Bring real-world engineering into your classroom with this high-engagement hurricane engineering design challenge! Students plan, build, test, and improve a model house that must survive hurricane-force winds using a hands-on wind storm simulation (fan or leaf blower).

This ready-to-print student packet guides learners through the entire engineering design process while building critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

📦 What’s Included

✔ Student Cover Page
✔ Engineering Planning Page (criteria, constraints, sketching, predictions)
✔ Wind Storm Lab Worksheet with data table (custom testing distances included)
✔ Engineering Reflection & redesign section
✔ Student-friendly project rubric (20-point scale)
✔ NGSS + New Jersey Student Learning Standards alignment
✔ Printable & digital-friendly format
✔ Canva-editable template version (perfect for customization)

🧠 Skills & Concepts Covered

• Engineering design process
  
• Weather hazards & hurricanes
  
• Wind force & structural stability
  
• Data collection & analysis
  
• Redesign & optimization
  
• Team collaboration
  
• Real-world problem solving
  

🏫 Perfect For

• Upper elementary STEM
  
• Middle school science
  
• Weather & climate units
  
• Engineering units
  
• Project-based learning
  
• Emergency preparedness lessons
  
• Sub plans
  
• STEM clubs
  
• Enrichment activities
  

⚙️ How It Works

Students act as engineers hired to protect families in a coastal town. They:

1. Plan and sketch a house design
   
2. Build using limited materials
   
3. Test their structure using simulated hurricane winds
   
4. Record damage data
   
5. Analyze failures
   
6. Propose improvements
   

Optional extension: redesign and retest!

📐 Standards Alignment

NGSS

• 3-5-ETS1-1
  
• MS-ETS1-1
  
• MS-ETS1-2
  
• MS-ETS1-3
  

New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS – Science)

• 5-ETS1-1
  
• MS-ETS1-1
  
• MS-ETS1-2
  
• MS-ETS1-3
  
• MS-ESS2-5 (Weather Hazards)
  

💡 Teacher Benefits

✔ No prep – just print
✔ Works with simple classroom materials
✔ Built-in assessment rubric
✔ High student engagement
✔ Supports STEM & PBL instruction
✔ Flexible for multiple grade levels
✔ Easy to differentiate