Think Like an Engineer
A STEM-focused program held at Camp Apasus’ Sertoma Lodge offered more than a dozen area Girl Scouts an opportunity to explore engineering and sustainability. From constructing designs out of candy to building their own planter mazes, these Girl Scouts had fun while being exposed to a field still lagging behind when it comes to employing females. The session began with girls putting their ideas of what an engineer looked like on paper. The drawings, created by girls ranging from kindergarteners to high school freshmen, showed scientists, mechanics, and builders. Girl Scout Brownie Olivia drew a picture of her mother, Amanda Wolfson, an engineer at the Newport News Shipyard and also her Girl Scout leader. Amanda attended the event with her daughter and volunteered with activities.
“Girl Scouts has provided my girls with numerous hands-on opportunities,” she said. “We did a sleepover event at Virginia Air and Space Museum last year, where the girls built and launched rockets!” As an engineer herself, Amanda understands the importance of exposing girls to STEM subjects early on.
One of the favorite activities of the day was building structures using gumdrops, marshmallows, and toothpicks. Groups of girls were given unique designs to build and then they shared and talked about their designs with the larger group. Some designs were simple 2D structures, while others were complex 3D models. Taegan L., a Girl Scout Senior from Troop 301, successfully constructed a cuboid using gumdrops and toothpicks!
To foster critical thinking, GSCCC Program Director Jacqueline Brooks, who helped instruct the session, introduced the girls to mind-mapping as a way to identify a global issue and then problem-solve. Topics the girls thought of included littering and air pollution. Creativity shone as one group proposed a trash-cleaning robot to address waste management. Others took a more pragmatic approach, considering initiatives such as writing to local government officials and launching public awareness campaigns.
Another engaging activity had the girls learn about the Ring of Fire and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes. To visualize this concept, the girls built shake tables to test the resilience of structures against seismic activity. Participants also ventured outside to construct a Grow-A-Maze. Each participant designed a planter maze, compelling the sprouts to navigate the maze they created. Taegan noted that the Grow-A-Maze activity reminded her of the terrarium she designed a few days prior at PlantHouse, a local home goods store in Virginia Beach.
As each Girl Scout was working on the Think Like an Engineer Journey, creating a Take Action project was also part of the day. Girls were asked to identify a community problem and develop a sustainable solution. Jacqueline explained the concept of sustainability and guided the girls through the brainstorming process.
Following the event, Jacqueline was pleased by the level of participation and is eager to plan additional STEM events for the fall 2024 lineup. “Through these hands-on activities and critical thinking exercises, these girls are showcasing their creativity and potential as future leaders in STEM!” she exclaimed.
According to Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald, who served as Girl Scouts’ developmental psychologist, while not every girl is going to want to pursue a career in STEM, it’s important to encourage girls to follow their own passions. She said, “Every girl should be encouraged to try her hand at STEM skills, get comfortable with those concepts, and learn how they apply to all kinds of surprising fields—from fashion to finance, and beyond.”
Here are some fun activity ideas to help Girl Scouts learn to Think Like an Engineer!
Creating a Helping Hands Device
Explore what an engineer is and what they do. What problems do they solve? How do they use skills and tools to solve problems?
Explain to your Girl Scouts what a helping-hands device is and ask for their ideas as well. Have them draw something they think is a helping hands device. “What is a helping hand device? Why would someone need one?”
Designing a Water Collection Device – Solving a Problem
Talk about water usage and the ways engineers could use their knowledge to help those in areas where water may be scarce. Break Girl Scouts into groups and have them brainstorm ideas on how a water collection device could work. Have each group report back to the larger group via a spokesperson. Then give groups their challenge: create something that would collect and hold water. Create a prototype (not full-scale version) using materials like cups, toilet paper rolls, tape, or glass jars to make a water collection device that could be built by a real engineer.
Vest Design Challenge for Girl Scout Cadettes
Can you help Chloe the Corgi float safely in the lake with her family? Check out the video below, and head over to the GSUSA Activity Zone for full instructions.
