An Engineering Challenge

I’ve observed a great variety of grills, lights, and front bumpers on cars. Other than an artistic design choice, why might they be different?

Take a walk around a parking lot and observe the front of cars with your young engineers. Discuss as a group what you have noticed and wondered. Then task your children or students to design the front of a car either individually or collaboratively.

If you use the Engineering Design Process (Ask, Imagine, Design, Create, Test, Improve) with your students, you know that it is a lengthy process. Take this assignment just through the design phase, so ample time can be spent learning this part of the process. Brainstorm what must be included. Older students might research industry standards.

As students work, question why they have made their design choices. Were they made for aesthetic or safety reasons?

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