K-2-ETS1 Engineering design - define and solve simple problems
Aligned to K-2-ETS1 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Engineers solve problems by thinking of an idea, building it, and then testing to see if it works. If it does not work the first time, that is okay. You change it and try again until it does.
Worked examples
Example 1
Imagine a toy car keeps rolling off a table. You could build a little wall from blocks to stop it. If the car pushes the wall down, you make the wall taller or stronger and test it again.
Example 2
Your crayons keep spilling out of your backpack. You could put them in a box with a lid, then test whether they stay in when you shake the bag.
Example 3
Sometimes the first fix does not work. If the lid pops off, try a rubber band around the box and test again — that is what engineers do.
Practice questions
- What are the steps to solve a building problem?
- What should you do if the thing you built does not work?
- Think of a small problem at home and one way you could build to fix it.
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 lessonEn español
K-2-ETS1 Diseño de ingeniería: definir y resolver problemas sencillos
Los ingenieros resuelven problemas pensando en una idea, construyéndola y luego probando si funciona. Si no funciona la primera vez, está bien. La cambias y lo intentas de nuevo hasta que sí funcione.
Ejemplo 1: Imagina que un carrito de juguete sigue cayéndose de una mesa. Podrías construir un pequeño muro con bloques para detenerlo. Si el carrito derriba el muro, lo haces más alto o más resistente y lo pruebas de nuevo.
Ejemplo 2: Tus crayones se salen de tu mochila. Podrías ponerlos en una caja con tapa y luego probar si se quedan adentro cuando sacudes la mochila.
Ejemplo 3: A veces el primer arreglo no funciona. Si la tapa se sale, prueba con una liga alrededor de la caja y vuelve a probar — eso hacen los ingenieros.
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