Students utilize their creativity and critical thinking skills as they problem solve through engineering challenges. As they do so, they collaborate and communicate with their peers. Engineering is a great way to incorporate 21^st Century skills in your classroom while meeting Missouri Learning Standards or Next Generation Science Standards. Available in Fall 2024, the new Discover Nature Schools Second Grade: Life and Land in Missouri curriculum incorporates engineering practices throughout. Students who actively practice the skills within the engineering design process will:

• Ask – What problem do I need to solve?
• Think and Imagine – What do I already know that can help me solve the problem?
• Plan – What do I think could be the best solution? What materials do I need?
• Create, Test and Improve – Make a model. Test and improve my model at least 3 times.
• Evaluate and Share – Did my model work? Why or why not? Share results so we know what works and does not work.

Using this curriculum, second-grade classroom learning and instructional coaches can link with lessons in the schoolyard. Students will use their observation skills during the fall unit Searching for Seeds. Students first explore Lesson 1A Flower Power as they learn the function of a flower, then explore how insects and birds help with plant pollination in the following 5 lessons within Unit 1. While on a nature walk around the school, students collect as many different types of seeds as they can find, then sort them based on their characteristics. Next, they use socks to see one way that seeds disperse, then explore various forces that move seeds. This learning culminates in the last lesson of the unit, Lesson 1F Seed Engineers (see figure 1).  Students apply their outside observations on different methods of seed dispersal and are challenged to solve one of these problems through engineering a model seed:

• Seeds need to float in water for at least 3 minutes.

• Seeds need to float in the air for at least 5 seconds.

• Seeds need to stick to a sock and be carried at least 10 feet.

• Seeds need to be thrown at least 15 feet.

Students work together, design their plan, test and likely fail (hopefully!). This is part of the engineering process (see figure 2). Each failure allows students to learn, redesign their model and try again. As students work together, they reflect on what went wrong and identify options to improve their design. Students share creative ideas and discuss options, then seeing how their ideas form real outcomes to achieve their goal. Each step is an important part of learning the engineering process (see figure 3).

There are several engineering lessons incorporated throughout the Discover Nature Schools curriculum! Engage all students to behave as an engineer solving problems by building or designing a solution. You can find additional engineering lessons in the following DNS curriculums, which are free and available on the MDC Teacher Portal webpage (education.mdc.mo.gov).

• For pre-K students, Nature Revealed curriculum is an approved supplemental curriculum by DESE. In one of the winter lessons, Melt the Ice Cube, students brainstorm and work together testing their ideas of how to quickly melt the ice cube in the plastic bag. In Spring lesson What Goes in the Wind? students create something that will move or travel in the wind. With all engineering challenges, there’s the opportunity to improve on the original design and improving the results. 

• DNS Kindergarten: Bears Through the Seasons includes fall lesson Finding a Den where students create a den site a bear could find. To test the quality of the den built, the students test three factors: wind, rain and snow using a fan, spray bottle and flour.

• DNS First Grade: Exploring Missouri includes Inspired by Animals where students research native Missouri animals and apply their new knowledge. The lesson How Animals and I Stay Warm has students utilizing various strategies animals use designing something to keep themselves warm as well.

• In the third to fifth grade Nature Unleashed curriculum, students learn about Worms in School as they design and build a worm bin. Students can try different types of worms and see what solution most effectively turns their food scraps into soil to grow native plants. 

• Middle school curriculum Nature Unhooked students explore all aspects of water including Water Purification Engineering as they work to clean water that both looks dirty and smells. Extensions of this lesson encourage students to identify designs that are the smallest, cheapest and most durable. 

• High school curriculum Nature Unbound allows students to address Invasive Invasions, problem-solving how to address invasive species that negatively impact Missouri native plants and animals.

All teachers can easily order any of these materials free of charge. First, you will need to create your account or log-in on the MDC Teacher Portal at education.mdc.mo.gov. Once your account is created, if you are a Missouri teacher, you can order your free classroom materials including a teacher guide, student books and student science notebooks. There are no shipping costs and materials will arrive within 7-10 business days to the mailing address provided. You can also register for free MDC teacher trainings. Certified teachers who attend trainings are eligible for classroom grants and travel reimbursement if you are teaching any of the DNS curriculum! Connect with your local Conservation Educator through the contact link to learn about all MDC programs available free to your school.

Get your students outside into nature while practicing engineering and science skills. Make it hands-on and make science come to life in your classroom!