Developing The Field Of Children's Engineering

Educational requirements for grades K-6 are increasing, students and teachers are being held to higher standards with inherent increased expectations learning. Because this is a time of change, the engineering profession has an opportunity to link with the K-6 science curriculum, complementing an existing science curriculum that finds itself challenged. Engineering also provides a contextual situation to reinforce important mathematical concepts. As the field of children’s engineering (engineering for the K-6 grades) develops, it provides an opportunity to examine the fundamental tenets of engineering. This paper examines engineering at its most fundamental level, the level of understanding for 5 to 11 year-olds and demonstrates the importance of children’s engineering.