Hey there! I’m so happy you’re here. Today, Squeaks has a little problem. He can’t decide how to spend his afternoon. There are so many fun things to do, like playing outside, having a yummy snack, drawing, or reading a book. But don’t worry, we’re going to help him figure it out by thinking like an engineer!
When you hear the word “engineer,” you might think of someone driving a train. But did you know there are many kinds of engineers? They are people who find problems and come up with ways to solve them. For example, aerospace engineers work on making airplanes safer and rockets faster. They help people travel in the sky and even into space!
Then there are civil engineers who design bridges and tunnels, helping us get across rivers and through mountains. Remember that cool bridge we saw on our trip to the redwoods? That was thanks to civil engineers!
Computer and software engineers make sure we can watch videos and talk to each other over the internet. They write programs that tell computers what to do. And there are many more types of engineers, like environmental engineers who work on keeping our water and air clean, and electrical engineers who make sure we have electricity for our lights and gadgets.
Now, let’s help Squeaks decide what to do this afternoon by thinking like an engineer. Engineers follow a plan with a few basic steps. First, we need to define the problem. Squeaks doesn’t know which activity to choose. Next, we come up with solutions. There can be more than one way to solve a problem, so let’s think of different ideas.
Here’s my idea: we can use beads of different colors for each choice, put them in a cup, close our eyes, and pick one. Squeaks has another idea: we can make a spinner like the ones used in games. Both are great solutions!
Let’s make Squeaks’ spinner. We’ll draw a circle on paper, cut it out, and divide it into four parts. We’ll write one activity in each part: play outside, have a snack, draw, or read a book. Then, we’ll attach a paper clip to the center with a fastener and spin it to see what Squeaks should do.
Our spinner landed on “have a snack!” Now Squeaks has a plan for the afternoon. But wait, it’s time to meet Jessi for birdwatching. We spent the whole afternoon learning about engineering instead of doing the original activities. But that’s okay, we had a lot of fun!
Thanks for joining us at the Fort. If you want to keep learning and having fun with Squeaks, me, and all our friends, be sure to subscribe to SciShow Kids. See you next time!
Build Your Own Decision Spinner: Just like Squeaks, you can make your own decision spinner at home. Gather some paper, scissors, a paper clip, and a fastener. Draw a circle and divide it into sections. Write different activities you enjoy in each section. Spin the paper clip and see what activity you land on! Try using it to decide what to do next time you’re unsure.
Engineer a Solution for a Daily Problem: Think of a small problem you face every day, like keeping your toys organized or deciding what to wear. Draw a picture of the problem and then draw or write about two different solutions you could try. Share your ideas with a friend or family member and see if they have any other suggestions.
Observe Engineers in Action: Next time you go for a walk or a drive, look around for things engineers have created, like bridges, buildings, or traffic lights. Talk with a grown-up about how these things help people and what might happen if they weren’t there. Can you think of any improvements you would make?
