Can I be an engineer?
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EmailWhat do engineers do? How can you help youth develop their engineering skills?
Have the youth in your life ever expressed an interest in becoming an engineer?
Did you know that engineers have one of the highest average starting salaries and the highest median annual wage? Youth often consider becoming a doctor, police officer or teacher because these careers are easily identified with, while there is little exposure to or understanding of engineering careers. There are over 50 different types of engineering careers and likely one that will fit the youth in your life.
What do engineers do? Engineers use science principles to create solutions to problems to make our world a better place. Simply put, engineers are problem-solvers. Creative, imaginative problem-solvers! It is likely we all know kids that have a great imagination, but we may not know how to help them strengthen their problem-solving skills or explore more about engineering careers.
Michigan State University Extension offers these fun ways to help strengthen imagination and creativity with youth.
- Look around and pick an item, any item. Show the item to the youth and ask: “For what purpose was this made?” or “What problem was this designed to solve?”
- Using the same item ask, “What is another way we could use this item?”
- Grab a stack of newspapers or old magazines and a roll of masking tape. Challenge youth to make a stool they can sit on using only these items.
- Pull out the building blocks and challenge youth to build a tower, bridge or tunnel that can support a large book.
- Engage youth in a pass-the-story activity around an object, such as a paper bag or piece of string. You might begin the story with: “Today we begin the tale of the journeys of Pam the Paper Bag. Pam began her journey in a large paper bag factory, where she was smoothed, folded and packed with other bags. Next, she was…” and the tale is then passed to the next person to continue.
- While walking outdoors, take a bucket and collect pieces of bark, sticks, leaves, dead grass or other items lying on the ground. Youth should use the items to build something in a garden like a toad or fairy house, a picture of the family pet or a rainbow.
Strengthening imagination and creativity is beneficial for everyone, even if becoming an engineer is not. For more free activities that build creativity and support engineering skills, explore the Teaching Science When You Don’t Know Diddly-squat series from MSU Extension.
