Engineering/Better Backpack Worksheets

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Engineering/Better Backpack For Google Apps

These paired text are similar but also different. The first one (non fiction)is about engineering and explains how things are designed. The next one is about a girl named Ellie who has some issues with her backpack. After some thought she decides to design her own, better backpack. Have students read the stories to find out more about engineering and how Ellie improved on her backpack with her own design. Comprehension questions follow the text. There are also more contrast questions and writing prompts on the third page.

Engineering design is the process of solving problems by creating something new. Engineers use this process to build bridges, design machines, and even create apps. The goal is to find the best solution to a problem using science, math, and creativity.
1.What is the goal of engineering design?
2. What are the steps in the engineering design process?
3. Why do engineers build models or prototypes?
4. Why is teamwork important in engineering?
5. How does engineering affect everyday life?

Ellie loved inventing things. Her room was filled with tools, tape, and scraps of fabric. One day, she noticed her backpack was always too heavy and uncomfortable. “I’m going to design a better one!” she said.
1. What problem did Ellie want to solve?
2. What materials did Ellie use to build her backpack?
3. What happened when Ellie tested her first design?
4. How did Ellie improve her backpack?
5. What did Ellie decide to do after her friends saw her invention?