Lesson 16 of 84 · Engineering and Design
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🛠️ Engineer ShopSorting and Classifying
Engineering and Design.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
The first design always fails. That's the point.
Mind = Blown
🚀 The Saturn V rocket burned 20 tons of fuel per second at liftoff.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: what's the weakest part of this build?
What You'll Learn
Classifying means sorting things into groups based on their features.
Key Words
- plan
- problem
- solution
Materials Needed
- plastic wrap
- cardboard
- tape
- scissors
- straws
- paper clips
Safety First
- Use materials only as directed in the experiment.
- Keep small objects away from young children.
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using vinegar or other strong-smelling substances.
Steps
Read about Engineering and Design with a partner or grown-up.
Build the strongest bridge you can using only paper and tape. Test it by placing coins on top.
Watch carefully. What happens?
Draw and write about what you learned.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What does 'observe' mean?
Where you see this in real life
Your phone, your bike, your shoes — all designed with this idea.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Build something — anything — out of stuff in your recycling bin.
For the dinner table
“What's something around the house you'd redesign — and how?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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