In the middle of the desert sits a small town.

Many families live and work here.

But, this town is constantly getting hit by dust storms, causing dirty air, downed trees, and people with respiratory problems.

The mayor, who is also the local scientist, called for a meeting at the Town Hall.

But how will we receive our deliveries? We need a solution to our dust storm problem. I suggest we build a protective covering for our town. This covering will prevent any dust from entering our town! But how will we receive our deliveries?

You see, I have set parameters for the students to plan and create using the Engineering Design Process. This will allow for deliveries to come in to town. Our covering must allow some things to enter, such as deliveries and rain, and prevent other things to enter, such as dust and other particles. It must also have a way for exports and gases, like carbon dioxide, to leave our town.

Now it’s your turn!

Gases (carbon dioxide) ASK What is the problem you’re trying to solve? The mayor wants a covering for the town because they get hit by a lot of dust storms. He wants a covering that will allow certain things to enter and leave. Examples Allowed to Enter Prevent from Entering Allow to Leave/Escape Rain Deliveries Dust Particles Exports Gases (carbon dioxide)

Materials Available for Covering PARAMETERS Allowed to Enter Prevent from Entering Allow to Leave/Escape Rain Deliveries Dust Particles Exports Gases (carbon dioxide) Constraints Materials Available for Covering Build a 3-D town that can sit on an 11 x 17 sheet of construction paper with a maximum height of 8 inches. The 3-D town can be built using any materials from home (Legos, recyclable materials such as cups and egg cartons, blocks, etc.) Use materials from the list for your covering Foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, coffee filters, masking tape, glue, straws, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, paper, scissors, cheesecloth, plastic bags, fabric, and paper clips.

IMAGINE What are some creative ways you can solve this problem? Brainstorm ideas with your group members and record them on your paper.

PLAN On your paper, list the materials you plan on using. Sketch your design and label each part.

CREATE Gather your materials and create the model of your protective covering. Test it when you are finished.

IMPROVE What changes do you need to make to your protective covering? Write down the changes and improvements you will make. Then go back to create, make the improvements, and test it again.

FINAL TEST When you are done making changes to your design, or when time is up, then you will complete the final test. Take your town to the TESTING ZONE and see if your protective covering meets all of the criteria.