Engineering Practice: Consider Problems in Context

Engineers must consider the users and relevant conditions when designing solutions. Engineers often design for clients who set parameters and express preferences.

“The Pollination Game”

Lower elementary students play a pollination game to explore importance of bees in pollination. Watch & Reflect:

Reflection Questions

The pollination game gives students context about the problem. By participating in the game, they can better understand what problem designing a hand pollinator solves.

  1. Each geographic area has different local flora and fauna. In this story, the characters are trying to pollinate pumpkin flowers and notice a decline in bees. Bees pollinate other foods such as melons, peaches, coffee, cotton, potatoes, beans, and sunflowers. Connect your students with a local plant that might be in danger if bee populations continue to decline.
  2. Visit a farm or bring in local farmers who can show students first-hand the work bees do and why it is important in your community.
  3. Survey families for local gardeners who might share with students what can be grown in their own backyards.

Related Practices: Use Systems Thinking
Featured Unit: Engineering Pumpkin Pollinators