Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
Northville High School, Meads Mill Middle School and Hillside Middle School all offer Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses. These PLTW courses are authentic hands-on opportunities where students are able to specialize in engineering and/or biomedical science courses. Beginning in 6th grade every student is able to register for foundational design and modeling courses that allow for students to experience courses like Automation and Robotics, Science of Technology, Magic of Electrons, Medical Detectives, and Flight and Space in 7th and 8th grade.
Once they enter high school, students are able to take their learning to another level in our four year Engineering PLTW courses. They are also able to begin a pre-med focus in our Biomedical courses which include Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems. Whether coding a robot, learning about diagnosing a disease, or designing a new product, students are learning with their hands and building real life skills that will carry with them long after their high school career and into the future workplace.
Meads Mill and Hillside Middle School
Design and Modeling
Students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.
Automation and Robotics
Students trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, and program real-world objects such as traffic lights, toll booths, and robotic arms.
Flight and Space
The exciting world of aerospace comes alive through the Flight and Space (FS) unit. Students become engineers as they design, prototype, and test models to learn about the science of flight and what it takes to travel and live in space. They solve real-world aviation and space challenges and plan a mission to Mars.
Science of Technology
Science impacts the technology of yesterday, today, and the future. Students apply the concepts of physics, chemistry, and nanotechnology to STEM activities and projects, including making ice cream, cleaning up an oil spill, and discovering the properties of nano-materials.
Magic of Electrons
Through hands-on projects, students explore electricity, the behavior and parts of atoms, and sensing devices. They learn knowledge and skills in basic circuitry design, and examine the impact of electricity on the world around them.
Medical Detectives
Students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they collect and analyze medical data to diagnose disease. They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, measure and interpret vital signs, examine nervous system structure and function, and investigate disease outbreaks.
Northville High School
BioMedical Science Courses
Project Lead the Way - PRINCIPLES OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCEThis course provides an introduction to the biomedical sciences through exciting hands-on projects and problems. Students investigate concepts of biology and medicine as they explore health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, sickle-cell disease, hypercholesterolemia, and infectious diseases. The activities and projects introduce students to human physiology, basic biology, medicine, and research processes and allow students to design experiments to solve problems. Key biological concepts including maintenance of homeostasis in the body, metabolism, inheritance of traits, and defense against disease are embedded in the curriculum.
Project Lead the Way - HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS
This course is the second course in the PLTW Biomedical Science Program. It has been designed to build upon the skills and knowledge gained in Principles of Biomedical Science. In Human Body Systems (HBS) students will delve deeper into the workings of the human body. They will examine the interactions of the body systems as they complete 6 units of study: identity, communication, power, movement, protection and homeostasis. Students will complete these units through various hands-on activities and projects, real-life case studies, and laboratory exercises. Students will be given opportunities to improve their laboratory and communication skills, as well as explore careers in the biomedical sciences. Key biological topics covered include the following body systems: skeletal, nervous, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, urinary, muscular, and circulatory; as well as tissue types and homeostasis.
This course is the second course in the PLTW Biomedical Science Program. It has been designed to build upon the skills and knowledge gained in Principles of Biomedical Science. In Human Body Systems (HBS) students will delve deeper into the workings of the human body. They will examine the interactions of the body systems as they complete 6 units of study: identity, communication, power, movement, protection and homeostasis. Students will complete these units through various hands-on activities and projects, real-life case studies, and laboratory exercises. Students will be given opportunities to improve their laboratory and communication skills, as well as explore careers in the biomedical sciences. Key biological topics covered include the following body systems: skeletal, nervous, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, urinary, muscular, and circulatory; as well as tissue types and homeostasis.
Engineering Courses
Project Lead the Way - INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING DESIGNStudents dig deep into the engineering design process, applying math, science, and engineering standards to hands-on projects. They work both individually and in teams to design solutions to a variety of problems using 3-D modeling software and use an engineering notebook to document their work.
Project Lead the Way - PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING
Through math-based projects that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation using VEX build equipment and RobotC programming language. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design, while learning strategies for design process and documentation, collaboration, and presentation. This technical course is science and math-based, so students should have a good working knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, and physics. An inexpensive scientific calculator is required. This course can be taken as a stand-alone in the PLTW Engineering pathway. It is suitable for those considering careers in engineering and engineering technology fields.
Through math-based projects that engage and challenge, students explore a broad range of engineering topics, including mechanisms, the strength of structures and materials, and automation using VEX build equipment and RobotC programming language. Students develop skills in problem solving, research, and design, while learning strategies for design process and documentation, collaboration, and presentation. This technical course is science and math-based, so students should have a good working knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, and physics. An inexpensive scientific calculator is required. This course can be taken as a stand-alone in the PLTW Engineering pathway. It is suitable for those considering careers in engineering and engineering technology fields.
Project Lead the Way - CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Students learn important aspects of building and site design and development. They apply math, science, and standard engineering practices to design both residential and commercial projects and document their work using 3-D architectural design software.
Students learn important aspects of building and site design and development. They apply math, science, and standard engineering practices to design both residential and commercial projects and document their work using 3-D architectural design software.
Project Lead the Way - ENGINEERING DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
Students will work on a variety of projects that are initiated by the student, curriculum focuses on problem solving and the design process. EDD is appropriate for students who are interested in any technical career path. EDD should be taken as the final capstone PLTW course since it requires application of the knowledge and skills introduced during the PLTW foundation courses.
Students will work on a variety of projects that are initiated by the student, curriculum focuses on problem solving and the design process. EDD is appropriate for students who are interested in any technical career path. EDD should be taken as the final capstone PLTW course since it requires application of the knowledge and skills introduced during the PLTW foundation courses.