Skip to main content
Smithsonian Magazine white logo
Search Shop Newsletters Renew Give a Gift Subscribe
i

Sections

  • Smart News
  • History
  • Science
  • Innovation
  • Arts & Culture
  • Travel
  • At the Smithsonian

More from Smithsonian magazine

  • Newsletters
  • Photo Contest
  • Podcast
  • Videos

Our Partners

  • Smithsonian Store
  • Smithsonian Journeys

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Smithsonian Voices

Tower designed by a team at the 2018 STEM Forum hosted by Dow, Jacobs, and the SSEC in Lake Jackson, TX.

Free Smithsonian Activities for National Engineers Week

Engineering is the practice we use to solve problems. Because of its importance in our world, there is a celebration for it every February. This year’s National Engineers Week (E-week for short) is February 17–24. Here are two ideas for your E-week celebration. The first is a hands-on build that can be easily adapted to your time and classroom. The other is a digital challenge called Tami’s Tower, which can be played online or downloaded to an Apple, Android, or Amazon device.

Katie Fancher | February 13, 2019

Tami's Tower is a new game from the Smithsonian Science Education Center

Introducing Tami's Tower: A New Smithsonian Science Game

Tami’s Tower: Let’s Think About Engineering is an educational engineering design game that will help teach kids how to design a solution to a problem using basic engineering design principles.

Ashley Deese | December 17, 2018

3D printed guitar from Smithsonian Science for Makerspaces

Smithsonian Science Education Center Releases “Smithsonian Science for Makerspaces”

Smithsonian Science for Makerspaces will bridge formal science education and the exciting makerspace movement by helping educators and teachers engage with digital and physical technologies within the context of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) by asking them to make something new.

Ashley Deese | November 19, 2018

Orangutans are brachiators, which means they can swing hand over hand. Kiko loves traveling across the O line in this way! Jessie Cohen, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

How To Design a Zoo Exhibit In Four Steps

Imagine you are asked to design a zoo exhibit for your local zoo. I know, this is a stretch but "bear" with me! Let’s break it down into the steps you might take if this were an engineering project. As with any engineering problem, the first thing you need to know are the requirements. Requirements are made up of criteria and constraints.

Katya Vines, PhD | July 30, 2018
Categories
  • Education (8)
  • Engineering Design (5)
  • Life Science (10)
  • Physical Science (8)
  • Science (1)
Archive
  • 2015 (1)
  • 2016 (2)
  • 2017 (6)
  • 2018 (16)
  • 2019 (1)
  • 2020 (2)
Smithsonian Magazine Logo in white on the site footer

Follow Us

Explore

  • Smart News
  • History
  • Science
  • Innovation
  • Arts & Culture
  • Travel
  • At the Smithsonian
  • Photo Contest
  • Podcast
  • Video

Subscription

  • Subscribe
  • Give a gift
  • Renew
  • Manage My Account

Newsletters

  • Sign Up

About

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Content Licensing
  • FAQ
  • Feedback
  • Internships & Employment
  • Member Services
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • Staff

Our Partners

  • Smithsonian.com
  • Smithsonian Store
  • Smithsonian Journeys
  • Smithsonian Channel
  • Smithsonian Books
  • Smithsonian Membership

© 2025 Smithsonian Magazine Privacy Statement [5/20/25] Cookie Policy [5/20/25] Terms of Use Advertising Notice Your Privacy Rights Cookie Settings