Lesson Plans

THE CHALLENGE: Helping Others

Content: Engineering Design Process
Theme: Helping Others

In this challenge, students experience firsthand how engineers solve problems to help improve people's lives and make the world a better place.

Get more resources about engineering that supports health and wellbeing.

IN CLASS

Show students that engineering can help fulfill wishes or solve problems by seeing how it is done on DESIGN SQUAD. Then have them build a project that assists someone to do a physical task.

  • What Does an Engineer Do?

    Engineers solve real world problems. Use this series of short video clips to introduce students to the engineering design process and watch as DESIGN SQUAD host Nate solves his cat feeding dilemma!

    Cat Feeder: Part 1 Watch as Nate sketches ideas for his cat feeder. (2:30)

    Cat Feeder: Part 2 What is a prototype? Watch Nate build a prototype of his cat feeder! (3:11)

    Cat Feeder: Part 3 From prototype to finished product, watch as Nate puts the finishing touches on his cat feeder project! (3:24)

  • Engineering in the Global Community

    Travel behind the scenes of MIT's D-Lab in this DESIGN SQUAD field trip. Learn how people in the Himalayan Mountains use natural dyes to create crayons that are sold around the world! (2:31)

    Watch

  • NASA Toilet

    Employing the same skills he uses in his work at NASA, Evan Thomas, a volunteer working with Engineers Without Borders, designs water recovery and purification systems for use in the arid country of Rwanda. (1:00)

    Watch | Download

  • Brainstorm and Build

    Students will work in teams of three or four to brainstorm, design, build, and test their version of any of the following activities (40 min). Or, choose from these additional activities.

  • Convenient Carrier

    Invent a way for someone using crutches or a wheelchair to carry all their stuff.

    Read more
    Download PDFs: Student Handout (English | Spanish), Leader Notes (English | Spanish)

  • Helping Hand

    See how many objects you can grab with a homemade "bionic" arm.

    Read more
    Download PDFs: Student Handout (English | Spanish), Leader Notes (English)

AT HOME

During this "At Home" challenge, students will interview friends or family to identify a problem, and then create a prototype to help solve it.

  • Make a Prototype

    Students will make a prototype device that will help someone move, accomplish a task, or make work easier. First, they will conduct interviews with family or friends to identify the problem that their device will help solve. Then they will make a sketch or prototype of their device. Optionally, they can take photos or record video of their prototype being used by a family member or friend. Finally, they will bring their sketch or prototype to class to discuss the next day.

CLASSROOM WRAP-UP

Once all of the prototypes have been shared, students will discuss elements that could improve upon their design. Then, students will see how the teams on DESIGN SQUAD used engineering and the design process build specialized prostheses for an underwater dance performance.

  • Share

    First, students can share results from the "At Home" challenge. (10-15 minutes) Then, students can demonstrate their project and discuss any changes that would improve their design. Optionally: take photos of student projects and share them in the DESIGN SQUAD website project gallery.

  • Water Dancing (DESIGN SQUAD Season 2, Episode 205)

    Finally, students can watch the episode "Water Dancing," where the teams build specialized prostheses for an underwater performance by dancer Lisa Bufano, a bilateral leg and finger amputee. (27:40)

    Watch