Our Method for Teaching Engineering Design
We have built a hands-on method for teaching the engineering design process, with one full lesson dedicated to each step. Our goal is to expand access to — and participation in — the creative process for our youngest learners.
Identify the Problem
Students meet an authentic design challenge.
Research
Students investigate the science through hands-on fair tests.
Brainstorm
Students sketch their designs and “shop” for materials.
Build
Students bring their sketches to life as 3D models.
Test & Evaluate
Students test their designs, collect data, and identify improvements.
Redesign
Students apply what they learned to build a stronger second model.
Share & Reflect
Students present, compare results, and argue from evidence.
Our Extended Research Phase
LYI’s Engineering Design Process addresses equity right from the start. We dedicate five lessons to an extended research phase filled with hands-on investigations and fair tests. This shared experience builds the content knowledge, scientific vocabulary, and maker skills ALL students need before designing their own solutions. Students collect and graph data along the way, then carry that evidence into the origination phase.
Identify the Problem
Students meet an authentic design challenge that anchors every lesson in the unit. Every later phase ties back to this shared mission.
Research
Across several lessons, students investigate the underlying science through hands-on fair tests, changing one variable at a time. Each research lesson builds shared vocabulary, content knowledge, and maker skills before any new design begins.
Brainstorm
Students apply what they learned to sketch and label their own designs with a partner. They look at real-world examples for inspiration, use the success criteria to guide their choices, and “shop” from a new set of open-ended materials they’ll use to build.
Build
Students turn their sketches into 3D models, learning the maker skills needed to construct each part of their design. They quickly discover that physical builds rarely match the original sketch — and that adapting on the fly is part of the engineering process.
Test & Evaluate
Students test their models, record data, and evaluate results against the success criteria. They connect what they see back to the science they investigated in research and identify specific changes that could improve performance.
Share & Reflect
In a final celebration, students present their designs, compare their first and final test results, and construct evidence-based arguments about which decisions paid off. Standards-aligned ELA worksheets and assessments support reflection, and designs can be shared in a parent showcase.
The Origination Phase
LYI dedicates a full lesson to each step of the engineering design process, giving students the time to fully engage with each step’s purpose, see how it fits into the larger framework, and practice all 8 Science and Engineering Practices along the way.