Lesson Plan

Life Vest Challenge

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Life Vest Challenge lesson plan also includes:

After reading about the history and science of personal floatation devices, patents, and intellectual property, engineering teams design a life vest for a can of soup. To evaluate which groups considered the need for waterproofing, hold a classroom challenge to find out how long each PFD will keep the can afloat! Note that though the publisher states this instructional activity is appropriate for ages 8 - 14, it is best suited for upper-elementary engineers.

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CCSS: Adaptable
NGSS: Designed
Pros
  • Informative background information reading material contains colored photographs for added interest
  • A handout guides teams through the designing, constructing, and testing of their device
  • Critical thinking skills are developed with reflection questions
  • Meets Next Generation Science Standards in engineering and technology
Cons
  • None