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Brainstorming for Engineering Projects using SCAMPER

Grade Range
3rd-8th
Group Size
2-3 students
Active Time
45 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Area of Science
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Energy & Power
Materials Science
Robotics
Key Concepts
Brainstorming, engineering design
Learning Objectives
  • Practice brainstorming using the SCAMPER process.
  • Recognize how people may come up with very different ideas during brainstorming, and that collaboration can be useful in identifying the best ideas.
Light bulb made from paper clips

Overview

Coming up with new ideas is hard! How do engineers design new things or improve existing ones? Engineers and inventors use different brainstorming techniques to help them think outside the box and come up with new ideas. In this lesson plan, your students will practice brainstorming with a method called SCAMPER.

Credits

Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies
Next: Materials

Materials

  • Paper clips (several for each student)
  • One everyday object from your classroom
Next: Teacher Prep

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Grade Range
3rd-8th
Group Size
2-3 students
Active Time
45 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Area of Science
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Energy & Power
Materials Science
Robotics
Key Concepts
Brainstorming, engineering design
Learning Objectives
  • Practice brainstorming using the SCAMPER process.
  • Recognize how people may come up with very different ideas during brainstorming, and that collaboration can be useful in identifying the best ideas.
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