🌟 Fix It, Build It, Test It!

Unit Description

The Fix It, Build It, Test It! unit introduces middle school students to the engineering design process in a way that is hands-on, engaging, and accessible for learners with diverse needs. Built around Standards for Engineering, this unit walks students step by step through how engineers solve problems using criteria, constraints, impacts, and the design cycle.

Through interactive stories, students meet a classroom of peers and their teacher as they explore real-world design challenges:

• ✈️ Paper Airplanes – learning criteria, constraints, and impacts.

• 🧱 Tower Building – understanding goals and limits.

• 🌳 Playground Design – weighing positive and negative impacts.

• 📰 Paper Bridge Challenge – experiencing the design cycle in action.

• 🔄 Pulling It All Together – reviewing all steps and applying engineering thinking.

Each lesson blends storytelling, vocabulary instruction, and hands-on STEM challenges, making abstract engineering concepts concrete and meaningful. The unit includes teacher guides, answer keys, scaffolds, and differentiation supports, ensuring every student can participate and succeed.

Key Features

• 📖 Engaging lesson stories with relatable characters

• 🛠️ Hands-on design challenges (airplanes, towers, playgrounds, bridges)

• 🌍 Emphasis on real-world impacts (helping people, protecting nature)

• 📝 Built-in comprehension checks and assessments

• 👩‍🏫 Teacher Resource Guide with strategies, extensions, and scaffolds

• 🧩 Student-friendly activities and visuals for accessibility

This unit helps students not only learn about engineering but also think like engineers—defining problems, brainstorming solutions, testing, improving, and always reflecting on the impacts of their designs.

Some instructional text and visual elements on this page were generated or adapted with the assistance of AI technology (OpenAI’s ChatGPT), and reviewed by SpecialEdSimplified for accuracy and alignment with instructional goals.

🔒 Please Note: This product is for single classroom use only. If multiple teachers will be using this resource, please purchase additional licenses. 

These activities are based on Common Core Standards. Price and Willoughby, LLC make no guarantees regarding student test performance.