Designing Enrichment Toys for Zoo Animals
Watch this video as youth design and build enrichment toys for specific zoo animals.
As you watch the video, think about these questions.
- What experiences help youth get interested in their real-world problem and the animal they are designing for?
- What does the facilitator say or do to build interest in the real-world problem?
- What should youth consider as they design and build their solution?
Now that you’ve watched the video, reflect on what you saw. How does this apply to your work?
- How did the youth approach this challenge?
- What did the facilitators say or do with youth to help them think about their design?
- What are some real-world problems that make sense for the youth you work with? What problems would they care about solving?
When engineers design solutions to specific, real-world problems, they consider the context, background information, needs of the client and the implications of solutions. Youth can learn to use their engineering skills to solve real-world problems that are important to them.
Explore Engineering Practices
Education Item
Try & Try Again
Watch as Gauri works with youth to design, build and test a cook stove. Take note of how she encourages students to re-test or re-design their stove idea.
Education Item
Keep Youth Interacting
STEM activities are engaging, interactive and hands on experiences for youth. But what happens when members of a group are not interacting? In this video, pay close attention to how the facilitators work with a group if members become disengaged. Listen to the supportive but firm voice of the adult, as she re-directs the group. Pay special attention to how staff listen, maintain a supportive attitude, and model effective collaboration skills.
Education Item
Linking My Experiences to Societal Needs
Watch as Gauri, the frontline staff member, helps the youth connect the activity to prior knowledge, experiences and societal needs and strategize how you might do this as well.