Grades 3–5
Egg Drop Challenge
Plan, build and test a package that keeps an egg from breaking when it falls.
Science worksheet · Engineering design
The Engineering Design Process
Number the five steps engineers use, from ask to improve, then name a problem an engineer could solve.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–4
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Topic
- Engineering design
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Engineering design, Building and testing, Teamwork
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Engineers solve problems by designing things. They follow these steps, and they go around again and again until the design works well.
- 1. Number the steps from 1 to 5.
- Create: build your design.
- Ask: what is the problem? What do I need?
- Improve: test it, then make it better.
- Plan: draw your best idea and list the materials.
- Imagine: think of lots of ideas.
- 2. Think of a problem at school. What could an engineer design to fix it?
Teacher tip
Point to each step during your next class build challenge.
How to use it
- Give each team the same materials and a time limit.
- Ask teams to sketch a plan before they touch the materials.
- Let partners compare answers and settle any differences with a book or a video.
Watch for
Teams where one child builds and the rest watch. Give every child a job.
Talk about it
- What would you change if you built it again?
- What did you notice that surprised you?
Take it further
Hold a gallery walk where teams explain their design.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
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