Think Like an Engineer: Solve a Problem

A cup that falls, pencils that roll away, a bridge that breaks: every day, people meet small problems. Engineers solve them by making new objects, or by making old ones better. Let’s learn their steps: find the problem, draw an idea, then test and compare.

This lesson takes about 10 minutes. You can take a break after each part.

Before you start

Think Like an Engineer: Solve a Problem

Learning objectives

  • I can say clearly what a problem is, after looking and asking questions.
  • I can draw a sketch and tell how the shape of an object helps it work.
  • I can test two solutions the same way and compare the results.

What is the problem?

Look, ask, then say the problem

An engineer solves problems by making new objects, or by making objects better. First, she looks closely and asks questions: what goes wrong, when, and why?

Then she says the problem in one clear sentence.

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Draw your idea

A sketch shows the shape

Next, engineers draw a sketch: a simple drawing of their idea. It shows the shape of the object and its parts.

The shape helps an object work. A spoon is hollow to hold soup. A shovel is wide and curved to scoop sand.

A circle of nine round pictures linked by arrows: a question, a book, a list, light bulbs for ideas, a pencil drawing a model, building it, testing it with a gauge, and sharing it with a group.
Engineers ask, imagine, draw, build, test, then make it better, again and again.

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Test and compare

Two solutions, one fair test

Engineers often build two solutions to the same problem. Then they test both of them, in the same way: this is a fair test.

They count or measure the results. Each solution has strengths and weaknesses: they choose the one that solves the problem best.

Three classroom pictures: a paper lander holding an egg on a table, a boy dropping his lander from a stepladder and the egg breaks, a girl dropping hers and the egg stays whole.
Two designs, one test: the girl’s lander keeps the egg safe, so it works better.

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Review game

Final assessment

To master the lesson, you need at least 60% correct answers.

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Summary

  • An engineer first observes, asks questions and says the problem clearly.
  • A sketch shows the shape and the parts of an idea.
  • The shape of an object helps it work, like the hollow part of a spoon.
  • We test two solutions the same way, compare the results, and keep the one that solves the problem.

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