To learn how these gifts support engineering thinking and design go to:

inspire-purdue.org/EngineeringGiftGuide Purdue University does not endorse such products contained herein, but only recommends them solely due to their engineering education value.

Gift ideas that engage girls and boys in engineering thinking and design

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You asked. We answered!

My daughter and son love to build and create things with their building toys. How do I help foster their engineering thinking?

Have them solve an engineering design problem. Below we have outlined how you can help your children identify a problem and solve it.

Define the problem Identify an engineering design problem to solve. Set criteria (desired attributes) and constraints (limits). Recognize who the client (who has asked you to find a solution) and users are (who will use the end product).

Learn about the problem Research to see what, if any, solutions have already been created to solve the problem or one similar to it. Read different texts about the science and mathematics skills, knowledge and tools that will help them solve the problem.

Plan a solution to the problem Have them generate many ideas before deciding which one they would like to try. Encourage them to make a design plan. They may need to go back and learn something new before they can finish their plan. That is ok!

Try the solution Have them use their plan to create a prototype (a testable model that may be smaller or larger than the final design).

Test the solution Help your children conduct fair tests to see if their plan is a good solution for the problem.

Decide Use the test results to make decisions about their solution. Did the solution solve the problem and meet the constraints? Should they try other ideas they previously brainstormed or brainstorm new ideas to achieve a better solution?

Communicate/deliver Have them make claims (use evidence to support what they believe is true) about their solution so the client knows why they should use or select it. Have them communicate their idea to the client.

Where does your family find

design challenge ideas?

My kids and I look around our home. We find ways to make life

easier for us or our pets.

My daughter and I get inspiration from the

community—things we see or hear about on

the news. We get ideas from books, television

shows and movies.

1. WEDGNETIX 32-pc Magnetic Construction Toy. Ages 8+; wedgits.com $69.99 2. Z-Strux Z-Lift Sky Crane. Ages 8+; poof-slinky.com $149.99 3. ZOOB Inventors’ Kit. Ages 6+; poof-slinky.com $34.99 4. YOXO Fyre Dragon. Ages 8-14; yoxo.com $29.99 5. Melissa & Doug 100 Piece Wood Blocks Set. Ages 3+; melissaanddoug.com $19.99 6. Lincoln Logs 100th Anniversary Tin. Ages 3+; knex.com $44.99 7. Ideal 105 piece Amaze ‘N’ Marbles. Ages 5+; poof-slinky.com $129.99 8. Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32 Piece Set. Ages 3+; magnatiles.com $51.50 9. Melissa & Doug Construction Set in a Box. Ages 4+; melissaanddoug.com 29.99 10. WEDGITS Imagination 50-pc Building Block. Ages 3+; wedgits.com $49.99 11. K’Nex Education Intro To Structures: Bridges. Ages 8+; knex.com $39.99 12. K’Nex 35 Model Ultimate Building Set. Ages 7+; knex.com $27.99 13. Geomag Panels 180 pieces. Age 3+; geomagworld.com $100 14. K’NEX Thrill Rides Sky Sprinter Roller Coaster Building Set. Ages 9+; knex.com $129.99 15. Tinkertoy 150 Piece Essentials Value Set. Ages 3+; knex.com $49.99 16. CitiBlocs 100 piece Natural Wooden Building Blocks. Ages 3+; poof-slinky.com $29.99 17. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks—40 Pieces. Ages 2+; melissaanddoug.com $39.99

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1. Ubongo. Ages 8+; thamesandkosmos.com $39.95 2. Laser Pegs Tinted Race Car. Ages 5+; laserpegs.com $29.99 3. Lucky’s High Roller. Ages 6+; goldieblox.com $9.99 4. Craft-Struction Box. Ages 6+; goldieblox.com $39.99 5. Remote-Control Machines Animals. Ages 8+; thamesandkosmos.com $49.95 6. Aircraft Engineer. Ages 3+; thamesandkosmos.com $44.95 7. Nacho’s Rocket Ride. Ages 6+; goldieblox.com $9.99 8. Suspend Family Game. Ages 8+; melissaanddoug.com $16.99 9. Twiddler Double Dilemma. Ages 10+; hapetoys.com $24.99 10. Twiddler Triple Temptation. Ages 10+; hapetoys.com $32.99 11. LightUp Edison Kit. Ages 5+; lightup.io $49.99 12. GolideBlox and The Builder’s Survival Kit. Ages 7-12; goldieblox.com $59.99 13. Benjamin’s Cat Nook. Ages 6+; goldieblox.com $9.99 14. Katinka’s Dream Racer. Ages 6+; goldieblox.com $9.99 15. Dimension. Ages 8+; thamesandkosmos.com $49.95

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Purdue University does not endorse such products contained herein, but only recommends them solely due to their engineering education value.

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1. Wonder Pack. Ages 6+; makewonder.com $279.99 (Individual prices: Dot $49.99, Dash $169.99, Building Brick Connectors $19.99, Dash’s Xylophone $39.99, Accessories Pack $39.99) 2. Puzzlets. Ages 6+; digitaldreamlabs.com $99.99 3. Ozobot Bit 2.0. Ages 8+; ozobot.com $59.95 4. Thinkrolls 2. Ages 3-9; avokiddo.com $2.99 5. Tangible Play’s Osmo. Ages 6+; playosmo.com $99.99 (or $79.99 without the Numbers pack) 6. Thinkrolls. Ages 3-8; avokiddo.com $2.99 7. Robot School. Programming for Kids. Ages 9-11; itunes.apple.com $3.99 (HINT: iTunes has a bundle that includes both the Robot School and Move the Turtle apps for just $3.99!) 8. Move the Turtle. Ages 5-12; movetheturtle.com $3.99 (HINT: iTunes has a bundle that includes both the Robot School and Move the Turtle apps for just $3.99!) 9. BLOX 3D. Ages 4-8; appymonkeys.com $2.99 10. BLOX 3D Junior. Ages 2-5; appymonkeys.com $2.99 11. BLOX 3D World Creator. Ages 6-8; appymonkeys.com $2.99 12. Infinifactory. Ages 10+ zachtronics.com $24.99 13. TIS-100. Ages 10+ zachtronics.com $6.99 14. SpaceChem. Ages 10+ zachtronics.com $9.99

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1. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty. Ages 5-7; abramsbooks.com $16.95 2. Engineering the ABC’s by Patty O’Brien Novak. Ages 4+; barnesandnoble.com $10.07 3. Rocks, Jeans, and Busy Machines by Alane & Raymundo Rivera. Ages 4-8; engineering-kids.com $9.95 4. The Little Engineer that Could by Micah and Jeanette Stohlmann. Ages 8-11; amazon.com $6.99 5. Engibear’s Dream by Andrew King. Ages 3-10; littlesteps.com $24.95 6. Engibear’s Bridge by Andrew King. Ages 3-10; littlesteps.com $24.99 7. Yes I Can! I’m Clover Anne! by Cheryl A. Cunningham, P.E. Ages 5-9; icanbeanengineer.com $10.95 8. I Can Find a Way! I’m Lucy Kay! by Cheryl A. Cunningham, P.E. Ages 5-9; icanbeanengineer.com $10.95 9. Dream Invent Create Engineer the World: An introduction to the inspiring possibilities of engineering. Ages 7-12; start-engineering.com $5.95 10. Anything is Possible by Giulia Belloni and Marco Trevison. Ages 4-7; owlkids.com $16.95 11. The Fort on Fourth Street by Lois Spangler and Christina Wald. Ages 4-9; arbordalepublishing.com $17.95 12. Newton and Me by Lynne Mayer. Ages 4-8; arbordalepublishing.com $16.95 13. Start Engineering A Career Guide. Ages 13-15; start-engineering.com $6.95 14. What’s Engineering? Color & Discover!: A Coloring and Activity Book for Ages 4-6. Ages 4-6; start-engineering.com $4.95 15—25, 30. Engineering in Action Series. Ages 10-13; crabtreebooks.com $9.95 (paperback) $27.60 (hardcovers) 26. Engineers Solve Problems by Reagan Miller and Crystal Sikkens. Ages 5-8; crabtreebooks.com $7.95 27. How Engineers Find Solutions by Robin Johnson. Ages 5-8; crabtreebooks.com $7.95 28. Engineering in our Everyday Lives

by Reagan Miller. Ages 5-8;

crabtreebooks.com $7.95

29. Engineers Build Models by Reagan

Miller. Ages 5-8; crabtreebooks.com

$7.95

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4 How to discuss engineering

with your child

Recommendation 1: Use the word “engineer” in everyday talk as repeated exposure will allow a child to use it in everyday conversations. Point out the word if you hear it in a commercial or see it in a book or on television.

Recommendation 2: If you are a STEM professional, talk about your own work. Parents are the major source of occupational knowledge. It is never too early to start talking about STEM professions; if you feel that the topic is too complex, talk about where you work, what you work on, who you work with and what kinds of things you do (e.g., work outside, use a computer, draw, talk with others, etc.).

Recommendation 3: Too often children associate engineers with train drivers/mechanics/construction laborers. Address these inconsistencies early. For example, if children read that “an engineer drives the train”, help them understand that there are other types of engineers who design things to help people, or that engineers design engines but mechanics are the people who fix cars. These beliefs are often hard to mitigate later down the line and those that are not interested in these associations may not consider engineering as an ample field of study.

Recommendation 4: Increase interactive strategies for reading: ask questions, make eye contact, allow your children to hold the book or turn the pages, etc.

Gender bias in the purchase

of STEM-related toys

A recent study conducted by Jacob Inman and Dr. Monica E. Cardella on gender bias in the purchase of STEM-related toys indicates that toys that promote the development of math, science, and engineering skills are given to boys twice as frequently as they are given to girls. This idea of stereotypical “boys’ toys” may contribute to the lack of women in technical engineering fields. The study demonstrated the importance of purchasing toys linked to the development of STEM skills for all children to promote the participation of women in STEM fields.

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1. Dynamo Dominoes. Ages 3+; hapetoys.com $39.99 2. Mighty Makers Inventor’s Clubhouse Building Set. Ages 7+; knex.com $59.99 3. Cool Circuits. Ages 8+; sciencewiz.com $24.95 4. YOXO Orig Robot. Ages 6-12; yoxo.com $19.99 5. Weird & Wacky Contraption Lab. Ages 8+; smartlabtoys.com $39.99 6. Crazy Forts! Ages 5+; crazyforts.com $49.95 7. Geomag Mechanics 222- pieces. Age 5+; geomagworld.com $129

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Project Lead: Elizabeth Gajdzik, M.S. Project Assistants: Nadia Aljabi, Baylee Bunce Content Contributors: Dr. Monica E. Cardella, Dr. Tamara J. Moore, Elizabeth Gajdzik, M.S., Baylee Bunce, Jacob Inman, Brianna Dorie Special

Thanks to New Community School, Imagination Station, Patty Jischke Early Care and Education Center, INSPIRE/ENE, and the children, parents, and engineers who helped review and provide feedback on the gifts submitted this year.

Nine ways engineers help their children learn about engineering In one study, over 80 engineers were interviewed or surveyed about what they do to help their children learn about engineering. Below are 9 of their most common responses.

Play hands-on with everyday items While playing with everyday items,

encourage your children to imagine new uses for them.

Encourage them to ask questions Foster your children’s natural curiosity

by encouraging them to ask you questions and helping them figure out how and where to find the answers.

Let them take things apart Provide your children with the tools to take

things apart and put them together again (as long as there are no choking, electric, or other hazards!).

Play with puzzles Challenge your children to find several ways to solve

puzzles and to explain the different processes they used.

Visit science centers or children’s museums They will allow your

children to explore STEM concepts at their own pace, often through hands-on experiences that are enhanced through signs that provide more explanation of the concepts.

Read books Read fiction and non-fiction STEM books with your

children.

Build with blocks Ask your children questions about what they are

building: What are you building? Who is it for? How will they use it? Why did you…?

Develop mathematics and science skills Visit your local library or store to

find software, videos, books and kits that allow your children to practice mathematics and science skills in a fun and engaging way.

Attend summer camps and special activities Build interest in STEM by

taking advantage of camps, programs and special activities hosted in your community.