Early exposure to engineering and design can generate in kids a lifelong interest in STEM areas and develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Yet, finding entertaining and age-appropriate activities that teach the engineering design process can be difficult. This article contains 21 engaging and interactive engineering design process exercises for educators to enjoy with their children. These activities are intended to help youngsters find a hands-on way to creatively provide design solutions to everyday problems.
1. The Process Explained
This is an excellent exercise for youngsters since it gives them a visual and interactive learning experience that may pique their interest in engineering and stimulate their creativity. This video details the steps in the design process as well as other engineering ideas that are observable in the world.
Learn More: Stem Smartly
2. Do the Marshmallow Challenge
Because it promotes cooperation, problem-solving, and creative thinking, the marshmallow challenge is an excellent engineering design process exercise. Their challenge is simply to build a skyscraper out of marshmallows and spaghetti. The tallest skyscraper wins.
Learn More: Pbs Learning Media
3. Enroll Kids in Engineering Camp
Enrolling children in an engineering camp is a great approach to introducing them to the subject. Students can be divided into engineering teams where they will learn about various engineering professions and the engineering design process and work on group projects while honing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Learn More: Stem Smartly
4. Design and Build a Paper Airplane Launcher
This activity allows learners to investigate aerodynamics, mechanics, and physics fundamentals. Students may test their prototypes and experiment with different materials like PVC pipes, cardboard, rubber bands, and springs. Using various designs and launching strategies, they can determine which ones fly the furthest and quickest.
Learn More: Scientific American
5. Create a Homemade Lava Lamp Using Household Items
This engineering design activity teaches youngsters about liquid characteristics and density. Students can use a mixture of liquids like water, clear soda, or oils, alongside different colors and items to create beautiful lava lamps while learning about the science behind them.
Learn More: Engineering Emily
6. Build a Simple Machine Using Lego Bricks
Constructing a basic machine from Lego bricks is an excellent engineering design process exercise for encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Youngsters can use their imagination to design and build various machines such as pulleys, levers, or gear systems.
Learn More: Lego Engineering
7. Create a Marble Run Using Cardboard Tubes and Other Materials
Teachers can give their students this project as a class design challenge to promote creativity, problem-solving, and cooperation. Children can try out combinations of different slopes and obstacles to construct a unique marble run.
Learn More: Lets Talk Science
8. Popsicle stick Catapult
This activity encourages creativity. Using popsicle sticks, rubber bands, tapes, glue, and an object to launch, students can try out different designs and create a working catapult while learning about mechanics and physics fundamentals.
Learn More: Steam Powered Family
9. Build a Mini Solar-Powered Car Using a Small Motor and Solar Panel
This activity will teach kids about sustainable energy, mechanics, and physics fundamentals. Students can creatively combine materials like rubber wheels, PVC board, tape, wires, a DC motor, and metal rods to create a mini solar-powered automobile.
Learn More: Hone Science Tools
10. Create a Homemade Musical Instrument Using Recycled Materials
This activity will teach children about sound waves and acoustics. With materials like foldable cardboard, metal strips, and strings, kids can make unique and practical musical instruments while learning about the science behind them.
Learn More: There’s Just One Mommy
11. Build a Wind-Powered Car
This fun activity exposes kids to renewable energy. Students can use simple materials like bottle covers, a flat wooden board, a foldable piece of cardboard, and tiny wooden sticks to make a practical wind-powered automobile while learning about wind energy.
Learn More: Scientific American
12. Create a Water Filtration System Using a Plastic Bottle and Sand
Making a water filter system from a plastic bottle and sand is a great exercise for teaching youngsters about water filtration and purification concepts. Students may use a clear plastic bottle, sand, gravel, activated charcoal, tape, and cotton wool to make the simple filter system while learning about the need for clean water.
Learn More: National Geographic
13. Design and Build a Maze Using Cardboard and Other Materials
This maze project encourages problem-solving and critical thinking. Children may first draw a unique maze design on paper and then use cardboard to set up obstacles and challenges to form a functioning maze according to their design.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
14. Build a Simple Electric Circuit Using a Battery and Wires
Children can learn about the fundamentals of electricity and electronics by creating a basic electric circuit using a battery and wires as part of an engaging engineering design process exercise. They can test different voltage and resistance levels while they’re at it.
Learn More: Steam Powered Family
15. Design and Build a Mini Greenhouse Using Recycled Materials
This exercise encourages sustainability, inventiveness, and problem-solving. Kids can use popsicle sticks to create a frame with the application of glue, and they can place a clear plastic cup on it as a cover after piercing ventilation holes through the cup. When this is completed, they can place a seedling in a mini pot inside and watch it grow.
Learn More: YouTube
16. Create a Balloon-Powered Car Using Straws and a Balloon
This is a fun and exciting exercise that teaches youngsters about mechanics and physics. After kids attach cardboard to some plastic wheels to form a wheelbase, a straw inserted partially into a balloon is tightly secured to the balloon with a rubber band and taped to the wheelbase. When kids blow air into the balloon the rush of air with cause a propelling of the wheelbase.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
17. Make a Snack Pulley System
The exercise of creating a snack pulley system educates children about the workings of pulleys and basic machines. To build a useful and creative snack pulley system, kids will combine twine, tape, plastic cups, and a cardboard box.
Learn More: Left Brain Craft Brain
18. Design and Build a Glider Using Balsa Wood and Tissue Paper
Kids can start their design process on paper; drawing up basic schematics of the glider they want to build. Based on their schematic drawings and the help of instructors, they can couple materials like balsa wood, styrofoam, cardboard, paper, and tape, to make unique gliders.
Learn More: New Horizon Academy
19. Create a Simple Motorized Boat Using a Small Motor and Propeller
In this activity, kids can use materials like a DC motor, waterproof sealants, a propeller, some wires, glue, scissors, styrofoam, and a soldering iron to create a motorized boat based on their designs. Tutors will need to be readily available to help handle complex tools.
Learn More: Science-Sparks
20. Build a Simple Hovercraft Using a Balloon and a CD
This activity teaches learners about air pressure and aerodynamics. With materials like a balloon, glue, and a compact disc, tutors can assist kids to design a simple Hovercraft while they learn about lift and push.
Learn More: Instructables
21. Design and Build a Simple Robot Hand Using Straws and a String
This design project encourages creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. kids can thread strings through straws and attach the straws to a cardboard base, after ensuring the strings are stapled inside the straw. Once completed, this simple robot hand will be able to close or open when the strings are pulled or released.
Learn More: YouTube
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