Curriculum › Grade 2 › Science

Shape Helps It Work

  • Grade 2
  • Science
  • K-2-ETS1-2
  • Engineering Design
  • Free lesson

Aligned to K-2-ETS1-2 — Next Generation Science Standards.

What this lesson teaches

The shape of an object helps it do its job, so drawing or building a model shows how the shape works.

Worked examples

Example 1

A boat has a wide, curved bottom so it can float and not tip over in the water.

Example 2

A door handle sticks out so your hand can grab it, unlike the flat door around it.

Example 3

An umbrella is curved so rain runs off the edges instead of pooling on top.

Practice questions

  1. Draw a spoon and show how its shape helps you scoop food.
  2. Build a model of a bridge and point to the part that holds it up.
  3. Explain why a kite is a flat, light shape instead of a heavy ball.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

▶ Watch this lesson

En español

La Forma Ayuda a Funcionar

La forma de un objeto le ayuda a hacer su trabajo, por eso dibujar o construir un modelo muestra cómo funciona la forma.

Ejemplo 1: Un barco tiene un fondo ancho y curvo para poder flotar y no voltearse en el agua.

Ejemplo 2: La manija de una puerta sobresale para que tu mano la pueda agarrar, a diferencia de la puerta plana que la rodea.

Ejemplo 3: Un paraguas es curvo para que la lluvia escurra por las orillas en vez de juntarse arriba.

More Engineering Design lessons

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