YES Enrichment
Engineering Upcycled Toy Vehicles
Upper Elementary
Motion & Stability
Camps/STEM Classes
Youth engineer a toy vehicle using upcycled materials.
unit Overview
Youth use the Engineering Design Process to design a toy vehicle for a store where everything is made from upcycled materials. Youth explore how vehicle variables affect stability and distance traveled.
- 9 activities (5 core, 4 optional)
- 45–60 minutes per activity
- Youth materials available in Spanish
Standards Alignment
YES Enrichment units connect with state and national standards.
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 -
$359
- Hands-on materials to support 30 learners.
Unit Map
Youth engineer a school supply case and learn about the Engineering Design Process, a five-phase problem-solving tool.
Youth explore how to stabilize wheels using various materials.
Youth explore how different wheels affect the distance traveled.
Youth imagine and plan toy vehicles that meet specific criteria. They begin attaching axles to vehicle bodies.
Youth create, test, and improve their toy vehicles.
Youth learn about package engineering and create packages for their toy vehicles.
Youth interview each other, then imagine upcycled toy designs to meet a user’s needs.
Youth learn about the careers of mechanical engineers, toy makers, and upcycling artists.
Youth present their upcycled toy vehicles and share their processes with guests.
Educator Preparation Videos
Activity 3 Preparation: Distance Test Station
Activity 4 Preparation: Sample Vehicle
Activity 4 Preparation: Bump Test Station
Videos for Youth
Activity 5: Test an Upcycled Toy Vehicle
Our funders
Major support for this project has been provided by the National Science Foundation.