Unit Overview

Youth use the Engineering Design Process to redesign a model city and minimize storm water runoff.

  • Grades 6–8
  • Setting: Out of school
  • Science connection: Human impact on the environment
  • 8 activities
  • 50–60 Minutes per activity

Standards alignment

We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering. View Standards Alignments.

Unit Map

Youth engineer a tower and are introduced to the Engineering Design Process as a problem-solving tool.

Youth will complete multiple activities to figure out the definition of technology and how engineers brainstorm improvements to technologies.

Youth learn about their engineering challenge and use a model city to explore what happens to polluted runoff.

Youth create their own green roofs and investigate the properties of natural materials.

Youth investigate permeable pavement technology by engineering pavement that will meet certain criteria.

In groups, youth plan, create, and test a solution to their environmental engineering challenge.

Groups improve their designs to better meet the criteria.

Youth communicate their work to visitors.

Videos

Special Report Video

Walk the banks of the Charles River in Boston to see how engineers prevent pollution from entering our waterways. Use throughout the unit. (10:13)

What's Included?

  • Educator Guide (PDF)
  • Engineering Journal (PDF)
  • Special Report Video (YouTube)
  • Print Materials (PDF)