4-H Engineering Project

Helpful Resources

Activity Ideas

Digital Learning:  Engineering Challenge Erosion – The Wild Center (video)

Step into the shoes of an engineer in this exciting challenge you can do at home. Can you design and build a model wilderness shelter that can withstand the dynamic powers of erosion then put it to the test?

Digital Learning:  Fish Buoyancy – The Wild Center (video)

Join Field Correspondent Derek to learn all about the key behind fish buoyancy. We will examine this remarkable adaptation and explore the field of biomimicry to engineer our own neutrally buoyant designs.

Beaver Dam Challenge – The Wild Center (PDF)

Building a dam that holds back water looks easy – until you try it yourself!

Marshmallow Catapults, 4-H Spark Activity – North Carolina 4-H (YouTube video)

We will be constructing a catapult out of everyday items to see how far you can launch an object!

Materials needed are popsicle sticks, rubber bands, a plastic spoon, and marshmallows (or something else soft/lightweight like a ping pong ball). Other supplies you could use are pencils, skewers, bottle cap, hot glue gun, binder clips – whatever can be found around the house.

Ask permission and have your caregiver help you when using craft items like hot glue guns and scissors. (Suitable for ages 5-13)

What Kind of Engineer Are You? – Try Engineering

4-H Friday Fun!  Newspaper Tower – The University of Maine (YouTube video)

4-H Friday Fun! is a series of at-home activities for parents and kids. In this video, learn how to use the engineering design process to build a tower out of newspaper. Jen Lobley, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Educator in Washington County, will show you what to do. Part of the UMaine Extension 4-H Learn from Home Series.

The PDF instructions are available through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension website.

Engineering – University of Minnesota Extension

In this 4-H club meeting, youth learn about engineering design by building a spaghetti tower.

Engineering Electricity – University of Minnesota Extension

In this lesson, youth design and build a wind-powered vehicle to turn on a light bulb using the Engineering Design Process. Youth also learn how to incorporate this step into a Rube Goldberg™ type machine.

Engineering Explorers Challenge 1:  Wind-powered vehicle – University of Minnesota Extension

This independent learning guide is designed for youth in grades 3-8 to complete an engineering design challenge on their own.  The challenge is to create an air powered vehicle that goes as far and as fast as possible.

Engineering Explorers Challenge 2:  Catapult – University of Minnesota Extension

This independent learning guide is designed for youth in grades 3-8 to complete an engineering design challenge on their own.  The challenge is to build a catapult that uses a lever to send objects flying as far as you can!

Engineering Explorers Challenge 3:  Pulley Power – University of Minnesota Extension

This independent learning  guide is designed for youth in grades 3-8 to complete an engineering design challenge on their own.  The challenge is to build a pulley system that can lift as much weight as possible.

Engineering Explorers Challenge 4: Energy on the Move – University of Minnesota Extension

This independent learning guide is designed for youth in grades 3-8 to complete an engineering design challenge on their own. The challenge is to build an inclined plan to transfer as much energy as possible!

Tech in Agriculture:  Milking – University of Minnesota Extension

In this lesson, youth explore the importance and impact of technology in agriculture by experiencing a milking simulation, seeing how farming has changed over the last 500 years through short videos and a timeline activity, and designing preliminary solutions for agriculture challenges.

Washington Specific Reference Material

Coming soon!

Other Reference Material

From 4-H Programs

I Can Engineer:  4-H STEM Curriculum for Grades K-2 – University of Minnesota Extension

Youth in grades K-2 use the experiential learning process to explore engineering through five engineering design modules. Use these exciting, age-appropriate, low-cost, hands-on activities to help youth think like engineers!

Super Science Series – University of Minnesota Extension

This Super Science Series is a collection of super fun science lessons designed for grades 3-8. Each lesson includes a science activity that incorporates different science and engineering concepts in a way that gets youth excited about learning more.

From Higher Education Institutions

From Related Organizations, Journals, and Professionals

Expedition Workshed

Welcome to Workshed – we strive to be the world’s largest and best collection of high quality learning materials for engineering students, lecturers and teachers.

Workshed is a simple way to access civil and structural engineering educational resources on the web. We provide a wide range of high quality learning materials for engineers and students – making it easy for you to access the resources you need.

The site includes a virtual materials lab, simulators and structural models, history, toolkits, and games.

How to become an Aerospace Engineer

Are you interested in airplanes? Do you like to build things? How about a career designing, building, and testing aircraft? Imagine creating the next commercial airliner, designed for carrying hundreds of passengers. Or working on the fastest, stealthiest military plane. These are two projects an aerospace engineer might work on.

The Ultimate Guide to How Cars Work – How a Car Works