EiE FAQs


Q: Where can I buy EiE materials?


A: The EiE Store (www.eiestore.com) carries EiE Teacher Guides, storybooks, materials kits, classroom posters, and more. You can make your purchase online, or email eie@mos.org, mail or fax your purchase order to:

Engineering is Elementary
Museum of Science
1 Science Park
Boston, MA 02114
Fax: 617-589-4489

We’ll ship your materials within 8-10 business days after we receive your order.

Q: Which EiE unit is right for my class?


A: Chose the EiE unit that integrates with the science topic you’ll be teaching. (Consult this chart to match EiE units with science topics). You can teach the EiE unit at the same time you’re covering the science content, or afterwards.

Within each EiE Teacher Guide you’ll find a list of the science concepts relevant to the lessons in that unit. You’ll also find a chart that maps EiE to the most frequently used science curricula including FOSS, GEMS, STC, Insights, and Science Companion.

Q: What do I get in my EiE Teacher Guide?


A: Each EiE teacher guide includes the following resources:

A storybook that introduces the engineering activities your students will be doing. The central character in each storybook is a child who solves a real-world problem through engineering.

Lesson Plans with detailed instructions for setting up and teaching each EiE lesson. You’ll find suggestions for working with English Language Learner students, and for modifying the lessons depending on your students' abilities.

Duplication Masters – these student worksheets are ready to photocopy! Many duplication masters come in two versions: one for older or more advanced elementary students and one for younger or less advanced elementary students.

Background information – articles and information to help you and your students learn about the subject matter in the unit.

Formal and informal assessments to help you gauge your students’ understanding of engineering, technology, and science concepts. EiE assessments include rubrics, multiple choice questions, and open-ended questions.



Q: I want to attend an EiE professional development workshop. How do I register?


A: To attend a professional development workshop at EiE headquarters in Boston, MA, check our current schedule. To request an EiE workshop at your school or district, please complete our Workshop Interest Form or call 617-589-4260.

Q: Can I use EiE instead of my science curriculum?


A: No. EiE is designed to work with the science curriculum you already teach. When students apply their science knowledge to solve an engineering problem, the experience reinforces science learning. Check this chart to find the EiE units that match the science topics you are teaching.

Q: Which EiE unit is right for the grade I teach?


A: EiE units are associated with specific science topics rather than grade levels, so you can teach any EiE unit in any elementary grade. We’ve classified the units as Basic (for grades 1-2) or Advanced (for grades 3-5) students, but each Teacher Guide includes modifications so you can make the activities simpler (for younger or less advanced students) or more challenging (for older or more advanced students).

Q: How long will it take my students to complete an EiE unit?


A: You’ll need eight to ten class periods (about 45 minutes per period) to complete an EiE unit. The exact amount of time depends on your students’ ages and ability --and on how many times they "Improve" their designs!

Q: When do I teach an EiE unit?


A: That depends on when you’re teaching a particular science topic. You can teach the EiE unit that corresponds to your science lessons either at the same time, or shortly afterward. Check this chart to find the EiE units that integrate with the science topics you’re teaching.

Q: Do EiE units build on one another?


A: No. You can use EiE units in any order—they don’t follow a particular sequence or build on previous units. You can also use any number of EiE units. Many teachers use one to three units in an academic year.

Q: Do you have any data to show EiE works?


A: Yes! Check our website for a summary of key research results and to read a variety of EiE research papers.

Q: How many teachers use EiE?


A: As of November 2014 more than 72,000 teachers and 6.6 million students across the country have used EiE. Schools and districts in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. are using EiE!

Q: How can I get involved?


A: If you’re a teacher educator, you can qualify to deliver EiE PD in your area. Write to eiepd@mos.org. If you’re a teacher or afterschool educator, subscribe to our e-newsletter[CB2] , where we announce opportunities to participate in pilot-testing of new materials.

Q: Are EiE units mapped to standards?


A: Yes! All EiE units have been mapped to the following standards:

ITEEA Standards for Technological Literacy[CB3]
K-5 Science Standards for all 50 states and Washington, DC
The Framework for K-12 Science Education
The Next Generation Science Standards



Q: Can I use EiE with my club or afterschool program?


A: We suggest you check out our newest curriculum, Engineering Adventures! It’s perfect for elementary-aged children in afterschool and camp programs.

In our experience the EiE curriculum doesn’t work as well in out-of-school time [OST] programs as it does in classrooms because of its academic framework. EiE activities also take longer to complete than most OST programs allow. Engineering Adventures offers fun, hands-on engineering design challenges, just like EiE, but it’s been carefully designed for the needs of OST programs.

Q: What materials do I need in order to teach EiE?

 A: A complete list of the materials you’ll need for each EiE unit is included in each corresponding Educator Guide. Curriculum unit Educator Guides are available for purchase from our store.



Q: Can I photocopy pages from my EiE Teacher Guide?


A: We expect that you’ll photocopy the student duplication masters! (Look for the words “Duplication Permitted” at the bottom of the page).

All other materials are copyrighted by the Museum of Science and may not be copied or reproduced (you’ll see the words “Duplication Not Permitted” at the bottom of the page).

Q: My question isn’t here! What should I do?


A: Call (617) 589-0230 or send email to eie@mos.org and we’ll be happy to help.