Other
Engineering Recycled Racers
Upper Elementary
Motion & Stability
Earth and Human Activity
Camps/STEM Classes
Kids engineer toy cars out of items that would ordinarily be discarded.
unit Overview
Kids use recyclables to design and build toy vehicles for a Recycled Racer Rally.
- 8 activities
- 45 minutes per activity
Standards Alignment
We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering.
unit Resources
Digital Resources (FREE)
YES provides these materials free of charge! Use the link below to download resources from our Google Drive.
Download ResourcesPurchase Materials
Educator Guide Pack -
$69
- Full-color print educator guide, plus multiple sets of heavy-duty reusable color-print resources (ex. vocabulary cards, materials glossaries, station signs, and student instructions) for the class.
Materials Kit -
$439
- Hands-on materials to support 24 learners.
Unit Map
Kids engineer a tower and are introduced to the Engineering Design Process as a problem-solving tool.
Kids explore the idea that they are engineers who can design and improve technology.
Kids build and test two wheel systems and see how well other wheel materials roll.
Kids think about how to use recycled materials as car components and experiment with different wheel designs.
Kids make the track that the Recycled Racer Rally will be held on.
Groups use what they have learned from testing and from other groups to begin engineering their own racers.
Groups are introduced to the idea that they can use air and sails to power their cars.
Groups improve their racers and decorate them if they have additional time.
Kids present the racers they engineered and share their knowledge of the Engineering Design Process.