Prosthetic Leg Engineering Design STEM Challenge + Animal Prosthetic Activity

lesson overview

Prosthetic Design STEM Challenge

After learning the history and uses of prosthetic legs, students use the engineering design process to build a prosthetic leg that is interchangeable for multiple people. This design challenge is followed by a research extension to design a prosthetic leg for an animal.

Lesson Sequence:

1. Introduce real-world careers of biomedical engineers and show a video on fabricating a prosthetic leg

2. Read about the history of prosthetics

3. Learn important concepts related to prosthetics and complete an activity sheet

4. Complete the "Who needs a Prosthetic?" activity sheet

5. Complete the Prosthetic Leg design challenge in small groups

6. Research extension: research and design a prosthetic leg for an animal. Students will research the function and structure of the limbs of the animal chosen and then draw and label a design idea for a prosthetic.

Real-world STEM Connection:

• Biomedical Engineering

• Duck prosthetic leg

• History of prosthetics

• Real-world application of prosthetics for humans

As with many STEM activities, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities.

Included in this product:

• Detailed teachers guide with links to resources

• Editable teacher companion presentation slides

• Photos and videos of student examples

• Editable printed & digital student handouts to guide them through the design process

• Videos to motivate and support learning

• Editable Google Slides STEM journal for distance learning

• STEM Career Connections and real-world examples

• Science handouts

• Student recording sheet for each step of the process

Suggested Materials: Many different materials can be used for this challenge. Here are some suggestions that worked well for our students.

• Duct tape, masking tape & hot glue gun with glue sticks

• String, rope or twine

• Thick wooden dowels, 1 x 2 wood pieces, broomstick handles, cardboard tubes, plastic pipes

• Strong cardboard & regular cardboard

• Sponges, pool noodles, bubble wrap & old cloth pieces

• Velcro and brass fasteners

• Screwdriver (to punch holes in cardboard)

• Scissors or a small handheld saw

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Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide

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