Design Squad Season 1 Episode 11 Blowin' In the Wind

In Design Squad's Season 1 episode 11 titled "Blowin' In the Wind," the six young engineers are tasked with designing and building a wind-powered machine. The team is competing against each other, and they have three days to complete the project.

The episode starts with the contestants meeting their challenge advisor, Anthony, an engineer who works for a wind turbine company. Anthony explains how wind turbines work and the importance of renewable energy. He then gives the contestants their challenge, asking them to design and build a simple wind-powered machine that can lift a small object off the ground.

The contestants are given a kit of materials, including wood, PVC pipes, sails, and motors. The contestants must use their creativity, resourcefulness, and engineering skills to come up with a unique design that can harness the power of wind to lift the object.

The first stage of the challenge is the brainstorming phase, where the contestants sketch out their ideas and discuss them with their teammates. Each contestant presents their idea to the group, and they work together to refine their concepts.

After the brainstorming phase, the contestants move on to the prototyping stage. They begin building their wind-powered machines, cutting and drilling the wood and PVC pipes, and assembling the sails and motors.

The prototyping phase is full of challenges, with some contestants struggling to get their designs to work and others hitting unexpected roadblocks. The contestants must overcome these challenges by working together and coming up with creative solutions.

Once the prototypes are built, the contestants move on to the testing phase. They take their wind-powered machines outside to see how they perform in a real-world environment. Some machines perform better than others, and the contestants must adjust their designs accordingly.

The final stage of the challenge is the competition, where each contestant presents their wind-powered machine to the judges. The judges evaluate the machines based on their efficiency, creativity, and overall design. The contestants are nervous as they wait for the judges' verdict.

In the end, the judges announce the winner of the challenge, who receives a prize and the satisfaction of knowing they built the best wind-powered machine. The episode concludes with the contestants reflecting on what they learned during the challenge, including the importance of renewable energy and the value of teamwork and creativity in engineering.

Overall, "Blowin' In the Wind" is a fun and engaging episode of Design Squad that teaches kids about renewable energy and engineering while also highlighting the importance of creativity and collaboration.