Learning Resources City Engineering & Design Building Set Aktivitätsanleitung Seite 3

STEM and the Engineering Design Process
Simply defined, STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
But STEM is much more than an acronym. It is an approach to learning that asks children to solve
real-world problems through inquiry-based problem solving, hands-on experimentation, trial and
error, and self-discovery. In this STEM Engineering and Design kit, children will move through the
engineering design process as they follow the challenge cards and use the Planning Sheet in this
guide. This process encourages builders to think, plan, try, and try again! The engineering design
process generally follows these basic steps:
Ask What is the problem you are trying to solve?
Imagine Brainstorm ideas on how to solve the
problem, and then choose the best one.
Plan
Using the reproducible Planning Sheet in
this guide along with the challenge cards,
children can record their design ideas.
Create Use the building pieces to create a model
to solve the problem, and then test to see
if the solution works.
Improve Reflect on what went well and what you
would do differently to solve the problem.
What changes can be made? How would
you do it differently next time?
Activity Cards
The first 5 cards present the builder with a question for unique engineering challenges: Can you
redesign the bridge to allow the boat to pass? Can you design an interchange to direct traffic
along multiple routes? Cards 6–10 invite children to build their own city equipment: skyscraper,
suspension bridge, elevator, and more! The icons on the cards help guide the builder through the
engineering design process as young engineers imagine, plan, create, and test their structures to
see if their design solved or did not solve the problem or challenge. Because each problem has
more than one solution, each challenge can be revisited and redesigned to improve the solution.
Please note that because children at this age are just beginning to read, the cards are intended to
be read by an adult to direct, guide, and prompt the child along the way.
STEM and Engineering Design Questions to Ask
While the young engineer is planning, designing, and testing out his or her model, ask thought-
provoking questions to boost their critical thinking and problem solving skills, such as:
• Why are you building it this way?
• Why do you think your design will work?
• How can you change the design to make it better?
• What happened when you tried to _______________?
• What if you tried _______________?
Ask
Engineering
Design Process
Improve
Create
Imagine
Plan
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