Middle School Engineering Design Process Unit and Activities for STEM or Science

Introducing middle school students to the engineering design process can be tricky! This complete unit will engage your students and help them master the engineering design process while having lots of fun! The bundle includes over 200 pages of resources that can be used individually where they best fit within your STEM course or taught in sequence as a 5-week middle school engineering design process unit. 

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Grab these lessons today to get back your nights and weekends while knowing your students will be engaged in learning the fundamentals of engineering!

What’s included in the middle school engineering design process unit?

• Wind-Powered Car STEM Challenge - In this activity, students will learn about climate change and use the engineering design process to build a car powered by renewable wind energy.

• Intro to the Engineering Design Process - In this lesson, students will learn about the engineering design process as a problem-solving strategy. They will examine each step and make connections to STEM challenges.

• PBS Design Squad Movie Guide and Activities - Use this resource as students watch an episode of PBS Kids’ Design Squad. Students will identify each step of the engineering design process as they watch high school students compete to solve an engaging design challenge!

• Engineering Design Process Choice Board - In this activity, students will choose between 9 different activities to reinforce and extend their understanding of the engineering design process.

• Engineering Design Process Quiz - This assessment includes 10 multiple choice and short answer questions. It can be used as an informal or formal assessment of your students’ mastery of the engineering design process.

• STEM Group Roles - This lesson teaches middle school students how to cooperate and collaborate during STEM challenges and makes connections to real-world STEM careers.

• Space Needle STEM Challenge - In this activity, students are commissioned to design and build a model space needle for their town or city. They will apply what they’ve learned about the engineering design process to develop a solution.

• Engineering Careers Research Project - In this project, students will research an engineering career of their choice. Then they will create a job advertisement for that career, and present it to the class in a gallery walk activity.

Included Bonus Material:

• An engineering design process rubric that can be used with any middle school STEM challenge
• Supply lists for stocking your STEM lab with materials that work for a wide range of STEM challenges
• Donation letters to help get supplies donated by your students' families and community members
• Suggestions for where to find free or low-cost materials for STEM challenges

Each of the middle school engineering design process activities described above also has:

✔ Printable, Google, and Easel versions of the student activities and worksheets

✔ Detailed lesson plans and slideshows for easy lesson facilitation

✔ Easy-to-use grading rubrics and assessments

✔ Flexible building materials (use what you have in the cupboard!)

Click on the "Bonus File" Preview for more information about the resources included in this unit and how to use them!

What are other teachers saying?

★★★★★

“This has been the best unit to kick off the school year! Well organized and awesome teacher notes for easy implementation!”

★★★★★

"This was amazing! Not only did the students love each engineering lab, but it also aligned with all the engineering design process standards - making this such an awesome 6 weeks of learning in my classroom! I would 10/10 recommend it!"

★★★★★

"Very engaging unit. A variety of activities for the kids to do and very easy to use!"

★★★★★

"LOVE THIS! It was so helpful when I do not have time to prep. AMAZING resource."

How can the engineering design process resources be used in your classroom?

• Teach each lesson in the suggested sequence as a 5-week introduction to middle school engineering and the engineering design process

• Use the lessons individually where they fit within your existing STEM curriculum

• Leave the lessons as emergency STEM sub plans

• Assign the lessons to be completed on virtual or asynchronous learning days

• Use the resources as STEM extra credit, holiday break packets, or extension activities

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