Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve gathered answers to some of the most common questions about Youth Engineering Solutions. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or program leader, you’ll find quick information here about using YES resources, getting started, and finding support. If you don’t see your question below, feel free to contact us for more help.
General Information
Youth Engineering Solutions, also known as ‘YES’, creates free-access, research-based curricula and resources that help young people (preK-8) explore engineering through hands-on problem solving. YES and its predecessor, EiE (Engineering is Elementary), constitute the curriculum division of the Museum of Science, Boston.
YES resources are thoughtfully designed for preschool through grade 8 students and their educators.
All YES digital resources are free to access and use. There are no subscriptions, licensing fees, or account requirements. Materials Kits and print Educator Guides are available for purchase to make implementation easier. A materials list is included in the Educator Guide if you choose to source items on your own. Kits serve 20 to 30 students, depending on the program and grade level. See individual unit pages for details.
Getting Started
Start by browsing YES units by grade level, topic, or setting at yes.mos.org/curricula, or consulting suggested units based on standards alignments. Each unit includes everything you need to teach, including lesson plans, student handouts, and background support. All units follow a consistent structure and are designed to stand alone, so they can be used in any order. Many educators choose units that connect with core science, social studies, or language arts programs to enrich thinking and engagement through engineering. Materials Kits and Educator Guides are available for purchase to simplify setup. For assistance choosing a unit or planning your implementation fill out our contact form or email us at yes@mos.org.
Yes. Districts are welcome to integrate YES at any scale. There are no obligations or licensing requirements. Some use YES to enrich STEM programming across grade levels, while others integrate it into specific courses or enrichment blocks. For support in planning a district-wide rollout fill out our contact form or email us at yes@mos.org.
That depends on your schedule and goals. Some educators complete one engineering or computer science unit as a focused experience or to bolster a science topic through hands-on, applied learning. Others weave in up to four units across the year. Units are approximately 8 to 10 instructional hours spread over 9 lessons (about 45-minutes per lesson) with many opportunities to condense or expand based on schedule, student interest, and cross-curricular learning opportunities. You can choose what works best for your students and setting. For customized assistance fill out our contact form or email us at yes@mos.org.
YES is designed to complement your science curriculum, not replace it. The focus is on engineering and problem solving, with strong science connections built into each unit. Many educators use YES to deepen science understanding through hands-on application. YES is also a popular choice for STEM specials and interdisciplinary learning. For customized assistance fill out our contact form or email us at yes@mos.org.
Yes! For informal learning settings with an educator (such as afterschool programs, clubs, or camps) we recommend units from YES Enrichment. For informal education settings without an educator (such as family STEM nights, libraries, community centers) we recommend YES STEM Event Activities. For at-home engineering, we recommend Families.
Yes! We have many professional learning opportunities from free monthly webinars, to regular sessions at the Museum of Science, Boston or custom workshops onsite at your school. Our Learning Library is replete with video resources and can be accessed at any time. For additional information visit our Professional Learning page, fill out our interest form, or email us at yespl@mos.org.
Curricula & Activities
YES units are modeled on the iterative Engineering Design Process cycle. YES units have similar structures across program lines that vary based on grade and setting. Specific unit maps can be found on each unit page.
Each unit begins with a general question, “What is Engineering?” Next the topic problem is introduced through a context-setting story, dynamic poster, comic, or video. Students then engage in materials exploration before embarking on the design challenge and a cycle of testing and revising.
Within each lesson there is also a common structure which helps to build continuity. The Introduction poses a guiding question . The Exploration engages the students in the lesson’s main activity. The Wrap-Up connects learning to the engineering challenge.
- Preschool
- Prep activities introduce the concept of engineering.
- Four 45-60 minute challenges divided into three activities each can be taught in stations.
- Example: Wee Engineer.
- YES Elementary
- Nine 45-minute lessons, including a prep activity.
- Example: Engineering Plastic Filters.
- YES Middle School
- Eight or nine 45-70 minute engineering lessons.
- Two optional computer science modules comprised of two or three 45-minute lessons accompany each YES Middle School unit.
- Example: Engineering Medicine Coolers.
- YES Enrichment:
- Nine 45-60 minute activities (five core and four optional).
- Example: Engineering Rescue Shuttles.
YES units align directly with engineering standards and integrate with science ideas and standards. We carefully design engineering challenges so students develop and use science knowledge as they generate solutions. Learn more about standards alignments.
No prior STEM or engineering experience is needed. YES is designed for educators of all backgrounds and includes detailed lesson plans, student supports, and educator resources to help you feel confident leading each activity. YES also provides many professional learning supports, including webinars, video recordings, on-site professional development sessions, and a learning library.
YES is designed with accessibility in mind. Lessons embed scaffolded opportunities for students to access curricular materials, demonstrate their understanding, and communicate their ideas. Across lessons students interpret content and express their understandings in a variety of ways. These span listening, speaking, demonstrating, writing, and drawing. All students have a chance to participate in learning. Learn more about the YES Approach.
Ordering
Purchase Orders can be emailed or faxed and credit card purchases can be made on our website using the “Purchase Materials” buttons. To receive a Quote or assistance completing a transaction, fill out our contact form, email us at yes@mos.org, or call 617-589-0230. Our experts are here to help!
We ship to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Standard shipping is calculated at 10% of the total, excluding professional development and tax (if applicable). Special rates are required for Alaska and Hawaii. Expedited processing service starts at 25% of the order total. Please fill out our contact form, email us at yes@mos.org, or call 617-589-0230 for assistance. Our experts are here to help!
Delivery time varies based on order size and ship-to location. Our warehouse is centrally located in Illinois to minimize transit time to all areas of the country.
You can expect delivery between:
- 7-10 business days (1-2 weeks) for small orders that ship via FedEx Ground (under 200 pounds, or about 10 kits)
- 10-15 business days (2-3 weeks) for large orders that ship via freight carrier (over 200 pounds, or more than 10 kits)
Please let us know about any specific need-by dates, we are always happy to work with you! Fill out our contact form, email us at yes@mos.org, or call 617-589-0230.
All YES digital resources are free to access and use. There are no subscriptions, licensing fees, or account requirements. Materials Kits and Educator Guides are available for purchase to make implementation easier. In-person paid Professional Learning sessions build knowledge, strategies, and confidence in teaching engineering and computer science.
Material Kits serve 20 to 30 students, depending on the program and grade level.
Educator Guides include sturdy, full-color, reusable classroom print resources (vocabulary cards, signs, visual materials glossaries, small group instruction sheets, etc) to support easy implementation.
See individual unit pages for details and download our price list. For assistance fill out our contact form, email us at yes@mos.org, or call 617-589-0230. Our experts are here to help!
YES is the ‘next edition’ of EiE. It incorporates feedback and requests from educators, and draws from the growing corpus of research about K–12 engineering. EiE units and materials are being revised to reflect YES structures and principles, or retired to make room for new units. Retired Units are those for which the Materials Kit has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase. Teacher Guides and media resources associated with these units will remain digitally accessible at no cost, ensuring continued support for educators.