Every week, I will post at least one new engineering challenge (usually 1 hour's worth of work). I will post all the details in our "Engineering Challenges" Google Doc (linked below as well) and will also post it directly on this website.

Challenges Posted So Far:

Challenge #1: Mascots!

Challenge #2: Animal Redesign!

Challenge #3: Gliders!

**NEW THIS WEEK** Challenge #4: Homemade Musical Instruments (Maracas & Harmonicas)

Please send in photos and videos of student work in progress to aradeva@mttam.org if you would like feedback or post them directly into the Padlet for that Challenge.

Challenges are not "due" - they are all completely optional. I will keep all Challenges posted on this website so that you can keep accessing and skip around. You are welcome to do activities in any order and to pick and choose. I recommend spending an hour on engineering per week, but you are welcome to do more and welcome to do less. My goal is for students to have fun and problem-solve as they design, build, and test.

How to Use Padlet

Padlets are like virtual bulletin boards. We will use Padlet to share out student work in the coming weeks. You can upload photos, videos, and blurbs about your engineering projects. Each engineering project will have its own padlet, and many of your other classes will have their own padlets.

To add to a padlet:

1. Click on the link for that specific project OR Click on the little "POP OUT" window on the upper right of the padlet image for that project

2. Once padlet opens, click on the PINK PLUS sign in the lower right hand corner and add your comment. Please put your NAME as the title so we can see who is posting. You can add photos/video links and more.

3. Read other people's posts and add comments if you want!

All Challenges Posted in Google Doc Below:

**NEW** Challenge #4: Musical Instruments

**Check out the Engineering Challenges Google Doc above for a summary of this challenge and more links.**

Recommended videos/readings to develop background knowledge:

1. Navigate to the Scholastic Learn from Home website for Grades 1-2 and Navigate to Week 1, Day 3: Physical Science: Sound and Music.

2. Click on "TAKE ME THERE" to listen to the book “Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin!” read to you. Once you follow the link, click on “Watch this Story”.

3. Practice reading yourself using the book “All About Sound!”. To get there, click on “Read the Book” on the same page.

4. Watch this video about sound in the world around us.

Look below for step-by-step guides for building Maracas and Harmonicas. Consider how you can make your own version of a drum, guitar, or another instrument.

Post student work on our K-2 Musical Instruments Padlet: https://padlet.com/aradeva1/musicengineeringMTS

How To Make Homemade Maracas!

Vibrations in the air make sound. These homemade maracas make sound when you shake them back and forth so that the filling (rice, beans, etc) inside the maraca vibrates.

How To Make a Homemade Harmonica

Vibrations in the air make sound. These harmonicas make sound because the air you blow into them vibrates the rubber band in the middle. The pitch (how high or low) of your harmonica is based on how fast your rubber band vibrates. Changing the length of the rubber band will change the sound. Try it out! Consider making more than one harmonica and using different sized rubber bands and popsicle sticks. Is the sound different?

*Note: Real-life harmonicas are made with reeds instead of rubber bands.

K-2 Musical Instruments Padlet

More on Challenge #3: Gliders

Check out the Engineering Challenges Google Doc above for all the info!

Here are some more tools to support you as you design and build paper airplane gliders!

More on Challenge #2: Animal Design

Check out the Engineering Challenges Google Doc above for all the info!

Share your work on our K-2 Project Padlet: https://padlet.com/aradeva1/animalchallengeMTS

Optional Engineering Extensions & Activities

Mystery Science Investigation - Can you build a house out of paper?

Follow this link to the Mystery Science website to access this investigation of paper structures and the engineering design process.

Here is the full link: https://mysteryscience.com/materials/mystery-5/materials-properties-engineering/262?code=MTEwMzAzMDU&t=student

Outdoor Exploration - What can you find and identify in your own backyard?

If you feel safe exploring outdoors with your child (social isolation in nature?!), explore the resources below to guide your nature exploration. I encourage you to download the app Seek by iNaturalist (developed by Cal Academy) and to use the Family Nature Guide below to structure your exploration. As always, photos of student work and exploration are welcome - send to aradeva@mttam.org.