Developing Engineering Identity While Designing Cookie Packaging

Watch this video as youth design and build a prototype package to keep cookies safe and begin to think of themselves as engineers. 

As you watch the video, think about this question:

• What strategies does the facilitator use to help build these girls’ identities as engineers? 

Now that you’ve watched the video, reflect on what you saw.  How does this apply to your work? 

• What strategies seemed the most meaningful for building the girls’ identities as engineers? 
• What strategies do you think would work in your program? 

Engineering challenges help youth understand what engineering is and how it is relevant to their lives.  Connecting these experiences to their lives and to the work engineers do helps young people see themselves as problem solvers and someone who can do engineering.