Model Eliciting Activities from CPALMS are excellent resources for teachers to supplement the normal curriculum with open-ended,
interdisciplinary, problem-solving activities that reveal students’ thinking about STEM concepts.
At the core of every Model Eliciting Activity is a real-world, problem-based challenge that encourages students to create solutions in the
form of mathematical and scientific models while considering constraints and tradeoffs.
Each problem is open-ended and has no pre-determined answer. So, students must work as a community of learners to understand
the problem, design and implement procedures, evaluate the data, recommend a solution, and
revise their models when new information is available.
Each MEA challenges students to apply and integrate multiple components of STEM education.
Students use scientific inquiry to tackle every MEA problem, and many MEAs require students to apply scientific content knowledge.
Students may need to apply technological literacy, which may include digital or analog technologies and physical models.
And most MEAs guide students through steps that are similar to the Engineering design process.
Students will use mathematical thinking and reasoning as they apply mathematical problem-solving skills and content knowledge.
MEAs also challenge students to apply English language arts and communication skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing by
documenting their reasoning and procedures and presenting evidence-based arguments using text and visuals.
MEAs often follow a consistent sequence:
Students read informational text or fictional literature that provides context and essential content knowledge for the problem.
Students receive a problem statement or letter from a fictitious client that includes data related to the problem.
In teams, students develop and implement a model for solving the client’s problem by agreeing on the importance of different criteria,
developing and implementing a replicable procedure, and evaluating their results.
Students write the client a letter with a recommendation, the procedure they used, and supporting evidence.
Students may receive a second client letter called "the twist" with additional criteria and data. Based on the twist,
students reflect upon and revise their models and procedures and evaluate the updated results to optimize their recommendation.
Students write the client a second letter with a recommendation based on the twist, supporting evidence, and their justification for
keeping or changing their original recommendation.
Last, student teams present their work to the class.
MEAs foster the development of 21st-century skills like communication, teamwork, technical
analysis, and problem-solving while enhancing content knowledge.
Teachers have reported that CPALMS MEAs effectively engage lower-achieving students in STEM activities. The real-world
problems allow students to apply their knowledge and unique perspectives while exploring multiple pathways to a solution.
MEAs emphasize the role of students as they integrate, construct, and apply their
knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.
During the MEA, the teacher guides and facilitates activities, offering support, clarifying STEM concepts,
and answering questions without steering students toward a particular solution.
MEAs are interdisciplinary STEM lessons that often take multiple class sessions to complete.
They make great culminating activities after one or more units of study by challenging students
to apply their knowledge in realistic situations.
CPALMS has over 500 MEAs from kindergarten to high school written by educators and reviewed by content experts.
MEAs feature a range of topics and scenarios that are appropriate and relevant for students in each grade.
Each CPALMS MEA lesson plan is aligned to benchmarks in two or more disciplines and features detailed instructions, printable
documents and templates, assessment ideas, and rubrics to support the successful implementation of the activity.
MEAs are also easy on the budget because most require few if any tools or supplies.
Try a Model Eliciting Activity from CPALMS to make interdisciplinary STEM education a reality in your classroom.