Science: Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve
Using steps to solve problems like an engineer
Science: Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve
Using steps to solve problems like an engineer
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
A class needs a way to keep crayons from rolling off the table. Which engineering design step should they do first: ask, imagine, plan, create, or improve? Explain your answer.
The first step is about understanding the problem.
They should start with the ask step. In this step, they learn what the problem is and what the solution needs to do. - 2
Mia wants to build a paper bridge that can hold toy cars. Write one question she should ask before she starts building.
Mia could ask, "How many toy cars does the bridge need to hold?" This helps her understand the goal before she designs the bridge. - 3
During the imagine step, students think of many possible solutions. List two ideas for helping a plant get water while the class is away for the weekend.
Do not choose only one idea yet. Think of more than one possible solution.
One idea is to use a water bottle with a small hole to drip water slowly. Another idea is to place the plant pot in a shallow tray of water. - 4
Look at this design goal: Build a tower using only 20 craft sticks and tape. The tower must stand for 10 seconds. Write one rule or limit for this challenge.
One rule is that the tower can only use 20 craft sticks and tape. Another rule is that the tower must stand for 10 seconds. - 5
Sam drew a picture of his windmill design before building it. Which step of the engineering design process is he using? Explain how you know.
This step happens after imagining ideas and before building.
Sam is using the plan step. He is drawing and thinking about how the windmill will be made before he creates it. - 6
Circle the action that belongs in the create step: A. Ask what the problem is. B. Build and test the design. C. Think of three ideas. D. Make the design better.
The correct answer is B. In the create step, engineers build and test the design. - 7
A student builds a boat from foil. It floats, but it tips over when pennies are added. What should the student do during the improve step?
Improving means using test results to make the design better.
The student should change the boat to make it work better. For example, the student could make the bottom wider so it is more stable. - 8
Put these engineering design steps in order: create, ask, improve, imagine, plan.
The correct order is ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve. Engineers first understand the problem, then think of ideas, choose and draw a plan, build it, and make it better. - 9
Lena tested her paper airplane three times. It flew 5 steps, then 6 steps, then 4 steps. What information did she collect, and how can it help her?
Test results can help engineers make decisions.
Lena collected data about how far the paper airplane flew. The data can help her decide if she needs to improve the airplane design. - 10
Choose one classroom problem, such as a messy desk, a noisy line, or lost pencils. Write a short plan for a solution using at least three engineering design steps.
Use step words such as ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve.
An example answer is: I will ask what causes pencils to get lost. I will imagine ideas like a pencil cup or labeled pencils. I will plan and create a pencil station, then improve it if pencils still get lost.