Engineering Practices

In this engaging episode of Crash Course Kids, host Sabrina Cruz uses the analogy of a mobile video game to explain the fundamental engineering concepts of variables and outcomes. The video breaks down the scientific method of testing solutions, specifically focusing on why it is critical to isolate variables during an experiment to understand cause and effect. Through a "Catbot" slingshot game, viewers see a practical demonstration of how changing launch angle versus pull strength affects the result.

In this engaging compilation of four hands-on science activities, Jessi and her robot rat friend Squeaks demonstrate how to turn a stuck-inside day into an exciting laboratory adventure. The video guides young viewers through creating Oobleck (a non-Newtonian fluid), mixing "potions" to understand solutions versus suspensions, creating homemade watercolor paints using a chemical reaction, and engineering blanket forts to learn about physics and tension. Each segment is practical, easy to follow, and uses common household items. The video explores fundamental scientific concepts across chemistry, physics, and engineering. Key topics include states of matter (solids, liquids, and things in between), the properties of mixtures (dissolving vs. separating), chemical reactions (acids and bases fizzing), color theory, and physical forces like tension that hold structures together. The content seamlessly blends fun activities with rigorous scientific vocabulary and explanation. For educators, this video is a treasure trove of ready-to-use classroom demonstrations or stations. It is ideal for introducing units on matter, mixtures, or simple machines/forces. The step-by-step instructions allow teachers to pause and have students predict outcomes or follow along in real-time. It transforms abstract concepts like "suspension" or "tension" into tangible, memorable experiences that students can touch, see, and build themselves.

This engaging video introduces young learners to the engineering design process through a relatable narrative featuring Jessi and her robot mouse friend, Squeeks. When Squeeks faces the problem of trying to invite too many friends over to play one by one, Jessi guides him—and the viewers—through using engineering principles to find a better solution. They define the problem, identify constraints (like the need for friends to both see and hear the signal), brainstorm ideas, and build a prototype using LEGO bricks and sensors. The video covers key STEM themes including the definition of engineering, the importance of collaboration ('two heads are better than one'), the concept of a prototype as an early model, and the role of sensors in robotics. It also emphasizes the iterative nature of design, showing that the first solution (a small model) often leads to questions about how to scale up or improve the design for the real world. For educators, this video serves as an excellent hook for elementary engineering units. It demystifies the term 'engineer' by framing it simply as problem-solving to make life better. The clear visual demonstration of inputs (color bricks) and outputs (flag raising/lowering) provides a tangible example of cause-and-effect and basic coding logic without needing screens. It is particularly useful for launching design challenges or introducing the vocabulary of the design cycle.

This video explores the engineering design process, specifically focusing on how engineers identify and resolve "failure points" to create safe and effective solutions. Hosted by Sabrina Cruz, the episode uses engaging animations and real-world examples to explain that failure isn't a negative outcome in engineering, but a necessary step in testing limits. It breaks down how engineers create plans, build models, and conduct trials by isolating variables to find exactly where a design stops working. Key themes include the definition of a "failure point," the importance of strategic planning over random guessing, and the scientific method's role in engineering through isolating variables. The video illustrates these concepts through a relatable example of testing a model bridge's weight capacity and a historical reference to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse. It emphasizes iteration—using failure data to redesign and improve the solution. For educators, this resource is an excellent tool to introduce the "Test and Improve" phase of the engineering cycle. It helps destigmatize failure, framing it as critical data collection. Teachers can use the bridge testing demonstration to launch hands-on STEM challenges where students must intentionally test their designs to the breaking point to understand their limits. It also bridges science and engineering by showing how controlled experiments (trials) are used to validate design choices.

In this engaging episode of Crash Course Kids, host Sabrina Cruz dives deeper into the engineering design process by exploring how to test multiple solutions to a single problem. Picking up from a previous experiment involving a carnival ring toss game, the video demonstrates that engineers often need to find alternative methods to achieve a goal when resources or conditions change. The narrative guides viewers through setting up fair tests by identifying criteria and variables, illustrating how changing one variable at a time is crucial for scientific validity. The core themes of the video are the scientific method, fair testing, and data organization. It explicitly defines and demonstrates the relationship between independent variables (the thing you change), controlled variables (the things you keep the same), and the desired outcome. The video also emphasizes the importance of using data tables to track results across different trials, teaching students that organization is a key part of the engineering process. This video is an excellent resource for upper elementary science classrooms introducing the concepts of variables and experimental design. By using the relatable and visual example of a ring toss game, it makes abstract concepts like "isolating variables" concrete and understandable. Teachers can use this to introduce a hands-on experiment, model how to create data tables, or reinforce the rule of only changing one variable at a time during investigations.

This educational video from Crash Course Kids explores the critical engineering concepts of testing solutions through variables and criteria. Using relatable analogies like a slingshot mobile game and bowling, the host explains how engineers verify if their solutions actually work. The narrative demystifies the abstract concept of a "fair test" by demonstrating why changing multiple factors at once makes it impossible to know what caused a specific result. The video breaks down two main scientific method components: "criteria" (the rules for success) and "isolating variables" (changing only one thing at a time). It walks viewers through an investigation where human error acts as an uncontrolled variable, leading to the engineering solution of using a ramp to ensure consistency. Visual aids include animated diagrams, definitions of key terms, and character-driven scenarios that make these technical concepts accessible. Teachers can use this video to introduce or reinforce the scientific method and engineering design process. It is particularly useful for explaining the difference between independent and controlled variables—often a stumbling block for students. The clear examples provide a perfect launchpad for classroom experiments where students must design their own fair tests, emphasizing the importance of consistency and measurable success criteria.

This educational video continues an exploration of the engineering design process by focusing on the critical phase of evaluating potential solutions. Following up on a previous brainstorming session about how to cross a deep gorge, the host guides viewers through a logical assessment of three proposed ideas: a balloon airlift inspired by the movie 'Up', a Mary Poppins-style umbrella float, and a hang glider made from a tent. The video systematically tests each idea against specific criteria, weighing strengths (pros) against weaknesses (cons) to determine feasibility and safety. The content highlights key engineering concepts such as defining strengths and weaknesses, thinking logically, and the importance of safety in design. It emphasizes that while creative brainstorming encourages 'wild' ideas, the evaluation phase requires grounding those ideas in reality and physics. The narrative demonstrates that not all solutions are created equal and that engineers must rigorously question their designs before moving to the testing phase. For educators, this video serves as an excellent model for teaching critical thinking and decision-making skills within STEM curricula. It moves beyond simple brainstorming to the more analytical aspect of engineering, showing students how to critique their own ideas without discouragement. The clear use of checklists and visual demonstrations makes abstract evaluative processes concrete, helping students understand why testing and iteration are essential parts of solving problems effectively.

This engaging educational video from SciShow Kids introduces young learners to the physics concept of "drag" (air resistance) through the lens of how parachutes work. Hosted by Jessi and her robot friend Squeaks, the video explains that air is made of tiny particles that push back against moving objects, creating a force that slows them down. It uses clear animations and relatable examples, like the feeling of wind on a swing, to make this invisible force concrete for students. The second half of the video transitions into a practical STEM activity where viewers are guided step-by-step to build their own miniature parachutes using household items like coffee filters, string, and cups. The host demonstrates the scientific method by conducting controlled drop tests: first dropping the cup without a parachute, then with one, and finally testing the parachute's load-bearing limit with a heavy toy. The experiment concludes with a "failure" when the heavy toy falls too fast, providing a perfect setup for discussing engineering iteration and variable testing. This resource is highly valuable for elementary science classrooms as it seamlessly blends conceptual physics with hands-on engineering. It encourages inquiry-based learning by modeling prediction, observation, and the importance of refining designs when they don't work as expected. Teachers can use this video to launch units on forces and motion, properties of matter, or the engineering design process.

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Jessi and her puppet friends—Squeaks the robot mouse, Sam the bat, and Juniper the worm—tackle a real-world engineering challenge. The group is preparing for a lake vacation, but Juniper needs a way to float on the water since Squeaks lost his toy boat. Instead of giving up, they decide to "think like engineers" to design and build a custom raft that meets Juniper's specific needs using everyday materials found around their fort.

This engaging educational video tells the incredible story of the Golden Gate Bridge, famously known as "The Impossible Bridge." Hosted by an energetic narrator, the video takes students on a journey from the initial skepticism surrounding the project to its triumphant completion. It explores the geographical and environmental challenges of the San Francisco Bay, the economic context of the Great Depression, and the innovative engineering solutions that made the bridge a reality. Students learn about different types of bridges, the specific components of a suspension bridge, and the massive scale of materials used in construction. The content highlights key themes of persistence, ingenuity, and problem-solving. It details how Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss spent over a decade overcoming opposition and securing funding. The video also emphasizes the human element, discussing the diverse workforce comprised of unemployed citizens during the Depression and the revolutionary safety measures introduced, such as hard hats and safety nets, which saved nearly 20 lives. The narrative underscores how human determination can overcome seemingly insurmountable physical and economic obstacles. For the classroom, this video serves as an excellent anchor for lessons in social studies, history, and STEM. It provides a concrete example of how engineering intersects with geography and economics. Teachers can use the video to spark discussions about the importance of infrastructure, the history of the 1930s, or the physics of bridge construction. The visual explanations of how suspension bridges work and the dramatic statistics about the bridge's cables make complex engineering concepts accessible to young learners.

This video from Crash Course Kids guides students through the engineering design process, specifically focusing on how to plan and conduct effective trials. Using a relatable carnival ring toss analogy, the host explains how engineers don't just guess—they methodically test solutions to ensure they meet specific outcomes. The video reviews foundational concepts from previous episodes, such as defining criteria and identifying variables, before combining them into a comprehensive testing strategy. The content breaks down the trial design process into four clear steps: deciding on criteria for success, identifying all possible variables, isolating a single variable to test, and identifying failure points. Through animated demonstrations, viewers see what happens when variables are controlled versus when they are not, and how failure points help engineers understand the limits of their solutions. For educators, this resource is an excellent tool for demystifying the scientific method and experimental design. It provides a concrete, step-by-step framework that students can apply to their own hands-on science experiments. The clear distinction between ‘controlling variables’ and ‘isolating variables’ is particularly useful for helping students understand fair testing protocols in upper elementary science projects.

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Anthony and his robot friend Squeaks explore how to harness the power of the sun to cook food by building a solar oven. The video guides viewers through the engineering design process, identifying problems and finding solutions using common household materials like a pizza box, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. It simplifies complex physics concepts by demonstrating how different materials interact with heat and light to create a functional oven. The video covers key scientific themes including solar energy, insulation, reflection, and absorption. Anthony explains how tin foil acts as an insulator to trap heat and a reflector to bounce sunlight, while plastic wrap serves as a window to let light in without letting heat escape. The lesson also touches on thermodynamics by demonstrating why dark colors are better for cooking than light colors, providing a comprehensive look at heat transfer suitable for young learners. This resource is highly valuable for STEM instruction as it combines physical science concepts with a practical, hands-on engineering project. Teachers can use this video to introduce renewable energy, the properties of light and heat, or the engineering design cycle. It serves as a perfect launchpad for a class project where students build their own ovens, test different variables, and enjoy the 'fruits' of their labor—like solar-cooked s'mores or pizza bagels.