Saskatchewan STEM standards: hands-on mechanical engineering activities

Saskatchewan Standards Mapping

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address selected Saskatchewan Science and Mathematics outcomes through hands-on mechanical construction.

Alignment reviewed October 2026.

Executive summary

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address Saskatchewan curriculum outcomes by giving learners structures and mechanisms they can physically construct, examine and explain. Grade 3 Science provides especially strong connections through investigating material properties and methods of joinery used in structures (SM3.1) and assessing the function and characteristics of strong, stable and balanced human-built structures (SM3.2). In Mathematics, learners build and describe three-dimensional objects (SSK.3), replicate composite 2-D shapes and 3-D objects (SS1.3), compare 2-D shapes to parts of 3-D objects (SS1.4), and demonstrate the relationship between 2-D shapes and 3-D objects (SS2.5). The completed toy provides visible, hands-on evidence for classroom discussion of materials, joining methods, structural function, geometry, spatial reasoning and safe making. 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. Saskatchewan Science 3: Structures and Materials

Grade 3SM3.1

Investigate properties of materials and methods of joinery used in structures.

Toyineer learners encounter carton board as a structural material and use multiple joining methods—including folds, glued joints, clips, flanges, lamination and reinforcement. The curriculum outcome also explicitly includes safe use of tools such as glue and scissors while assembling materials.

Grade 3SM3.2

Assess the function and characteristics of strong, stable, and balanced natural and human-built structures.

A Toyineer toy is a human-built structure whose function depends on strength, stability and controlled movement. Learners can examine how folded forms, reinforcement, component geometry and connections support the completed mechanism.

II. Saskatchewan Mathematics: Shape and Space

KindergartenSSK.3

Build and describe three-dimensional objects.

The Toyineer build turns flat printed components into three-dimensional structures that learners physically construct and can describe.

Grade 1SS1.3

Replicate composite two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects.

Learners reproduce a designed three-dimensional mechanical object by following printed component shapes and an assembly model.

Grade 1SS1.4

Compare two-dimensional shapes to parts of three-dimensional objects in the environment.

Faces and profiles that begin as flat printed shapes remain visible in the completed toy, allowing learners to connect two-dimensional forms with parts of a three-dimensional object.

Grade 2SS2.5

Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects.

Toyineer makes that relationship concrete: two-dimensional printed parts are folded, joined and combined to create a complete three-dimensional mechanical object.

Official standards sources: Saskatchewan Curriculum — Science 3, Saskatchewan Curriculum — Mathematics K, Saskatchewan Curriculum — Mathematics 1 and Saskatchewan Curriculum — Mathematics 2.

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