Engineering and Design

Strawbees engages students in scientific inquiry and the engineering design process, mirroring the way real scientists and engineers test ideas, refine solutions, and solve problems.

The pedagogy behind Strawbees is closely based on MIT’s Lifelong Kindergarten Creative Learning Spiral is an iterative process of Imagine, Create, Play, Share, Reflect, Imagine by Mitch Resnick. This Creative Learning Spiral incorporates all the Next Generation Engineering and Design Science Standards into its very process. With lesson resources, learners will be asking questions about real world problems, then build, testing these ideas, and playing with their design constraints and limitations. Within a single activity, they will generate multiple solutions, plan and carry out tests.

A closer look at the Earthquake Simulator lesson perfectly illustrates how all Strawbees lessons and activities incorporate the NGSS Engineering and Design standards.

Students make observations about earthquakes, generate and ask questions about this real natural hazard, simulate an earthquake by coding a servo motor, and finally test their design by building a shake table. 

Students have the opportunity to play with the design constraints, change the code, and create different iterations of the same invention.

They can further extend their project through challenges and changing the design based upon their own ideas. Thus, Strawbees lessons empower the learner to take charge of their own learning and explore real world topics and make their own prototypes.

Forces, Energy and Motion

Strawbees activities and lessons also feature prominently the NGSS topics of forces, energy and motion, and earth’s systems, and human impact. 

The Roller Coaster Run lesson is a thrilling take on the force of gravity, for example, a fifth grade standard. However, it also dives deeply into the disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts within the fourth grade standard that energy can be transferred.

Assessment

Hands-on learning is at the very core of Strawbees. As in the universal design for learning , engaging hands-on learners with exciting content and curriculum benefits everyone.

Students do not need to just read about science concepts, they need to put them to practice. When students create and build with their hands, not only do classrooms become centers of 100% student engagement, but assessment is built into student projects, how they are able to tinker, adjust, and ultimately make designs work.

Further, after completing the design process, students share their projects, their reasoning, and are able to give evidence to why their designs work or do not work. Assessment that is grounded in real-world relevant learning experiences will lead to evidence-based responses.

Such kinds of assessments are better preparation for careers than a multiple choice test, and induce excitement rather than the anxiety when it comes to assessment.

NGSS is designed to align with other subject areas, making Strawbees a valuable tool for interdisciplinary learning.

Mathematics – Measurement & Data Analysis: Strawbees projects require students to calculate angles, measure forces, and analyze patterns, reinforcing math skills in a real-world engineering context. When testing a Strawbees trebuchet, students collect data on launch distances and angles, applying algebra, geometry, and data analysis.

English Language Arts – Communication & Scientific Writing: NGSS promotes scientific literacy, encouraging students to research, document, and communicate their findings. By having students present their Strawbees designs and write technical explanations of their prototypes, educators integrate STEAM with literacy and communication skills.

Computer Science & Engineering – Coding & Automation: Using Strawbees with micro:bit, students can explore robotics, automation, and digital problem-solving. By programming a Strawbees robotic arm, students engage in computational thinking and logical reasoning, supporting both engineering and computer science education.

Environmental Science – Sustainable Engineering Challenges: NGSS emphasizes real-world environmental issues, and Strawbees allows students to prototype solutions for challenges such as urban flooding, energy efficiency, and disaster-resistant structures. These projects encourage students to think critically about sustainability and environmental impact.