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What is the engineering design process?
The engineering design process is how kids solve design challenges like building the tallest paper tower or a cup that keeps ice frozen. They ask what the problem is, including criteria (what success looks like) and constraints (the limits), imagine ideas, plan one, create it, test it, and improve it. Then they test again. Failure on the first test is expected.
- Ask: the problem, the criteria and the constraints.
- Imagine, plan, create: ideas, a sketch, then build.
- Test and improve: measure it, fix it, test again.
Why schools teach it
Science used to solve problems
Students define design problems with criteria and constraints and test and improve solutions (3-5-ETS1-1 to 3, MS-ETS1-1 to 4). Engineering is part of every NGSS grade.
The cycle teaches that a failed test is information. Many classes grade the improvement and the explanation more than the first build.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
What does success look like? That's the criteria.
What are the limits? That's the constraints.
Materials, time, size, cost.What happened when you tested it?
What will you change next, and why?
Skip this
- Building it for them.Ask questions; the design is theirs.
- Treating the first failure as the end.Test, improve, test again.
- Skipping the plan sketch.Most classes want a labeled sketch before building.
See it in action
Challenge: build a bridge from 20 craft sticks that holds the most pennies
Ask
criteria: hold the most pennies, span 20 cm; constraints: 20 sticks, glue onlyImagine and plan
sketch a triangle truss designCreate and test
held 45 pennies, then sagged in the middleImprove
add a support under the middle, test again
Triangles are strong shapes, a lesson kids discover by testing.
Free practice sheet
Make an engineering design sheet
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Parents: tell your child's teacher about this guide
Parents also ask
What's the difference between criteria and constraints?
Criteria are what the design must do (hold 50 pennies). Constraints are the limits (only 20 sticks, 30 minutes).
Are there different versions of the steps?
Yes. Some use five steps or different names, but they all go problem, ideas, build, test, improve.
Is this the same as the scientific method?
No. Science asks how the world works; engineering designs a solution to a problem. Both test ideas.
What if my child's design fails?
That's part of the process. The improvement step is where most learning happens.