What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn
- Engineers use science and math to solve problems.
- Engineers also build and test things.
- Each time they re-design it, the solution can get better.
- Discussion Questions
Before Video
What do you think an engineer does?ANSWERAn engineer uses math and science to solve problems.
Possible Responses: When you needed to make a fly swatter out of cardboard; when you needed to make a shaded shelter for your dog, etc.
Drawing a solution first can help you figure out what materials you will need and how you will build it.
You can make some changes and try again.
Possible Responses: self-driving cars; rockets; cell phones, etc.
Possible Responses: working on space projects, solving medical problems, working on cars, building robots, making a computer program, etc.
After Video
What kinds of things does an engineer do?ANSWEREngineers work on solving problems by creating things. Some examples include inventing a light bulb and then improving the design.
By testing things, engineers can figure out how to improve their design.
They can use their imaginations to come up with lots of different solutions to problems.
Engineers need to make a plan by sketching ideas. They also need to build their solutions. They need to test their designs and then improve them.
Possible Responses: Electrical engineers can build robots; a biomedical engineer can make medicine; an aerospace engineer can design rockets and airplanes.
They don’t get upset or cry because it often takes many tries to find a solution that works. Each time they improve their design and get closer to solving the problem.
- Vocabulary
- Engineer DEFINE
Someone who designs, builds and tests things to solve problems.
- Engineering DEFINE
Using science and math to creatively solve problems.
- Design DEFINE
A sketch, model or plan for something.
- Problem DEFINE
A challenge that needs a solution.
- Solve DEFINE
To find a solution.
- Improve DEFINE
To make better.
- Test DEFINE
To check to see if something is working.
- Fail DEFINE
Not passing a test or something that did not work.
- Analyze DEFINE
To compare results of a test and make decisions about the results.
- Engineer DEFINE
- Reading Material
- DIY Activity Guide
- Lesson Plan
- Lesson Plan
- Teacher Guide
- Kahoot Quiz Instructions: (1) Click on the button above and then select classic or team mode. (2) Students should visit www.kahoot.it from their devices and enter the quiz PIN. (3) Click start! You can download scores at the end of the online quiz.
Explore More Science Topics
Explore More Science Topics
Level 1
What does an engineer do?
Level 2
Write down two problems that engineers might solve?
Level 3
Why is it not a problem if the solution does not work the first time?