Novel Engineering

Hey Coach,

I’m looking for some fun ways to spice up my literature units.  Any ideas?

Sincerely,
Literacy Lull

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Dear Literacy Lull,

What if you could teach a literacy unit while also incorporating STEM and engineering design principles?  If this sounds interesting to you, I would like to introduce you to one of my new favorite activities, Novel Engineering.

Novel Engineering is the concept of using existing classroom literature – stories, novels, and expository texts – as the basis for engineering design challenges. These challenges help students identify problems, design realistic solutions, and engage in the Engineering Design Process, all while reinforcing their literacy skills.  And as an added bonus, Novel Engineering is a great way to reach struggling readers. As one teacher observed, “the students who typically struggle in reading were often the ones who used evidence and inferences grounded in the text to evaluate their design decisions” (Powers, 2020).

There are so many reasons to love Novel Engineering but I am going to highlight a few of the reasons why I think it is so great:

• Novel Engineering can be done with any grade level and any text.  In fact, the more complex the text, the more problems to solve!

• You can make the project as simple or as complicated as you want.  Supplies can range anywhere from simple recyclable materials all the way to 3D modeling software and printers.

• The basic supplies are inexpensive, and many teachers may already have them on hand.

• The focus is on the literature, but the engineering design process plays a huge role while students iterate their design prototypes

• It’s easy to make cross-curricular connections by simply adding in additional required components. (ie. calculations, budget, limited supplies, written explanation, and Science or Social Studies content)

Ready to get started? Follow the steps below, and don’t miss our iTeach Guide to Novel Engineering.

Select the Text

First you need to choose your book.  No matter which grade level you teach, I recommend starting with a picture book.  This makes it easy for students to learn the concept and process of Novel Engineering without getting stuck in the complexity of the book.  (Check out NovelEngineering.org for great book suggestions!)

Read to Find the Problem

Then, you can either read the book aloud or play a video recording.  Storyline Online is my favorite place to find great read-alouds. 

Stop to Solve the Problem

The next step is the most important, STOP reading once the problem/s has been introduced and BEFORE the resolution.  This will allow your class to identify and discuss possible “problems” and be creative with their solutions without being swayed by the outcome in the book. 

Share Your Solutions

Next, you are going to release your students (individually or in groups) to design their solutions.  For your younger students, allow them to be as creative as they like with their supplies.  For your older students add constraints to make this a little more challenging.  Consider giving students a budget with each material having an assigned cost.  Grade with a rubric requiring calculations of area and volume along with a writing sample. Next, have students present their solutions to the class.  This can be done in person or by posting a quick video to Flipgrid or Seesaw. 

Finish the Text

Lastly, don’t forget to finish reading the book.  There is no “right” answer in these challenges but it’s always nice to know the solution the author chose.

I hope these ideas inspire engagement and learning in your literacy classroom!

All the best,
Coach