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Mechanical Engineer

Hey there, little inventors and problem solvers! Are you ready to become a Marvelous Machine Maker Mechanical Engineer? Get ready to dive into a world of gears, gadgets, and incredible inventions. Let’s embark on this exciting career where you’ll bring your wildest ideas to life!

Responsibilities:

  1. Inventive Innovator: As a Mechanical Engineer, you’ll be a master of invention! You’ll use your imagination and problem-solving skills to design and create amazing machines. From robots to cool cars, you’ll be the genius behind the magic
  2. Gear Guru: Get ready to befriend the mighty gear! You’ll learn all about gears and how they make machines move. You’ll understand how different gears work together to create motion and make things go zoom!
  3. Prototyping Pro: Before your inventions come to life, you’ll create prototypes. These are like rough drafts that help you test and improve your ideas. You’ll use your hands and tools to build models of your inventions and bring them one step closer to reality.
  4. Teamwork Time: Inventing is more fun when you work together! You’ll collaborate with other engineers, designers, and dreamers to bring your ideas to life. Being a good team player means listening, sharing ideas, and supporting each other’s creativity.
  5. Problem-Solving Hero: Mechanical Engineers are problem-solving heroes! You’ll face challenges along the way, but you’ll use your smarts and creativity to find solutions. Every problem is an opportunity to learn and make your inventions even better.

Qualifications:

  1. Curious Tinkerer: Do you love taking things apart and putting them back together? Embrace your curiosity! A curious tinkerer is always eager to learn how things work and finds joy in exploring the mysteries of machines.
  2. Imaginative Explorer: Let your imagination run wild! Being a Mechanical Engineer means dreaming big and thinking outside the box. Use your imagination to come up with incredible ideas that can change the world.
  3. Math Magician: Numbers and calculations are your secret tools! You’ll use math to make precise measurements, calculate forces, and figure out the perfect angles. Math will help you bring harmony to your mechanical creations.
  4. Patience Power: Inventing takes time and patience. Sometimes things don’t work on the first try, but that’s okay! You’ll learn from your mistakes, make adjustments, and keep going. Patience is your superpower that helps you persevere.
  5. Passionate Dreamer: Above all, you need a passion for creating and inventing. If you love to build things and make ideas come to life, then being a Marvelous Machine Maker Mechanical Engineer is the perfect career for you! Let your passion drive your inventions and watch the world be amazed.

Are you ready to become a Marvelous Machine Maker Mechanical Engineer? Grab your toolbox, put on your thinking cap, and let’s invent incredible machines that will make the world a more exciting and efficient place!

Books

Check out these books at your local library or purchase them through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or a local bookstore. 

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Rosie Revere dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Where some people see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration. Alone in her room at night, shy Rosie constructs great inventions from odds and ends. Hot dog dispensers, helium pants, python-repelling cheese hats: Rosie’s gizmos would astound—if she ever let anyone see them. Afraid of failure, she hides them away under her bed. Until a fateful visit from her great-great-aunt Rose (AKA Rosie the Riveter!), who shows her that the first flop isn’t something to fear—it’s something to celebrate. And you can only truly fail, if you quit.

Little Leonardo’s Fascinating World of Engineering by Bob Cooper
With original Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci as inspiration, this exciting new volume in the Little Leonardo series introduces kids to many of the different types of engineering they can aspire to. Littles will learn how nine types of engineers design and build all sorts of things, from the tiny microcircuitry in your smartphone to large projects like dams and bridges that transform the very face of the planet.

Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys by David A. Adler
Machines make work easier— helping break things apart, lift heavy objects, and change the power and direction of force applied to them. In this accessible picture book, celebrated nonfiction author David A. Adler outlines different types of simple machines—wedges, wheels, levers, pulleys, and more—and gives common examples of how we use them every day.

Video & YouTube Channels

Apps

Clubs and Organizations

Learn more about construction by participating in clubs and organizations that focus on STEM!

STEM Programs and Organizations: Many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs and organizations incorporate elements of construction and engineering into their activities. These programs can introduce kids to the principles of construction management while fostering an interest in STEM fields. Examples include FIRST LEGO League, Project Lead The Way, and STEM Scouts.

Construction Industry Associations: Local construction industry associations, such as the Associated General Contractors (AGC) or local chapters of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), may organize events or programs that introduce kids to construction careers. They may offer workshops, mentorship opportunities, or site visits to help children explore different aspects of the construction industry.

Career Days and Expos: Keep an eye out for career days or expos in your local area that focus on the construction industry. These events often feature exhibits, demonstrations, and interactive activities related to construction, including construction management. They can provide an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about the career firsthand and interact with professionals in the field.

4-H & Clover Buds: Discover the power of STEM with 4-H Clubs. Engage in exciting hands-on activities, from coding to robotics, and watch curiosity turn into innovation. Join us in shaping future leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts: Explore STEM with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Learn outdoor skills intertwined with science, technology, engineering, and math. Unleash your potential, gain badges, and have a blast in the world of STEM!

It’s important to note that the availability of these organizations and programs may vary depending on your location. Consider reaching out to local community centers, schools, and youth organizations to inquire about any construction-related programs or partnerships in your area.

Family Activities

The whole family can participate in STEM activities! Here’s some suggestions:

  • Amazing Factory Adventures: Take a magical journey to visit incredible factories, where machines come to life! Reach out to nearby factories, and see if they’ll show you around or offer tours. Meet the friendly workers who make machines and learn how they keep everything safe.
  • Awesome Engineering Challenges: Become a mini-mechanical engineer! Try building your own bridges, cars, or robots using toys and everyday items. Don’t forget your safety goggles – just like real engineers wear.
  • Mechanical Magic Show: Gather a collection of cool tools like rulers, tape measures, and even toy wrenches. Learn how they work and see if you can perform tricks with them. Turn everyday objects into mechanical wonders!
  • Mystery Machine Missions: Solve puzzles and go on adventures with your mechanical detective hat on. Look out for hidden problems in pictures or around your home, just like a mechanical superhero.
  • Read, Explore, Create: Dive into amazing books about machines and inventions. Afterward, get creative! Build your own crazy contraptions with cardboard, straws, and tape. Make sure they’re safe for your mini-mechanical heroes.

Throughout these activities, emphasize the importance of engineering principles and best practices in the field of mechanical engineering. By combining educational experiences with interactive projects, you can help those interested in mechanical engineering a develop a deep understanding of the field and its core principles.

STEM Activities

Other Activities

Coloring Pages

Word Searches

Mechanical Marvel Certificate

Do you have what it takes to be a Mechanical Marvel?

If you completed these activities and learned more about being a Mechanical Engineer, download a certificate and hang it proudly!

Download Certificate