Students design a trash collector to save Danny the duck from a polluted pond.
EiE® for Kindergarten
Kindergarten
Computer Science Unit: Sort It Out: Programming Robots to Recycle
Students program a robot to sort items into the trash or recycle bin.
Engineering Essentials®
Grade 1
Engineering Unit: Designing Lighting Systems
Students explore how light behaves and then use mirrors to reflect light into a dark box.
Computer Science Essentials®
Grade 1
Computer Science Unit: Programming Robots
Students program a robot to navigate a maze.
Engineering Essentials®
Grade 2
Engineering Unit: Designing Hand Pollinators
Students explore plants and insect pollinators and design their own hand pollinators.
Computer Science Essentials®
Grade 2
Computer Science Unit: Creating Animations
Students design and program an animation to communicate about animals and their habitats.
Engineering Essentials®
Grade 3
Engineering Unit: Designing Maglev Systems
Students investigate magnets and then design magnetic levitation transportation systems.
Computer Science Essentials®
Grade 3
Computer Science Unit: Building Automated Systems
Students use hardware and software to design an automated system to make a home safer or more efficient.
Engineering Essentials®
Grade 4
Engineering Unit: Designing Solar Ovens
Students learn about thermal energy transfer, collect data about insulation, and then design solar ovens.
Computer Science Essentials®
Grade 4
Computer Science Unit: Designing Computer Games
Students design a computer game to show the effects of personal choices on the environment.
Engineering Essentials®
Grade 5
Engineering Unit: Cleaning an Oil Spill
Students explore how pollution threatens ecosystems and design a process to clean up a model oil spill.
Computer Science Essentials®
Grade 5
Computer Science Unit: Analyzing Digital Images
Students learn how computers represent colors in digital images and then write a program to monitor an ecosystem using digital images.
Standards Alignment
See how EiE connects to state and national standards.
We’ve developed each EiE Engineering unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering. Computer Science units align with state and national computer science standards.
Integrated Computer Science Resources
EiE has worked closely with teachers to develop a suite of resources for each unit. These include:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher Guide | Contains nine 45-minute lessons with a common structure:
|
| Storybook | Introduces the engineering problem students will solve. |
| Print Materials | Include print materials such as posters, handouts, cards, and signs. |
| Vocabulary Cards | Introduce new vocabulary through visual cards that can be posted on an engineering vocabulary wall. |
| Assessment Tools | Opportunities and rubrics to evaluate students’ engineering growth. |
| Family Resources | Spur conversations about engineering at home and connect students’ learning to their communities. |
| How-To Video Playlist | Shows how to prepare materials. |
| Materials Kit | Supplies the physical materials needed to teach each lesson. |
EiE has worked closely with teachers to develop a suite of resources for each unit. Student resources and family letters are provided in both English and Spanish.
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher Guide | Contains five lessons* with a common structure:
*Some lessons span multiple sessions. |
| Classroom Resources | Differentiated student handouts and printable classroom resources for implementing the unit. |
| Storybook | Sets the context for the challenge through a storybook character who is solving a similar engineering challenge. |
| Teaching Supports | Resources to meet the needs of diverse learners: Discussion Supports, English Learner Strategies, Alternative Lesson Progressions |
| Student Supports | Illustrated resources to support student understanding: Vocabulary Cards, Storybook Character Cards, Materials Reference Sheets, Engineering Design Process Posters |
| Assessment Tools | Lesson rubrics and unit assessments help to evaluate students’ growth as engineers. |
| Family Letter | Introduces the unit to families and invites participation of family and community members. |
| Classroom Videos | Show each lesson being implemented in classrooms.* |
| How-To Videos | Show how to prepare materials.* |
| Materials Kit | Supplies the physical materials needed to teach each lesson. |
* Not available for Grade 1 – Designing Lighting Systems
EiE has worked closely with teachers to develop a suite of resources for each unit. Student resources and Family Letters are provided in both English and Spanish.
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Teacher Guide | Contains five lessons* with a common structure:
*Some lessons span multiple sessions. |
| Classroom Resources | Student handouts and printable classroom resources for implementing the unit. |
| Storybook | Sets the context for the challenge through a storybook character who is solving a similar computer science challenge. |
| Teacher Slide Presentations | Projectable slides make it easy to share and discuss visuals, videos, and sample code with students. Includes technical tips. |
| Student Supports | Illustrated resources to support student understanding: Coding Block Reference Sheets, Vocabulary Cards, Storybook Character Cards, Materials Reference Sheets, What is a Computer Poster, Engineering Design Process Posters |
| Family Letter | Introduces the unit to families and invites participation of family and community members. |
| Technical Tips | Includes information for setting up online, hardware and software requirements, and troubleshooting suggestions |
| Assessment Tools | Lesson quizzes and unit assessments help to evaluate students’ growth. |
| Math Extension | Optional lessons create connections between the computer science unit and math concepts learned at each grade level. |
| Materials Kit | Supplies physical materials that support implementation of the unit. Some units do not need a kit, while others require separate purchase of additional hardware. |