Designing for a Purpose
Students combine their knowledge of materials and forces to design a solution to a specific problem. They sketch and plan a simple engineered product.
About This Topic
Students combine their knowledge of materials and forces to design a solution to a specific problem. They sketch and plan a simple engineered product.
Key Questions
- How do we choose the right materials when designing a new product?
- What forces do we need to consider when building a moving toy?
- How does planning help us create better engineering designs?
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Activities & Teaching Strategies
See all activities
More in Engineering Principles and Systems
Introduction to Forces
Students investigate how pushes, pulls, gravity, and friction affect objects. They observe how these forces change the movement and shape of different items.
2 methodologies
Material Properties
Students explore the characteristics of various materials such as strength, flexibility, and transparency. They evaluate why specific materials are chosen for certain products.
2 methodologies
Structures and Stability
Students learn how shapes and materials contribute to the stability of structures like bridges and buildings. They experiment with building strong frameworks.
2 methodologies
Simple Machines
Students investigate simple machines like levers, pulleys, and wheels. They discover how these systems use forces to make work easier.
2 methodologies
Testing and Improving Designs
Students test their engineered solutions to see how they behave under different forces. They evaluate their products and suggest improvements based on material performance.
2 methodologies