Montague Township School District
STEM: Engineering & Robotics Curriculum Guide
Grade 5
2025-2026
Kayte Snyder
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Description
This trimester course introduces middle school students to critical thinking, problem-solving, and the Engineering Design Process through hands-on projects and collaborative work. Students learn safe laboratory practices, explore the meaning of engineering and its various disciplines, and apply foundational physics concepts such as gravity, load, structure, beams, force, tension, and compression. The course emphasizes a student-centered approach where active participation drives learning. Students work in teams to address real-world design challenges with specific constraints, develop skills in Computer Aided Drafting using CAD software, and focus primarily on civil engineering applications. Benchmark assessments administered throughout measure student progress and inform instruction.
Big Ideas
- Engineering is a systematic process for solving problems within constraints and criteria.
- The Engineering Design Process provides a framework for developing and testing solutions iteratively.
- Safe practices and proper tool use are foundational to all engineering work.
- Computer-aided tools enhance the accuracy and efficiency of engineering design.
- Civil engineering structures must consider gravity, load, materials, and external forces to ensure safety and durability.
Essential Questions
- What safety precautions are critical to follow in an engineering environment?
- What is the function and use of tools in the lab?
- What is engineering and what are the different disciplines within the field?
- What are the necessary steps to efficiently solve a problem using the Engineering Design Process?
- How do design constraints and trade-offs influence engineering solutions?
- What is the relationship between structure and function in engineered systems?
Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science
Engineering Design
Ethics and Culture
Interaction of Technology and Humans
Geometry
Standards for Mathematical Practice
Students engage in collaborative discussions with diverse partners to share engineering ideas and present findings on design challenges and engineering achievements. Students prepare and deliver presentations on topics related to engineering disciplines and design solutions.
Students apply mathematical reasoning to solve design problems, use geometric understanding to create technical drawings and designs, and employ measurement and spatial reasoning when building structures. Students reason abstractly about design constraints and use appropriate tools strategically to construct viable arguments about design decisions.
Students follow multistep procedures when carrying out design tasks and technical work. Students define design problems, generate and compare solutions, and plan fair tests to identify aspects of prototypes that can be improved through the engineering design process.
Assessment in this course uses a balanced approach combining formative, summative, alternative, and benchmark assessments. Projects account for 50% of the grade and include in-class design challenges that require group planning, problem-solving, and the creation of products that address specific constraints. Classwork and homework comprise 25% of the grade, focusing on daily tasks that build fundamental skills needed for unit understanding. Assessments and quizzes make up the final 25% and include mini-projects, design challenges, presentations, digital forms, and exit tickets that measure student comprehension of course concepts. Benchmark assessments for grades 6 through 8 are administered periodically throughout the course to track student progress.
| Unit | Formative | Summative | Benchmark | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01Lab Safety/What is Engineering? | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| 02The Engineering Design Process | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 03Design Challenges and Problem Solving: Civil Engineering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coverage | 3/3 | 3/3 | 2/2 | 3/3 |
| Unit | IEP | 504 | MLL | At-Risk | Gifted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01Lab Safety/What is Engineering? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 02The Engineering Design Process | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 03Design Challenges and Problem Solving: Civil Engineering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coverage | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 3/3 |