Unit Overview

Youth use the Engineering Design Process to design a sail that uses wind energy to transport collectibles across a distance. Youth explore how the materials and placement of sails affects performance.

  • Grade K-2
  • Setting: Enrichment
  • 9 activities
  • 45–60 minutes per activity
  • Youth materials available in Spanish

Standards alignment

YES Enrichment units connect with state and national standards. View unit-specific Engineering Sails Alignment or all Standards Alignments.

Unit Map

Youth engineer a school supply case and learn about the Engineering Design Process, a 5-phase problem-solving tool.

Youth are introduced to the problem and learn about ways people use wind energy to move objects.

Youth investigate which materials work well to catch the wind and facilitate motion.

Youth explore sail placement to determine which best catch the wind, then imagine and plan their sail designs.

Youth create and test their sail designs and use what they learn from failures to make improvements.

Youth reflect on familiar objects that move in the wind and embody the motions through physical movements.

Youth use what they know about sail design to improve a sail so it can transport more weight.

Youth use what they know about sail design to engineer a sail that either moves faster or slower along the track.

Youth present their sails and share their processes with guests.

Our funders

Major support for this project has been provided by the National Science Foundation.

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What’s Included?

  • Educator Guide (PDF)
  • Educator Slides (Google Slides)
  • Youth Engineering Notebook (PDF)
  • Illustrated Story (Poster or PDF)
  • Print Materials (PDF)