Unit Overview

Students use their understanding of the needs of living things to engineer safe and effective packaging for a plant.

  • Grades 1–5 (Designed for grades 3–5; includes modifications for grades 1–2.)
  • Setting: In school
  • Science connection: Needs of living things
  • 5 lessons (9–10 class sessions)

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

Students are introduced to the concepts of engineering and technology. (30–40 min.)

The class reads a storybook in which a boy named Fadil living in Jordan explores the field of Package Engineering in order to build a package to protect a gift for his older sister. (90–120 min., 2–3 sessions)

Students make observations of common packages and their different functions. (50–60 min.)

Students evaluate the properties of available materials for building a package. They also create a rubric to score plant health. (100–110 min., 2 sessions)

Students follow the steps of the Engineering Design Process to imagine, plan, create, test, and then improve their own plant package designs. (150–165 min., 3 sessions)

Videos

View all unit videos on YouTube

Sample Getting Started Video

Sample Classroom Video

What's Included?

  • Teacher Guide (PDF)
  • Illustrated Story (PDF)
  • Print Materials (PDF)
  • Additional Resources