In the Internet Activities Center you will find a series of Lesson Plans with hands-on and interactive computer activities designed for young women grades 5-8 and above. The materials meet the National Science Standards while introducing basic engineering skills such as drafting, using tools, deductive skills and the scientific method.

Each activity includes: grade appropriate background materials on the science or engineering subject, a list of materials, instructions for the activity, graphics (such as patterns to be cut-out, pictures or animations demonstrating the experiment or final product), the National Science Standard the activity supports, new vocabulary, and a fun interactive quiz or activity to check your knowledge of the subject.

There are currently 40 lessons introducing the following engineering specialties: Aeronautical, Aerospace, Mechanical, Materials, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical and General Engineering. There are 3 Life Science lessons.

There is also a "Guide to Sharing Engineering With Girls and Young Women" As engineers, many of us would like to share our experiences and knowledge with young students. The "SWE Guide to Sharing Engineering With Girls and Young Women" provides ideas and information on presenting engineering to students.

The Guide Book addresses questions like:

• How do I share engineering within a school classroom framework?
• What can I expect from the students and teachers?
• What dexterity skills and knowledge can I expect students in a specific grade to have?
• How do I design a "kid-safe" experiment?
• How do I share engineering with these students? What should I tell them? Will they understand?
• What do I say when they ask me "How do I become an engineer?"

The Internet Activities Center was created by Prof. F. Carroll Dougherty (MAL D), Dr. Jani Macari Pallis and Chad Okamoto through a grant from the ExxonMobil Education Foundation. The Life Science lessons were contributed by Prof. Jaci Van Heest. Additional lessons were adapted for the SWE Internet Activities Center through a Microsoft Equal Access Program grant. Additional graphics have been provided by Stephen Harper, Jim Pallis and Eric Chattot.

The SWE Internet Activities Center won the 2001 Corning Incentive Grant and the ExxonMobil Foundation Media Award.