Engineering Projects for Kids

Best Engineering Activities For Kids 

Is your child up to fixing or making something creative? Well, engineering projects for kids help them think critically and creatively on the ideas that they think will work. In this regard, project-based learning for kids focuses on many important concepts related to science, math and other important topics that kids are interested in. With the help of engineering activities for kids, they will learn about basic principles of physics, math concepts like algebra and geometry, and the basics of mechanical and structural engineering. These activities for kids at home are extremely beneficial in expanding their thinking skills and coming up with something really amazing. 

Wondering what’s an engineering project for kids? Engineering projects are a part of STEM activities for kids. These projects assess kids on their design skills and creative mind. Many kids love to design something on their own and get super excited when it is actually working. Parents and teachers must encourage kids to take part in the engineering challenges for kids in order to explore their creativity. 

One of the great things about these engineering projects for kids  is that they teach children how different things actually work. The scientific explanation of things will help them understand the subjects better. In engineering activities for kids, kids apply their science knowledge to identify and solve problems. In addition to this, there are many construction activities for kids which they will happily enjoy doing using materials. Some simple technology is then used to design and build the project.

Easy Building Activities For Kids To Enhance Creativity

Have you noticed how kids are deeply involved in doing engineering activities? And, there is no chance that you can distract them during the activity. This shows how keenly they observe things that they are interested in doing. To enhance their creativity, there are engineering games for kids available. It will help to sharpen their creativity and explore new ideas to build something creative. Apart from conducting art activities for kids, there has to be enough opportunities for kids to actively participate in engineering activities as well. Some of the best construction activities for kids are mentioned below:

• Paper Building Blocks
• Fireworks In A Jar
• A Simple Pulley
• A Pneumatic Machine
• Foil Boat
• Windmill
• Airplane

Paper Building Blocks

Most paper crafts revolve around designing something fancy out of paper. Did you ever think that we can use paper for building structures as well? These building activities for kids will enable them to think out of the box and come up with innovative ideas. Engineering projects are included in the curriculum to develop creativity. 

How to make this? 

Step 1: Take color papers and cut into triangle shape 

Step 2: Now, you need to fold the paper into triangular shapes and start building the structure with the triangle pieces.  

Fireworks In A Jar

If your kid is fascinated with colors and fireworks, this simple DIY experiment is for them. All you need for this experiment is probably available in your kitchen. Things you will require for Fireworks in a Jar experiment include oil, a jar, water, and food coloring.  This is one of the best engineering projects for kids where you can extract innovative ideas from them. 

How to make this?

Step 1: Fill the jar till three-fourth with warm water.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, take 3-4 tablespoons of oil and mix them with 6-8 drops of different food coloring. You can use red, blue, green, pink, etc.

Step 3: Use a fork to gently mix both oil and food coloring together.

Step 4: Slowly pour the contents of the bowl into the jar. 

Once it is done, you can observe that slowly, the food coloring will separate from the oil and sink into the water. The colors would expand and mix with each other. The Science behind this project is that food coloring can dissolve in water but not in oil. As the oil is less dense than water, it will float on water. The colored droplets are heavier so they would start sinking. Once they sink into the water, they will start dissolving in water. This would look like a tiny explosion!

A Simple Pulley

Designing a simple pulley system is among the fun construction activities for kids. For this activity, you would need a small plastic container, paper clips, scissors, string and magnets. These construction activities for kids will encourage them to learn important skills such as critical thinking and problem solving skills. 

How to make this?

Step 1: Cut holes in the container.

Step 2: Pass the thread through the holes.

Step 3: Tie both ends of the thread together to create a handle.

Step 4: Cut a long string and tie it into the door handle.

Step 5: Tie the handle of the container with the long string.

Step 6: Stick magnets onto the bottom of the plastic container

Step 7: Slide the container along the string to see how paper clips are lifted by magnets.

A Simple Pneumatic Machine

Building a simple pneumatic machine is simple. All you need is 9 craft sticks, 5 jumbo craft sticks, 6 quarter straw pieces, 2 eighth straw pieces, 1 pipe cleaner, plastic syringes, tubing and masking tape. This is quite an interesting engineering project for kids where they can use materials from their surroundings and build innovative models. 

How to make this?

Step 1: The first step is to assemble the frame. For this, create 2 triangles using sticks and straws. Refer to the image given below:

Step 2: Construct the structure shown in the image below. Secure the sticks with masking tape. Ensure that the tape is folded all the way around the triangle.

Step 3: Tape a jumbo stick to the side of the figure as shown below:

Step 4: Use a whole pipe cleaner to join the sticks. Twist and tie tightly. Cut off the excess. To create a pneumatic system, fill one syringe with air and leave the other syringe empty. 

Step 5: Connect both the syringes by vinyl tubing. 

Step 6: Tightly wrap one end of the pipe cleaner around the syringe. Follow the image below to design it correctly.

Once you are done building a simple pneumatic machine, place a small bucket in the pipe cleaner hook. Fill it with some tiny object. Press the syringe, the one that has air filled in. See how it lifts the loaded bucket upwards. The project explains how load can be lifted due to the pressure difference.

Foil Boat

Not all engineering challenges for kids need to be complex in design. Some are as simple as the foil boat engineering challenge. This challenge does not demand you to create something spectacular. All you have to do is make aluminum foil boats. 

How to make this? 

Step 1: The dimension of the boats must not be greater than 6X6X6. 

Step 2: The boats have to float over the water without tipping. 

Step 3: Now, start adding pennies to the boats. The boats that hold the most number of pennies without tipping over or collecting water win the game. 

Windmill

This is one of the important science experiments for kids conducted in school. It is a simple engineering project for kids where they have to use their skill to build a windmill. 

How to make this? 

Step 1: Make a base with cardboard. 

Step 2: Take a waste piece of cardboard and cut it into the shape of a triangle.

Step 3: Stick on to the base and make a small triangle shaped roof with the cardboard. 

Step 4: Place the roof on top of the triangle. 

Step 5: Take a rotating pin with six extensions and pierce it to the roof of the cardboard. 

Step 6: Make a fan with the cardboard sheet and paste it on each extension. 

Step 7: Keep the model in the place where the wind blows and see how it rotates. 

Airplane

All the kids attempt to make this creative engineering project at home or in the classroom. These are construction activities for preschoolers where they can get assistance from you and make beautiful airplanes using household materials. 

How to make this?

Step 1: Take leftover popsicle sticks along with a few pins. 

Step 2:  Place three popsicle sticks over each other by giving a space in between them with the help of tiny buttons. 

Step 3: Now, make wings using popsicle sticks pasted above each other parallely. 

Step 4:  Similarly, make a tiny tail using the same popsicle sticks.

Step 5: Finally, complete it with a rotating fan made up of a single popsicle stick. 

Benefits Of Engineering Projects For Kids 

Some of the benefits of construction activities for kids are mentioned below: 

• Develops modern thinking and skills. 
• Develops critical thinking and problem solving skills. 
• Enables kids to think creatively and out of the box. 
• Improves concentration and focus on what they are doing. 
• Develops observational skills. 
• Completes tasks with precision and accountability. 
• Encourages children to share ideas and thoughts with others. 
• Improves scientific knowledge and other concepts related to engineering. 
• Enables children to understand mathematical and scientific concepts. 
• Improves academic performance 
• Promotes budding inventors and scientists for the future generation. 
• Encourages teamwork and builds resilience among kids. 
• Motivates to ask questions and experiment with new ideas. 

Osmo offers many games and activities to enrich their knowledge of Science and Technology. It enhances the engineering skills of young children. Also, read Science Experiments for kids and Science Activities for Preschoolers.

Frequently Asked Questions on Engineering Projects for Kids