6.1

Engineering Design Process: Research engineering and scientific texts to understand the engineering design and scientific inquiry processes. Design and create a product that meets specific constraints and criteria using an engineering process that includes the following: identifying the problem; identifying criteria and specifying constraints; brainstorming for possible solutions; researching and generating ideas; exploring alternative solutions; selecting an approach; writing a design proposal, developing a model or prototype; testing and evaluating; refining and improving; creating or making a product; and communicating results. Evaluate and report whether the solution met the original criteria and constraints, as well as what improvements could be made to the solution, including a summary of data. For example, students design and build a paper airplane that will stay aloft for the longest time. Students record their plane design before building and testing it. Students build and test their plane three times, recording the time aloft in each test. Students make a modification to their plane design. Students should be encouraged to only modify a single variable. Students build and test their modified plane three times as with their original plane. This process may be repeated multiple times. Students should create and present a report of the design, test results, results and conclusions. Teachers may wish to have students use their phones to take pictures of their plane designs and test results.