Engineering Design Steps

Grade Level

3rd Grade

Duration

30 Minutes

Unit Context

Unit 2 of 15: Inventive Structures and Solutions

Lesson Overview

Students will be introduced to the Engineering Design Process with a focus on five key steps: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, and Improve. This lesson aims to build foundational problem-solving and innovation skills by relating engineering practices to everyday challenges. The student will engage in interactive discussion and a simple hands-on activity to apply these steps, making the learning concrete and memorable.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

• Explain the five steps of the Engineering Design Process.
• Demonstrate understanding of how engineers solve problems using the process.
• Apply the steps to a real-world problem in a creative way.

Standards Alignment

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) -

3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.

3-5-ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) –

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas