Maine STEM standards: hands-on mechanical engineering activities

Maine Standards Mapping

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address selected Maine Science, Technology and Engineering Standards and Mathematics Learning Results through hands-on mechanical construction.

Alignment reviewed October 2026.

Executive summary

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address Maine academic standards by giving learners physical systems they can construct, observe and explain. Learners can compare how pushes and pulls affect motion (K-PS2-1), investigate balanced and unbalanced forces in a working mechanism (3-PS2-1), and observe recurring motion patterns that support prediction (3-PS2-2). They also transform flat printed components into three-dimensional structures (K.G.A.3) and compose individual forms into larger shapes (1.G.2). The completed toy provides visible, hands-on evidence for classroom discussion of force, motion, geometry, spatial reasoning and mechanical systems. Toyineer projects are hands-on engineering activities that teach mechanics, geometry, spatial reasoning and technical problem solving through the construction of working mechanical toys. Video instruction and clear assembly guides support independent and classroom use while keeping educator preparation minimal.

Standards and evidence.

These alignments use only the ordinary Toyineer construction process. They do not depend on a separate extension activity.

I. Maine Science, Technology and Engineering Standards: Forces and Motion

KindergartenK-PS2-1

Compare how different strengths or directions of pushes and pulls affect an object's motion.

During ordinary assembly and testing, learners push and pull moving components and can compare how changes in direction or relative effort affect the resulting motion.

Grade 33-PS2-1

Investigate how balanced and unbalanced forces affect an object's motion.

Toyineer mechanisms make balanced and unbalanced forces visible. Learners can observe a mechanism at rest, apply force, and explain how the resulting net force changes motion.

Grade 33-PS2-2

Use observations or measurements of motion as evidence that a recurring pattern can be used to predict future motion.

Many Toyineer components follow repeatable paths. Learners can observe one cycle and predict where or in which direction the mechanism will move next.

II. Maine Learning Results: Mathematics — Geometric Reasoning

KindergartenK.G.A.3

Identify shapes as two-dimensional (flat) or three-dimensional (solid).

Toyineer begins with flat printed components and turns them into three-dimensional structures, giving educators a direct physical example of the relationship between 2-D and 3-D form.

Grade 11.G.2

Compose simple two-dimensional shapes to form larger composite shapes.

Blueprint parts are built from simple geometric forms and are combined during assembly into larger structures, giving educators a concrete context for composition of shapes.

Official standards sources: Maine Science, Technology and Engineering Standards and Maine Mathematics Standards.

Hands-on evidence for standards-aligned learning.

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address these standards. Students also gain skill in their use of tools and appreciate the importance of accuracy in engineering.

All standards pages