Outreach Activities
We love electrical and computer engineering, and we like to share our exciting field with the next generation. There is high demand for electrical and computer engineers, which creates good job stability and excellent pay in our field. We encourage students who enjoy math, physics, or engineering to explore a career in electrical and computer engineering.
We encourage any middle school or high school interested in our hands-on outreach activities to reach out to our department. You can either use the worksheets provided below yourself, or you can invite us into your classroom for a day! Feel free to contact Professor Amy Verkler (amy.verkler@utah.edu) with any questions.
Activities forPhysics & Engineering Classes
Jello Optics
Time: 20-60 min
Age: Middle or High School
Works well with smaller classes. Use basic sheet for short class or all sheets for long class.
Basic Worksheet
Demo Stations
Calculate Refractive Index (high school only, for 60 min)
Instructor Guide
The rest of the activities are hands-on circuit projects designed to use the Sunfounder Arduino Uno Starter Kit available on Amazon.
Light Sensor
Time: 45-60 min
Age: Middle or High School
Worksheet
Instructor Guide
Arduino Code (zip file)
Digital Dice
Time: 45-60 min
Age: Middle or High School
Worksheet
Instructor Guide
Arduino Code (zip file)
Game Show Buzzer
Time: 45-60 min
Age: Middle or High School
Worksheet
Arduino Code (zip file)
Rainbow LEDs
Time: 20-30 min
Age: High School
Works well as a bonus activity for students who finish another activity early.
Worksheet
Activities for Math Classes
The following activities require a basic circuit kit. There are several options for you to access these kits: 1) you invite us into your classroom for the day 2) you purchase a classroom set from our ECE stockroom for your school (we can create these kits for about $25) or 3) you can use the list of items below to create your own kits.
Solving for Resistance
Recommended Level: 6th Grade or Math I
Core Standards: 6.EE.7, 6.SP.3&5, A.CED.4, SI.MP.6, N.Q.3
Worksheet
Instructor Guide
Linear Circuits & Functions
Recommended Level: 8th Grade Honors Algebra
Core Standards: 6.EE.9, 7.RP.2, A.CED.4, SI.MP.6 & N.Q.3
Worksheet
Instructor Guide
Representing Circuit Components with Functions
Recommended Level: 8th or 9th Grade
Core Standards: 8.F.5, A.REI.10, F.LE.1
Worksheet
Instructor Guide
Exponentials & LEDs
Recommended Level: Math II & Math III
Core Standards: A.CED.2, F.BF.1, F.LE.5
Worksheet
Instructor Guide
Coming soon! The advanced kit with a portable oscilloscope for high school math activities.