Designing a Back Scratcher: The Engineering Process Explained

SciShow Kids

In this engaging episode of SciShow Kids, host Jessi and her robot rat friend Squeaks explore the final steps of the engineering design process: Create, Test, and Improve. Faced with the relatable problem of an itchy back that she cannot reach, Jessi demonstrates how engineers take their plans from paper to reality. The video recaps the initial "Ask" and "Imagine" phases before diving into building prototypes using household items like rulers, forks, modeling dough, and tape. The narrative focuses heavily on the value of failure in the design process. When the first two prototypes fail—one is too short, and the other falls apart—the video frames these moments not as mistakes, but as data points for improvement. This introduces young learners to the concept of iteration, showing how combining the best features of previous designs (the length of a ruler and the strength of tape) leads to a successful solution. This video is an excellent resource for introducing early elementary students to STEM concepts and the Engineering Design Process. It demystifies the abstract idea of engineering by applying it to a simple, tangible problem. Teachers can use this video to launch a classroom design challenge, encourage resilience during hands-on activities, and model how to analyze why a design failed in order to make the next version better.