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Brainflakes are colorful, interlocking plastic discs that allow students to build two-dimensional and three-dimensional designs. Students can connect the pieces to create patterns, shapes, structures, characters, and models while developing creativity, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
Brainflakes provide an engaging, hands-on way to reinforce reading, mathematics, science, and engineering concepts through purposeful building activities.
Quick Look
Quick Look
Grades: 7-8
Subjects: Reading • Math • Science • STEAM
Prep Time: 5–10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Best For:
Engineering design • Ratios • Data analysis • Structural testing • Critical thinking
📚 READY-TO-TEACH LESSONS
📚 READY-TO-TEACH LESSONS
📚 READY-TO-TEACH LESSONS
📖 Engineering for the Future: Research, Design, and Defend
Grades 7–8 • Reading • 55–60 minutes
Students analyze an informational passage about engineering design, identify claims and supporting evidence, and use Brainflakes to construct a prototype that addresses a real-world challenge. Students defend their design decisions with textual evidence and evaluate possible improvements.
📐 Structural Engineering Challenge: Strength, Ratios, and Efficiency
Grades 7–8 • Math • 55–60 minutes
Students design and test structures under material constraints, collect measurements, calculate ratios, and compare structural efficiency. They analyze results and use mathematical reasoning to improve their designs.
What This Tool Helps You Do
What This Tool Helps You Do
Apply proportional reasoning and mathematical analysis
Strengthen informational reading and evidence-based argumentation
Explore engineering design principles and structural stability
Develop data collection and interpretation skills
Reinforce geometric reasoning and measurement
Encourage collaboration, creativity, and iterative problem-solving
Connect academic concepts to practical engineering challenges
How to Use This Tool
How to Use This Tool
Introduce a real-world engineering problem and establish design criteria.
Provide relevant reading materials, measurements, or research questions.
Have students sketch an initial design and explain their reasoning.
Establish constraints such as material limits, dimensions, or minimum performance requirements.
Allow students to construct Brainflakes prototypes.
Test designs under consistent conditions and collect numerical data.
Have students analyze results and identify weaknesses.
Provide time for redesign and retesting.
Require students to defend their final designs using mathematical or scientific evidence.
Classroom Ideas
Classroom Ideas
Design a bridge that spans a specified distance
Build a tower that meets height and stability requirements
Compare structural efficiency using ratios
Investigate how design changes affect load-bearing capacity
Construct models inspired by informational texts
Create and evaluate geometric structures
Use data tables and graphs to compare prototypes
Complete collaborative engineering design competitions
Reading
Reading
Analyze informational texts about engineering innovations
Identify central claims and supporting evidence
Evaluate the strength of evidence in technical explanations
Construct models based on written design specifications
Compare multiple proposed solutions to a problem
Write evidence-based arguments defending design decisions
Present technical explanations using appropriate vocabulary
Math
Math
Apply ratios and proportional relationships to design challenges
Calculate and compare material-use efficiency
Measure dimensions and analyze geometric properties
Organize test results in tables and graphs
Use expressions and equations to represent design constraints
Analyze relationships between structure height, material use, and stability
Calculate percentages of improvement between design trials
SCience
SCience
Investigate forces, balance, and structural stability
Analyze how design changes affect performance
Test hypotheses through controlled investigations
Explore engineering trade-offs and material limitations
Apply the engineering design process
Use evidence to support design improvements
Communicate conclusions based on experimental data
Materials Needed
Materials Needed
Brainflakes construction sets
Rulers or measuring tapes
Graph paper and pencils
Grade-appropriate informational passages
Engineering challenge cards
Small test weights and trays
Student design and data-recording sheets
Calculators
Helpful Tips
Helpful Tips
Establish measurable criteria before building begins.
Require students to justify design decisions with evidence.
Use consistent testing procedures across groups.
Limit materials to encourage efficiency and creative problem-solving.
Encourage students to analyze unsuccessful designs rather than discard them.
Require calculations and written explanations alongside completed models.
Allow time for redesign and retesting.
Evaluate students on their reasoning, data analysis, and improvement process rather than appearance alone.
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