Lesson: The History of BOING!

Describe the importance of toys and games.

• Ask students to name and describe their favorite toys and games. Share your childhood favorites too. Ask: Why is playing with toys and games important? Let students discuss in pairs before sharing with the whole class. (Toys and games teach skills, build community, and inspire creativity.) 

Watch a video about toys and introduce parts of the engineering design process.

• Show the video “The Toys We Treasure.” Ask: Why are toys different now than they were 100 years ago? (New materials and technologies exist now, people’s preferences change, etc.) How is a new kind of toy created? (Someone has to think of it and build it. The design must also be tested to make sure it’s fun and safe.) 
• Tell students there is a design process that is often used to invent and optimize new products like toys. Diagram and describe the process so it’s visible for students, using arrows between steps and emphasizing its circular nature. (e.g., Imagine a new idea, plan your design, build a testable model called a prototype, test the prototype, brainstorm and plan ideas for improvement . . . and repeat until satisfied that the design is the best it can be.) 

Read an article about the invention of the trampoline.

• Invite students to share their experiences with trampolines. Then read the article aloud, including the caption that includes the safety note. Return to your diagram on the board. Ask: Which trampoline prototype wasn’t bouncy? (canvas stretched across a bed frame) What change led to a successful prototype? (Rubber rings were added around the edges.) What further improvements did George Nissen make? (metal springs and a round shape)
• Have students discuss and respond to the Investigate It! questions in small groups. 

Measure and graph the bounce height of balls.

• Have students complete the investigation Battle of the Bounce in pairs, safely distanced. Or conduct a demonstration, capturing each bounce on video and reviewing it in slow motion to obtain the measurements.  
• Discuss different properties of the balls and how they might affect each ball’s bounce. Connect back to why using specific materials for specific purposes is important, as was the case for the trampoline. 

Let students show their understanding with a brief assessment or open-ended activity.

• Check for student understanding with the Quick Quiz. Then invite students to complete the Learning Extension (found below and at the end of the scrollable article online) to discuss their family’s favorite toys. 

⇨ Learning Extension: Ask older family members about their favorite childhood toys or games, and what made those toys or games fun. Have any of those games or toys changed over time? If so, how?