Teach the engineering design process with natural disasters! Fourth or fifth grade students learn to define a problem, identify criteria and constraints, brainstorm, build a prototype, design and carry out a fair test. STEM activities focus on ways to reduce impacts of floods, volcanoes, erosion, tsunamis, and earthquakes on Earth.

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These activities can be presented on five consecutive days or spread out over weeks or months. If your students are already familiar with the engineering design practices, you can use the generic template to challenge them with the five STEM scenarios in this resource.

First, kids learn about the engineering design process. A reproducible flow chart and vocabulary with definitions are provided.

Second, they define a problem, as well as identify criteria and constraints.

• A worksheet presents eight quotes from people who are trying to solve problems. Kids identify each as a criterion (something a solution must do, have, or be) or a constraint (limitation for solution.)
• Then they’re presented with a scenario in which a farmer’s field floods. After analyzing the situation, they define the problem and explain the criteria and constraints.

Third, students brainstorm solutions.

• A handout explains guidelines for brainstorming: don’t judge; encourage wild ideas; piggyback on others’ ideas; stay on topic; take turns; and take notes.
• Kids read a natural disaster scenario in which citizens of a town at the base of a volcano need to know when an eruption is likely.
• They define the problem, list criteria and constraints.
• Then, working in groups, they brainstorm possible solutions.

As you may notice, in these earlier activities, students do not work through the entire engineering design process. Instead, they focus on specific practices.

Fourth, they learn about the fair test.

• One handout explains the process: identify failure points, control, compare, measure, replicate, and repeat. Emphasis is placed on manipulating only one variable at a time.
• A second handout defines terms related to the fair test.
• For this scenario, students receive a complete two-page engineering design lab sheet for the problem of a crumbling mountain road. From the report, kids must identify the independent, controlled, and dependent variable; determine which measurement tools were needed; and explain factors that ensured a fair test.

Fifth, kids are faced with a partial STEM challenge: a tsunami-proof house.

• On the lab sheet, the problem and research have already been completed.
• Groups begin by brainstorming. Then they identify the solution that best meets the criteria and constraints. Next, they build a prototype, test and record observations, evaluate and identify failure points. Using this information, they conduct a fair test.
• Research focuses on solutions with stilts, breakaway walls, and/or dome-shaped buildings. Criteria states that materials must be found in the classroom.

Finally, they complete the entire engineering design process on their own with an earthquake-proof skyscraper.

• For this activity, students receive a lab sheet with steps that they must complete.
• Materials suggested in the lesson plans include boxes, small plastic cups or containers, paper, plastic wrap, tape, bubble wrap, and tower blocks (found at the local dollar store).
• Possible ways to test the prototypes include (1) placing them at the bottom of a tilted paint tray and pouring water into the top and (2) taking outside and spraying with a hose.

A vocabulary quiz is also included.

Detailed teaching resources guide the teacher.

• Lesson plans with pictures
• Scaffolding overview
• Engineering design process
• Vocabulary
• Template to use with any STEM activity
• Answer keys

Thorough learning materials guide the students.

• Criterion or constraint? Worksheet
• The Farmer’s Field
• Brainstorming reference guide
• Monitoring Volcanoes
• Fair test reference guide and vocabulary
• The Crumbling Road
• Tsunami-Proof Home
• Earthquake-proof skyscraper
• Quiz

Resources are available in multiple formats:

• Printable PDF
• Digital Easel Activities

Your fourth or fifth grade students will love it – and you will too!

• Real-world problems (like natural disasters) engage kids like never before.
• Scaffolded instruction builds skills and confidence.
• And let’s face it, hands-on STEM challenges are just plain fun.
• Activities help kids master the intricacies of engineering design, including criteria, constraints, and the fair test. Additionally, they address the intent of earth science standards, such as NGSS 4-ESS-3-2: “Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of Earth processes on humans.”

Enjoy teaching!

Brenda Kovich

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