Mariana Becomes a Butterfly Storybook

Overview

An avid gardener living in the sunny Dominican Republic, Mariana is stumped by a change in her new plant. The plant once grew delicious berries, but now Mariana can’t seem to get any more berries to grow. With the help of Mariana’s Tía (Auntie) Leti, an agricultural engineer, Mariana soon discovers the problem: her plant is not well-matched to its new surroundings and lacks a pollinator. How will Mariana solve this difficulty? 

With Tía Leti helping her explore the challenges of maintaining balance in natural systems, as well as introducing her to the engineering design process, Mariana soon discovers the sweet rewards of agricultural engineering. 

Readers are encouraged to design and improve their own hand pollinators. With some creativity and knowledge of the engineering design process, everyone can engineer! 

Engineering Field: Agricultural Engineering

Science Field: Earth & Space Sciences

Setting: Dominican Republic

The Try-It! Kit includes everything one student needs to complete the challenge and practice thinking like an engineer. 

Try It! Kits

Let students get hands-on with STEM and engineering, even in a virtual learning environment.

Try It! Kits enhance your Engineering is Elementary storybooks with engaging hands-on learning. Designed to be used in conjunction with the storybooks, the Try It! Kits can also be used as a standalone STEM activity.

Each Engineering is Elementary Try It! Kit includes all of the materials a student needs to complete the mini-design challenge, with instructions in English and Spanish.

Build STEM literacy and engage learners in real-world challenges.