The design challenge: develop a method to separate steel from aluminum. The first lesson plan in an eight-part series introduces the class to the grand challenge of ciming up with a method to streamline a sorting process at a recycling company. After a class discussion, scholars determine possible solutions to the problem.

Concepts

magnets, magnetic attraction, magnetic force, metals, properties of metals, engineering design, recycling, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Invite a steel recycling company representative to come speak to the class
• Get the class to brainstorm different methods of picking up materials, including non-metalic ones, and determine which ones can be used to separate materials

Classroom Considerations

• The class should have an understanding of the basic chemical and physical properties of metals
• The first activity in an eight-part series

Pros

• The challenge handout comes as a PDF and a doc, so it is editable
• The resource contains a section devoted to the engineering connection of the lesson

Cons

• As a stand alone lesson, there is little content other than introducing the challenge