Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Design and Engineer Solutions Lesson PlanDesign and Engineer Solutions Lesson Plan
Publisher
Bonneville
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
5th - 8th
Subjects
Science
3 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
14 days
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
1 more...
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

Design and Engineer Solutions

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Design and Engineer Solutions lesson plan also includes:
  • Adrift in a Sea of Plastic Unit Plan (.docx)
  • Project
  • Join to access all included materials

What's the best way to collect all that trash? A culminating activity has scholars use the knowledge and skills from the unit to design a solution to the plastic trash island problem. They use 3-D pens or a 3-D printer to build models of a plastic collection device.

6 Views 5 Downloads
CCSS: Designed

Concepts

engineering design, pollution, ocean pollution, marine ecosystems, solutions, model building, 3-D printing

Instructional Ideas

  • Invite classmates and community members to rate each group's solution and model

Classroom Considerations

  • This is the last of four installments in the Adrift in a Sea of Plastic unit
  • Requires access to 3-D pens and 3-D printers

Pros

  • Promotes creativity to solve a real-world problem
  • Requires learners to consider a current environmental issue

Cons

  • Does not include a specific lesson plan or worksheets

Common Core

RI.5.1 RI.5.7 RI.5.9 W.5.7 W.5.8 W.5.9.b

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

The Problem of Plastic Trash Islands

Bonneville
Trash collection can be a hassle, especially out in the ocean. The second of four parts in the Adrift in a Sea of Plastic unit has pupils research plastic trash islands in marine ecosystems. They investigate why they occur and potential...
5th - 8th Science
CCSS: Designed
Instructional Video

How Much Plastic is in the Ocean?

Be Smart
Plastics in our oceans not only create unsightly litter, but they also threaten habitats. A video episode maps the location of the majority of the plastic debris and explains the impact the debris has on our world. The lesson also...
5 mins 6th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Problem Solving

Teach Engineering
Need a activity? Problem solved. Scholars learn about the problem-solving process in the sixth installment of a 25-part Energy Systems and Solutions unit. The particular process in question is the Technological Method of Problem Solving.
6th - 8th Math
Lesson Plan

Plastic in the Sea

National Wildlife Federation
How much plastic do people use? Class members identify how plastic is involved in their daily lives by looking at food packaging either at a grocery store or at home. Learners view statistics for the amount of plastics found on a beach...
3rd - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Brainstorm and Evaluate Solutions

NPR
May the best idea win. In groups, scholars brainstorm solutions to the problem statement developed in the previous lesson. The best idea moves forward to the prototype stage.
6th - 8th Science
Instructional Video

Preventing Plastic Pollution

California Academy of Science
While plastics don't biodegrade, they do photodegrade, creating issues in Earth's oceans. The final video in the Healthy Oceans series explains why plastic in oceans causes so many issues. the narrator explains the impact of plastic...
5 mins 6th - 10th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Where Are the Plastics Near Me? (Field Trip)

Teach Engineering
With a piece of plastic here and a piece of plastic there, here a piece, there a piece, everywhere a piece. Teams go on a field trip in order to document the locations and kinds of plastic trash in an area near them. The eighth...
7th - 9th Science
CCSS: Designed
Lesson Plan

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Teach Engineering
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of several garbage patches around the world where garbage accumulates naturally. As part of a GIS unit that combines oceanography, environmental science, and life science, class members investigate...
7th - 9th Science
Lesson Plan

Define the Plastic Problem

NPR
Individuals identify a specific problem concerning plastics and write a problem statement, which describes the problem, explains why it's a problem, and identifies desired solutions.
6th - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Prototype the Solution

NPR
It's always nice to see what the solution looks like. Groups build a prototype of their solution to the plastics problem in the sixth installment of a 10-part unit. The prototypes can be either a visual prototype or a working prototype.
6th - 8th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use