Engineering BOATS!!!!

First and second grade used the engineering design process to design and build boats. The students started with step 1 where we talked about problems or constraints we would have building. I told the class they'd only get paper to build their boats. Many students raised their hands and asked if they could use glue too. We discussed why glue wouldn't be a good tool in building our boats and they suggested tape. We added tape to their materials. Next, they said they needed scissors so they could cut paper and the tape when it was difficult to tear. We added scissors to their materials. Then we moved on to step 2, where we brainstormed ideas. Then we took our ideas and moved on to step 3, where we made a plan. After each student made a design plan they were permitted to build, which is step 4. After each student built their boat, we moved on to step 5, where we tested our boats.

Our purpose of building the boats was to use air to move them. In science we've learned that air takes up space, can be compressed or create pressure, and can move an object. We thought we'd put a fun twist on moving our boats and race our classmates. We created a bracket for racing and currently we have completed round one. We are now moving on to round two to see who our grand champion is.

Some boats sunk, wouldn't move, or got too wet. We discussed each students design and why these problems occurred. I told the students that engineers designs don't always workout the first time and that they have to go back to step one in the engineering design process and brainstorm a new plan for their boat using the knowledge they found out from testing it.

I am excited to share with you the photos from this STEM event in the WILD First and Second Grade! They should be posted soon.