• K-3

• LEGO Simple Machine kits or other LEGO building pieces
• Engineer's 'Planning' Worksheet
• Engineer's 'Final Report' Worksheet
• One stuffed bear per group

For the extensions

• Extra LEGO building pieces
• mini post-it note pads
• mini drinking cups 

• Problem
• Solution
• Design
  

1. Review previous activities and emphasize the important lessons learned from those
   activites especially sturdy building and different pieces in LEGO Simple Machine kits.
1. note: this lesson follows nicely after Building Sturdy Towers activity and/or the
   Sturdy Shapes activity.
2. Introduce the engineering challenge for this activity using the Engineering Design Process
1. Identify the Problem: Mr. Bear needs somewhere to sit that is sturdy and will
   keep him sitting upright.
2. Research: As a class, think about some different chairs and how a LEGO chair
   might be similar. (provide optional chair research).
3. Brainstorm: Have student partners think about how to build a chair and how
   they will work together.
4. Choose and Plan: Have students fill out the Engineer's Planning Sheet. Have
   each partner circle the par that they will build.
5. Create: Have students design and build. Review piece that may be helpful such
   as the beams, pegs, bushings and axles.
6. Test: Explain to the students that their design needs to pass three tests:
1. Drop Test: The design must survive a drop from the ankle.
2. Fit Test: The bear must fit in the chair.
3. Sit-up Test: The bear must sit upright.
7. Redesign: Have students redesign after failed tests until their design is sturdy
   and usable. Help students think of ways to make their chair sturdy (overlapping
   beams, strong shapes, etc.)
8. Share: Have each student fill out an Engineer's Final Report Worksheet.
   Come together as a class, let each student briefly share their chair and discuss:
1. Difficulties encountered by students and how they fixed them.
2. One complement and one question for each chair.
   

This activity meets the Massachusetts Frameworks Learning Standards in Technology and
Engineering:

Grades K - 2

2. Engineering Design

Central Concept: Engineering design requires creative thinking and consideration for a
variety of ideas to solve practical problems.  

2.1 Identify tools and simple machines used for a specific purpose.

Grades 3 - 5

1. Materials and Tools

1.1 identify materials used to accomplish a design task based on a specific property,
e.g., strength, hardness, and flexibility.

2. Engineering Design

2.2 Describe different ways in which a problem can be represented, e.g., sketches,
diagrams, graphic organizers, and lists.

2.3 Identify relevant design features for building a prototype of a solution to a given
problem. 

• Build a foot rest for Mr. Bear
• Build a cup holder for Mr. Bear
• Build an easel for Mr. Bear

It may be helpful to have a chart to keep track of which students have passed which tests.