The next two pages will allow students to think about how they would change the build. On the first page, examples of enhancements (doubled lifts, cross-linkages, and different pivot points) are provided as introductions to how the Grabber could be structurally and functionally improved.
Making those improvements will require extra parts from the Super Kit. A list of parts for each design (Google / .docx / .pdf) is provided within the Appendix so that the additional parts can be assembled before beginning. Note: The Cross-support example is constructed with six 1x12 Beams but the Super Kit only includes four. One solution to this is to apply the same technique but with shorter beams (e.g., 1x8 Beams) which will not affect the design.

Allow students time to review the presented enhancements. If time allows, you could facilitate a class discussion of these different types of enhancements, which pieces from the kit are involved, and how these enhancements might be integrated into their Grabber builds.

The second page will ask them to design and plan their improved Grabber by independently answering questions and sketching in their engineering notebook.

The questions could be used as a summative assessment such as a homework assignment or a formative assessment by facilitating an in-class discussion and having the students reflect on the questions in their engineering notebook. Click this link (Google / .docx / .pdf) for the engineering notebook rubric and this link (Google / .docx / .pdf) for the collaboration rubric.

Of course, many of the students' ideas for changing the build are likely to be informed by the example enhancements and that is okay. This is a introduction to engineering and design. They should apply tested and recommended techniques like those in the examples to build experience in common solutions to structural problem solving. Success on this challenge should not depend on whether the students can be creative and/or innovative but instead focus on how well students are able to plan to make the changes to the build.

Students might be confused about what the "Parts added" and "Parts removed or replaced" sections are telling them for each change to the Grabber's build.

"Parts added" tells the students which additional parts they will need from the kit. These are in addition to the Parts Needed that were listed for the original build. So if they started with one of these parts included in the original Grabber build and here it also says they need one additional part, then they will need two to complete this build.

"Parts removed or replaced" tells the students that these parts are no longer included in this example build. They may have simply been removed because they didn't fit into this new design, or they may have been replaced by another part that made more sense for this design.

The Teacher Toolbox at the bottom of this page provides each new Grabber's parts list.