Unit Plan 31 (Grade 2 Science): Designing with Purpose
Grade 2 engineering unit where students design, build, and explain simple tools, choosing materials and shapes on purpose to solve everyday problems.
Focus: Build and explain simple tools or devices that solve everyday problems by choosing materials and shapes on purpose.
Grade Level: 2
Subject Area: Science (Engineering Design • Physical Science Connections)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this engineering-focused unit, students use what they know about materials and their properties to design tools or devices that solve simple, real-world problems. They begin by asking questions, making observations, and gathering information about a situation people want to change (e.g., “Our pencils roll off the table,” “Our books keep falling over,” “We need a way to carry markers.”).
Students then sketch, build, and test simple devices using everyday materials, paying attention to how the shape and material choices help the object work as needed. The unit ends with a short Design Share, where students show their tools, explain their decisions, and connect those decisions to function and properties.
Essential Questions
- How do engineers ask questions and observe to understand a problem people want to change?
- How can we design a tool or device that helps solve a simple everyday problem?
- How does the shape of an object help it work the way we want?
- How do material properties and shape together affect how well a design works?
- How can we use sketches, models, and tests to explain and improve our designs?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a simple everyday problem that people want to change (K-2-ETS1-1).
- Work with a group to define the problem clearly in kid-friendly language (who it affects, what needs to change) (K-2-ETS1-1).
- Develop simple sketches or drawings that show a tool or device and how its shape will help it do its job (K-2-ETS1-2).
- Build a physical model of their design using classroom materials, explaining why they chose certain shapes and materials.
- Test their model in a simple, fair way and describe how well it worked, then suggest at least one improvement based on what they saw.
Standards Alignment — 2nd Grade (NGSS-Aligned)
- K-2-ETS1-1 — Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved with a new or improved object or tool.
- Example: Notice that books fall over on a shelf and define the problem: “We need a way to keep books standing up.”
- K-2-ETS1-2 — Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
- Example: Draw and build a marker holder with sides and compartments so markers do not roll away.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can ask questions and make observations to figure out what problem we want to solve.
- I can help define a simple problem that can be solved with a tool or device.
- I can make a sketch or drawing that shows my idea and how the shape will help it work.
- I can build a model using materials on purpose (not just random) and explain my choices.
- I can tell how well my design worked and give one idea to improve it.