YES Middle School

YES Middle School engages students in grades 6–8 in hands-on engineering challenges and integrated computer science modules. As they work with peers to generate original solutions, youth see themselves as future STEM professionals. The YES Computer Science Framework invites students to explore computational tools and understand the algorithms that underlie them, equipping them with the skills to succeed in a tech-driven world.

Engineering Eco-friendly Slippers

Students investigate balanced and unbalanced forces with a focus on friction as they engineer an eco-friendly slipper with a safe amount of traction.

Middle School Motion & Stability

Engineering Landing Pads

Students prepare for the future of drone deliveries by engineering a cushioned landing pad that absorbs kinetic energy during a collision with a dropped item.

Middle School Energy

Engineering Medicine Coolers

Students explore heat transfer as they engineer chemical cold packs and insulation for a container that keeps medicine cool.

Middle School Matter Energy

Engineering Vision Extenders

Students use what they learn about the reflection of light as they engineer devices that extend users’ vision behind them.

Middle School Waves

Computer Science

Two CS Modules accompany each engineering unit. Students deepen and extend their understanding of the engineering topic by using computational thinking, tools, and practices to solve problems.

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Standards Alignment

YES units integrate with science ideas and standards. We carefully design engineering challenges so students develop and use science knowledge as they generate solutions.

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Coming 2026!

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Engineering Wearable Alert Systems

Students investigate circuits, switches, and systems as they engineer a wearable technology that signals when the user is in “text neck” position.

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Engineering Earthquake-Resistant Buildings

Students apply their knowledge of the relationships between building height, soil type, and building technologies to design an earthquake-resistant building.

YES Middle School

YES Middle School Resources

YES works closely with teachers to develop a suite of resources for each unit. These include:

ResourceDescription
Teacher Guide

Contains eight to nine 45–75-minute lessons with a common structure:

  • Introduction: Introduces the lesson’s guiding questions.
  • Exploration: Engages students in the lesson’s main activity.
  • Wrap-Up: Connects learning to the engineering challenge.
SlidesFacilitate classroom projection of guiding questions, discussion
prompts, sentence frames, and images.
Engineering NotebookRecords students’ observations, sketches, plans, and reflections.
Print MaterialsInclude print materials for group activities such as cards or signs.
SpreadsheetsScaffold data collection and analysis.
MultimediaVideos and images help students connect their work to an authentic, real-world context
Vocabulary CardsIntroduce new vocabulary through visual cards that can be posted on an engineering vocabulary wall.
Family ResourcesSpur conversations about engineering at home and connect students’ learning to their communities
Video PlaylistShows how to prepare and test materials.
Materials KitSupplies the physical materials needed to teach each lesson.
Computer Science ModulesContain two to three 45-minute lessons that connect to the engineering unit.

Our funders

Major support for this project has been provided by MathWorks

MathWorks