Feet of Engineering

Introduce students to engineering by helping them design and create a new kind of shoe.

Activity Kit

It is nearly impossible to imagine life without engineering. Ask a teenager to give up listening to music on an mp3 player or texting on a mobile device, and they may understand the point. In this activity, you will help young people appreciate engineering as a career that contributes to our health, happiness and safety—by having them design and create a shoe. Using simple materials, but following the traditional engineering approach of design, build, test and communicate, you will lead students in a creative and fun exercise of footwear innovation to solve a problem: jump higher? eliminate foot odor? walk softly? Students choose a challenge before devising their own feat of engineering.

Audience:

  • Ages 10-14 (Middle grade students)

What’s the goal of this kit?

  • Introduce engineering as a career that influences much of our lives
  • Make engineering relevant and approachable
  • Creative problem-solving with a hands-on activity

Why is this topic important?

  • Engineering is responsible for much of the technology that plays an important part in everyone’s lives. Making engineering approachable for students allows them to combine creativity with an interest in building things in order to solve problems. This, in turn, can inspire an interest in engineering in students throughout their education, and foster increased STEM career engagement.

What do I need to know about this activity?

This activity is an easy and fun way to introduce a career choice to young students, whether you are an engineer or not. The emphasis is on creativity through a straightforward process that allows you to have your audience look at engineering in a way they may not have before. If you are an engineer you will be able to share your real life experience. This activity is ideal for you if you enjoy…

  • Engaging an audience through hands-on activities
  • Helping others learn something new
  • Encouraging creativity and problem solving
  • Time required: one hour to prepare and gather materials, and one hour to lead the activity
  • Since this is a classroom activity, it is best scheduled during the school year
  • You can choose any materials you want for the students to build their shoes—there is a suggested materials list in the start guide
  • IBMers can apply volunteering hours to their THINK40 total.

Activity resources

Get all kit resources

Languages available:

  • English
  • Spanish (L.A.)

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