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High School Semiconductor Lessons

 

 

Use these lesson plans to engage your high school students in learning about semiconductors.

 

 

 

Click the arrows below to expand each subject area.

Biology

Introduction to Semiconductor Processing - 195 minutes
Students will learn the lifecycle of a semiconductor, from a silicon ingot to a microchip that can be installed in a complex electronic device.

Robots vs Cancer - 90 minutes
Students will conduct research on current nanotechnologies utilized in cancer treatment and then will create a simulated nanotechnology to bind--and cure--cancer cells.

Think Fast - Comparing Human Reactions - 90 minutes
Students will compare the information processing capabilities of a human brain and a computer in order to explore why computers seem to have faster reaction times.

Biomimics Aren't Gimmicks - 90 minutes
Students will learn how biomimicry is used to create devices to assist in mitigating climate change, and will develop a model showing how smart manufacturing and biomimicry could create a sustainable solution.

Chemistry

Introduction to Semiconductor Processing - 195 minutes
Students will learn the lifecycle of a semiconductor, from a silicon ingot to a microchip that can be installed in a complex electronic device.

What are Semiconductors? - 90 minutes
Students will create copper sulfate crystals, then develop a model at the molecular level to apply their observations to other substances. In doing so, students will learn about how semiconductors are produced, and be exposed to other industrial and commercial uses for these materials.

Introduction to Cleanrooms - 210 minutes
Students will participate in a cleanroom simulation in order to learn about microchip contaminants that can impact the semiconductor manufacturing process, and the personal protective equipment (PPE - or “bunny suits”) that prevent contamination.

Semiconductor Front-end Manufacturing - 200 minutes
Students will learn about the manufacturing methods used to transform raw Silicon into positively- and negatively-charged components, along with the function of diodes and transistors in a computing system.

Photolithography - 200 minutes
Students will learn how computer chips get transformed from a brick of processed material into the items we associate with electronic devices, by addressing Photolithography, or the method of stenciling complex designs into silicon wafer.

Running and Interpreting Tests & Troubleshooting
By engaging in a real engineering design challenge, students will be able to experience a high-stakes competition to solve their challenge through troubleshooting.

Components of a Cell Phone - 195 minutes
Students will learn about elements on the periodic table, including ones instrumental to semiconductors, and how they are used to make electronic devices work.

The Silicon in Silicon Valley - 90 minutes
Students will explore the properties of metalloids and explain why silicon is the most commonly used element in semiconductors.

Let's Go Solar! - 90 minutes
Students will learn how solar cells are manufactured and how they capture energy, as well as how to angle a solar panel to capture the most amount of energy possible.

Physics and Engineering

Introduction to Semiconductors - 165 minutes
Students will learn the basics of semiconductor devices and the industry that makes them. We will identify how semiconductors are integral to daily life in the 21st century, and explore career possibilities in the industry.

Introduction to Semiconductor Processing - 195 minutes
Students will learn the lifecycle of a semiconductor, from a silicon ingot to a microchip that can be installed in a complex electronic device.

What are Semiconductors? 90 minutes
Students will create copper sulfate crystals, then develop a model at the molecular level to apply their observations to other substances. In doing so, students will learn about how semiconductors are produced, and be exposed to other industrial and commercial uses for these materials.

Introduction to Cleanrooms - 210 minutes
Students will participate in a cleanroom simulation in order to learn about microchip contaminants that can impact the semiconductor manufacturing process, and the personal protective equipment (PPE - or “bunny suits”) that prevent contamination.

Semiconductor Front-end Manufacturing - 200 minutes
Students will learn about the manufacturing methods used to transform raw Silicon into positively- and negatively-charged components, along with the function of diodes and transistors in a computing system.

Photolithography - 200 minutes
Students will learn how computer chips get transformed from a brick of processed material into the items we associate with electronic devices, by addressing Photolithography, or the method of stenciling complex designs into silicon wafer.

Running and Interpreting Tests & Troubleshooting - 200 minutes
By engaging in a real engineering design challenge, students will be able to experience a high-stakes competition to solve their challenge through troubleshooting.

Components of a Cell Phone - 175 minutes
Students will learn about elements on the periodic table, including ones instrumental to semiconductors, and how they are used to make electronic devices work.

Robots vs Cancer - 90 minutes
Students will conduct research on current nanotechnologies utilized in cancer treatment and then will create a simulated nanotechnology to bind--and cure--cancer cells.

Think Fast - Comparing Human Reactions - 90 minutes
Students will compare the information processing capabilities of a human brain and a computer in order to explore why computers seem to have faster reaction times.

Automating our Lives - 90 minutes
Students will use systems design to propose ideas for using semiconductor automation systems to improve their communities.

Math

Introduction to Cleanrooms - 210 minutes
Students will participate in a cleanroom simulation in order to learn about microchip contaminants that can impact the semiconductor manufacturing process, and the personal protective equipment (PPE - or “bunny suits”) that prevent contamination.

Semiconductor Front-end Manufacturing - 200 minutes
Students will learn about the manufacturing methods used to transform raw Silicon into positively- and negatively-charged components, along with the function of diodes and transistors in a computing system.

Running and Interpreting Tests & Troubleshooting - 200 minutes
By engaging in a real engineering design challenge, students will be able to experience a high-stakes competition to solve their challenge through troubleshooting.

Matrices and Semiconductors
Students will use semiconductors to perform mathematical operations which helps to solve their matrices.

Transition to Electric Cars - 90 minutes
Students will investigate how a switch to electric vehicles will affect climate change, and if the costs incurred will be low enough to convince the average consumer that it is a worthwhile investment.

Let's Go Solar! - 90 minutes
Students will learn how solar cells are manufactured and how they capture energy, as well as how to angle a solar panel to capture the most amount of energy possible.

Biomimics Aren't Gimmicks - 90 minutes
Students will learn how biomimicry is used to create devices to assist in mitigating climate change, and will develop a model showing how smart manufacturing and biomimicry could create a sustainable solution.

Environmental Science

Components of a Cell Phone - 175 minutes
Students will learn about elements on the periodic table, including ones instrumental to semiconductors, and how they are used to make electronic devices work.

Transition to Electric Cars - 90 minutes
Students will investigate how a switch to electric vehicles will affect climate change, and if the costs incurred will be low enough to convince the average consumer that it is a worthwhile investment.

Robots vs Cancer - 90 minutes
Students will conduct research on current nanotechnologies utilized in cancer treatment and then will create a simulated nanotechnology to bind--and cure--cancer cells.

Let's Go Solar! - 90 minutes
Students will learn how solar cells are manufactured and how they capture energy, as well as how to angle a solar panel to capture the most amount of energy possible.

Biomimics Aren't Gimmicks - 90 minutes
Students will learn how biomimicry is used to create devices to assist in mitigating climate change, and will develop a model showing how smart manufacturing and biomimicry could create a sustainable solution.

English

Semiconductor Career Research
Students will select one company involved in Apple's iPhone supply chain, and will investigate careers available at that company, and the education path that could lead them to that career.