Grade Level: K-3rdSuggested Time: 60-90 minutesOverviewAfter watching a scene from the 1966 movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," students will use skills in engineering and measurement to "Grinch-proof" dollhouses with an array of materials. The students who design the most successful "Grinch-proof" trap will win a prize of candy canes!VocabularyDesignAnalyzeMeasureRulerForceObjectivesStudents will experiment with the strength of various materials.Students will consider various forces when designing structures.Students will learn how to plan a design.Students will work together to create a machine or that protects or catches a certain item.Students will use measurement tools to create appropriate-sized machines or traps.Students will observe the end result of their machines or traps to determine the functionality of itStudents will analyze ways to improve their machines or traps.Next Generation Science Standards2-PS1-2 Matter and Its InteractionsAnalyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.*K-2-ETS1-1 Engineering DesignAsk questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.K-2-ETS1-2 Engineering DesignDevelop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.3-5-ETS1-1 Engineering DesignDefine a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.3-5-ETS1-3 Engineering DesignPlan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved