Engineering and Design Process Lesson Plan: Engineering, Technology, and the Applications of Science

Grade Levels: K-3

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP Jr. topic Engineering and Design Process, and supports the standard of designing a solution to a real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems solved through engineering. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Prompt students to reflect on a design problem they would like to solve. Ask:

  • What is something you use every day in class? How would you improve it?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Play the Engineering and Design Process movie.  
  • Click the pause button each time a question appears in Annie’s Notebook and discuss it as a class. Then play to see how Annie answers it. 

TIP: The pause button turns red to remind you to pause. 

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS

Students take the Easy Quiz or Hard Quiz, demonstrating what they learned about the topic while applying essential literacy skills.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about the engineering and design process while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student or grade-level needs.

  • Draw About It: Draw a picture of your idea to improve the design of a toothbrush.
  • Activity: Design a tool that keeps the classroom clean and dry.
  • Talk About It: Describe how you would solve different everyday problems.
  • Write About It: Write a plan for mailing a glass vase to a friend.

More to Explore 

Technology Unit: Continue to build understanding around the engineering and design process by exploring more BrainPOP Jr. topics.

Teacher Support Resources:

 

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Filed as:  BrainPOP Jr., CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1