English

Oral Language 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.3

Reading/Literature 3.7, 4.6, 5.7

History/Social Science

Economics 3.7, 3.9

Science

Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and Logic 3.1

ES.7: Communication skills

ES.8: Decision-making skills

ES.9: Long-term goals

Improve a Product

This activity allows students to engage in group problem solving and have fun at the same time.

Steps To Complete the Activity

• Ask the class to list products they use at home and at school. Talk about how some of these products might be improved to make them, for example, easier to use, less expensive, more appealing to children, more durable, or more comfortable.
• Divide class into groups of four or five engineering teams. Explain that an engineering team may consist of one or more designers, builders, testing coordinators, and marketers.

Have groups

• Select a product that needs improvement.
• Decide what kind of improvement to make (set a goal for the solution).
• Discuss how the improvement could be made (suggest alternatives).
• Devise criteria by which the group will evaluate alternatives.
• Select the best alternative method of improving the product.
• Draw plans for or build a model of the improved product.
• Test the improved product by comparing it to the goal set in step 2.
• Present the improved product to the class.

Discussion

• How did you select the product, determine an improvement, and decide how to accomplish the improvement?
• Did the team have any problems? How did you solve team-related problems?