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Description

Engineers spend a lot of time choosing the right materials to design and build their projects. The properties of materials are very important. The aim of this exercise is to get the Young Engineers to think about the materials all around them and what properties they have. They will know a lot more than they think!

The girls will have an awareness of what materials are around them and that materials have interesting properties. They will learn how engineers need to know the properties of materials so that their designs will work and will last.

Resources

The accompanying ‘STEPS Engineer Investigator’ treasure hunt printable.

Instructions

Engineering Treasure Hunt

In the unit
Or
In the local area

This is a treasure hunt!

1. Divide the unit in teams or this can be done individually.
2. Choose to carry out the treasure hunt indoors or outdoors – pick the area and explain to the girls the boundaries.
3. Print one of the ‘STEPS Engineer Investigator’ treasure hunt printables per team (or person).
4. Each team or person will need a bag or basket to collect the items, as well as a pen or pencil to tick the box.
5. Give the girls 10-15 minutes to collect their treasure.
6. After the given time, discuss what they found as a group. Discuss the properties (hard, soft, thin, bendy (flexible), noisy (can make a sound when it is hit), quiet (does not make a noise when it is hit). See some notes and hints below on the discussion. What do you think these treasure items would be good for?
7. Link the conversation to how engineers need to know the properties of materials to design. For example, what would happen if you used teddy bears to build a house instead of blocks? (See some ideas below)
8. Reinforce that Engineering is Everywhere.

Ideas – there are limitless options but here are some ideas:

Something Hard – ideas
• Rock
• Brick/block
• Wood
• Cup

Something Soft – ideas
• Teddy
• Fabric
• Marshmallows
• Compost

Something bendy (flexible) – ideas
• Paper
• Leaves
• Elastic band
• String

Something that makes noise when you hit it – ideas
• Wood
• Chairs
• Most hard things – test them in practice

Something that doesn’t make noise when you hit it – ideas
• Fabric
• Carpet
• Thick glass
• The body
• Grass
• Try some experiments!

Examples of Engineering
You can link almost anything manmade to engineering so encourage the girls to be creative
• Phones/electronics
• Chairs
• Paper
• Toys

Discussion

The aim of the exercise is not to get the answers right – it is to raise awareness of engineering all around them. They will learn through the game that materials have properties and that certain properties are better suited to certain roles. For example, hard things are better for building with. Soft things can be good for insulating or keeping us warm or protecting people from sharp edges. Flexible things are needed for things like cables.

You could look around at different examples of engineering and discuss what materials are used:

• Walls – hard materials like bricks
• Walls – inside there is soft materials to insulate
• Lights – glass is transparent so light can shine through
• Lights – cables are flexible so they can reach all the electrical elements
• Carpet – is soft it keeps us warm and prevents lots of noise around the house
• Bridges
• Traffic lights
• Computers
• Phones
• Cars
• Medicine
• Toys
• Paint

Most items that are manmade can be linked to engineering – through construction, electronics, manufacturing or chemical design. Even trees or grass can be linked to engineering through landscaping and the tools required to maintain them like lawn mowers. Try to be encouraging about what they collect. It is great to see their enthusiasm and interest in engineering and to build a positive ‘can-do’ attitude for engineering at a young age.

Tags

• engineering
• ladybird engineering
• Treasure Hunt

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