Design challenge workshop for elementary

1. Using Fairy Tales to Engage
Students with Design Challenges
and Decision-making
:

2. Once upon a time design…
Students will demonstrate their
evidence of learning, as well as
engagement in the Economic
Decision Making and
Engineering Design practice(s).
Design Challenge!

4. Wants
What did the Little Red Hen want? What choices did she make? What
choices did her friends make?

5. Opportunity Cost
The Little Red Hen decided to work and make her bread instead of
playing. The opportunity cost is the thing you give up. What was her
opportunity cost when she decided to make her bread?

6. Goods and Services
What are some of the resources she needed to make her bread? What
decisions will she have to make when she goes shopping?

7. Scarcity
What was the Little Red Hen’s scarcity problem at the beginning? What
did she decide to do? What was her scarcity problem at the end? What
could she do next time? (Design thinking)

8. From Decisions to Design (Tweak-onomics)
What if she wanted to design a healthier bread?
What if she wanted the bread-making process to be faster?

9. What is an Engineering Design
Challenge?
The engineering design challenge is an
application of the skills and concepts learned in
the lesson and is often used as the evaluation.
Students are given a problem or challenge as a
Request for Proposals (like a real engineer).
Students assume a STEM career and work as
engineers to make decisions and solve the
problem.

10. STEM Career Connections
These connections help to
answer the question :Why am I
learning this?”
Help students to become aware
of career options they may not
have been exposed to.

11. The parts of an Engineering Design
Challenge:

12. Request for Proposals
The Request for Proposals or RfPs are an important part of a lesson.
This connects the content to jobs in the real world.
1. re·quest for pro·pos·al NOUN
a proposal made by a commercial organization inviting bids from
possible suppliers of a product or service, or by a government or other
funding agency inviting bids from possible research bodies
2. Request for proposal
A request for proposal (RFP) is a solicitation, often made through a
bidding process, by an agency or company interested in procurement
of a commodity, service or valuable asset, to potential suppliers to
submit business proposals. It is submitted early in the procurement
cycle, either at the preliminary study, or procurement stage.

13. Request for Proposal
1. The proposal is what the engineer (student) will
submit. It could be a blueprint, written explanation,
model, CEJ chart, etc…. (This is the evaluation piece).
) 2. It is a letter explaining who the client is and what the
client needs.
3. Gives Item specifications: These are the criteria that
the proposal must meet. (Think of it as a rubric.)
The Proposal the student submits is what you are grading
the final product of the lesson.

14. Investigate/Brainstorm:
Draft/Sketch possible
solutions.
Explain the pros and
cons of each possible
solution.

15. Plan/Design
Choose a solution.
Sketch your
blueprint.

16. Build/Test:
Build and then test your solution.
Collect data.

17. Collect and Analyze Data:
Create some type of data chart to
collect data throughout your trials.

18. Reflect/Improve:
Was it the best solution? Would one
of the other ideas have been better?
Why or Why not?
What would you have done
differently?
How would you improve your
design?

19. Discuss your findings with the other
engineers in the classroom. Draw a
conclusion using your data to justify your
thoughts.
*Use the data and collected observations
to design and test a NEW prototype.*

20. Reading - Key Ideas and Details: Read closely
to determine what the text says explicitly and
to make logical inferences from it; . .
Reading - Integration of Knowledge and
Ideas: Integrate and evaluate information
presented in diverse media. . .
Speaking and Listening -
Comprehension and Collaboration:
Prepare for and participate effectively
in a range of conversations and
collaborations . . .
Speaking and Listening - Comprehension and Collaboration:
Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and
formats . . .
Speaking and Listening - Comprehension and
Collaboration: Evaluate a speaker’s point of
view, use of evidence . . .
Speaking and Listening – Presentation of Knowledge and
Ideas: Present information, findings, and supporting
evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning .
. .
Speaking and Listening – Presentation of
Knowledge and Ideas: Make strategic use of
digital media and visual displays of data to
express information and enhance
understanding of presentations.

21. Kindergarten
Request for Proposal
Proposal must be submitted as a model.
The Fairy Tale Engineering Department is requesting proposals for a
solution that will prevent the witch from finding Rapunzel and her
Prince.
Engineers will develop a model of the tallest tower that they can make.
As a structural engineer you want to make sure your design will be
strong and will remain stable. Some things to think about:
- What kind of foundation will it need?
- The source of materials that your design requires
Item Specifications: All towers must be created using only 15 index
cards and 30 paper cups per team of engineers.
Engineering teams will create a prototype of their product to present
to the Project Manager (your teacher).
Blueprint must be drawn.
Will your engineering team help Rapunzel and her Prince live happily
ever after?

22. Becoming a Structural Engineer….
Structural Engineering is the study of how to make build things so they
are strong and don’t break easily. You probably don't stop to worry about
whether the building you are in right now can withstand a force of nature
like a hurricane or an earthquake. But if you were a structural engineer,
you'd design and plan houses, schools, bridges, and skyscrapers to resist
these powerful forces.

23. Request for Proposal Grade 1
Proposal must be submitted as a model.
The “3 Bears Structural Engineering” firm is requesting proposals for a bed for Goldilocks. Goldilocks needs her
own bed that is “just right” so that she will stop sleeping in the bear’s beds. 3 Bears Structural Engineering asked
you to create a new bed just for her. You are able to use one sheet of paper, one index card, and a combination of up
to ten popsicle sticks and straws. The bed must be able to hold 8 pennies (or 15 large paperclips) which is a model
of the weight of Goldilocks. I really hope you can build her a new bed so she will stop sneaking into the Three
Bear’s home.
Engineers will develop a model of a bed that will not break when Goldilocks lies on it. As a structural engineer you
want to think about how to build a strong structure.
Item Specifications:
 All bed prototypes must be made from paper, one index card, popsicle sticks, and straws.
 They may be held together with any combination of tape and glue.
 No more than 4 straws, 4 popsicle sticks and 4 index cards may be used by each engineering team for each
prototype.
 No more than one sheet of paper may be used by each engineering team for each prototype.
 Engineering teams will create a prototype of their product to present to the Project Manager (your teacher).
 Blueprint must be drawn with the materials labeled.
Will your engineering team win the bid from 3 Bears Structural
Engineering for Goldilock’s bed?
After the final prototype has been selected from your engineering team, explain why the 3
Bears Structural Engineering Firm should choose your design.

24. Request for Proposal Grade 2
The Crow is very thirsty. She is hiring your team of mechanical
engineers to create a new container that will have the most
volume. You will get one piece of paper, scissors and glue to
create your container. You will then test your prototype, by
filling it with sand (rice, etc). The container that holds the most
will be the one that the Crow wants.
Will your team of engineers win the bid for having the container
that holds the most volume?

25. MECHANICAL ENGINEER PROFILE
As a mechanical engineer, you might develop a bike lock or an
aircraft carrier, a child’s toy or a hybrid car engine, a
wheelchair or a sailboat—in other words, just about anything
you can think of that involves a mechanical process, whether
it’s a cool, cutting-edge product or a life saving medical device.
Mechanical engineers are often referred to as the general
practitioners of the engineering profession, since they work in
nearly every area of technology, from aerospace and
automotive to computers and biotechnology.

26. It’s twenty years later. The Three Billy Goats have had enough
trouble with the troll that lives under their bridge. The bridge over
the river is old. They want you to design a new bridge that is strong
enough to hold the Billy Goats as they crossover it while providing
shelter for the troll. Remember, they want don’t want any more
trouble from the troll!
To win the bid, you must submit a prototype of the new bridge.
Your challenge is to create a bridge prototype that will:
 cross the river,
 keep the goats protected from the troll,
 use only three index cards and clay, and
 support at least 50 grams of weight without falling down.
Best of luck and watch out for trolls!
Grade 3

27. RfP Grade 4
Three Billy Goats Gruff have crossed the bridge one at a time and eaten their fill of
fresh grasses and apples for a week! They are ready to go home. They want to cross
the bridge together for safety, but they know the bridge is rickety. Too much weight on
the bridge beam will cause it to collapse into the river and the Troll might eat the Billy
Goats Gruff! The Billy Goats Gruff are counting on you to design and construct a
bridge that will allow them all to cross at the same time and keep them safe from the
Troll.
Engineers will develop a prototype of a bridge that will not break when all three goats
are on it at the same time. As a structural engineer you want to think about how to
build a strong structure.
Item Specifications:
 Use only the allowed materials: 1 stick of clay, 20 popsicle sticks, 3 index cards,
and 60 cm of masking tape
 The bridge must support the combined weight of all three goats. The goats weigh
70 g, 60 g and 40g.
 Blueprint must be drawn with the materials labeled.
The bridge must span at least 15 cm which is the width of the river.
Good luck!

28. Becoming a Structural Engineer….
Structural Engineering is the study of how to make build things so they
are strong and don’t break easily. You probably don't stop to worry about
whether the building you are in right now can withstand a force of nature
like a hurricane or an earthquake. But if you were a structural engineer,
you'd design and plan houses, schools, bridges, and skyscrapers to resist
these powerful forces.

29. Let’s Do This!
Item Specifications:
Use only the allowed materials: 20 popsicle
sticks, 3 index cards,
and 60 cm of masking tape
The bridge must support the combined weight of
all three goats. The goats weigh
70 g, 60 g and 40g.
Blueprint must be drawn with the materials
labeled.
The bridge must span at least 15 cm which is the
width of the river.

35. Evaluate and justify your answer.
Discuss your findings with the other
engineers in the classroom.
Draw a conclusion using your data to
justify your thoughts.

36. Use the data and collected
observations to design and
test a NEW prototype.

37. Grade 5 Request for Proposal
Proposal must be submitted as a model.
Mama Pig realizes two of her little pigs need help building a home. They have relocated to live in Tampa,
Florida. Her biggest concern is that in Tampa, there are hurricanes with winds that blow 120 mph. This
has much more force than what the Big Bad Wolf produced. She has contracted you and your partner as
the head civil engineers for this project. She wants you to build her a model of a house using the given
materials. She will then test the strength of your house. If your model can withstand her wind test then
you and your partner may receive the contract.
Engineers will develop a working prototype of a home structure that will withstand hurricane force
winds with little to no damage. As a civil engineer you want to make sure your design has the least
amount of damage and is appropriate for the type of environment and weather in which the structure is
to be built.
Some things to think about:
• The direction in which the wind can blow.
• Types of materials that can withstand a large force pushing against it.
• The materials available under a tight budget
• The shape of the structure and how it may be affected by the wind.
Item Specifications:
• All structures will be tested with the same wind.
• All teams have access to the same materials for their prototypes
• Engineering teams will create a prototype of their product to present tothe Project Manager (your
teacher).
• Blueprint must be drawn with the materials labeled.
Will your engineering team win the bid from Mama Pig for the Hurricane House?

38. …and they happily ever after.
The end.