Virginia STEM standards: hands-on mechanical engineering activities

Virginia Standards Mapping

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address selected Virginia Science and Mathematics Standards of Learning through hands-on mechanical construction.

Alignment reviewed October 2026.

Executive summary

Teachers can use Toyineer projects to address Virginia academic standards by giving learners physical mechanisms they can construct, observe and explain. Kindergarten learners can observe how pushes and pulls affect motion (K.2), Grade 1 learners can identify straight, circular and back-and-forth motion (1.2a), and Grade 2 learners can investigate how direct-contact forces cause objects to move (2.2a). Virginia Mathematics adds strong spatial connections through comparing plane and solid figures (2.MG.4) and comparing two-dimensional and three-dimensional figures by angles, vertices, edges and faces (4.MG.6). 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. 2018 Virginia Science Standards of Learning: Force and Motion

KindergartenK.2

Investigate and understand that pushes and pulls affect the motion of objects, including changes in movement, direction and the effect of force strength.

Every Toyineer mechanism responds to a learner's push or pull. The ordinary build makes starting, stopping, changing direction and relative input strength directly observable.

Grade 11.2(a)

Investigate and understand that objects may have straight, circular, spinning and back-and-forth motions.

Toyineer mechanisms visibly combine linear, pivoting, rotating and back-and-forth movement, giving learners concrete examples they can observe and compare.

Grade 22.2(a)

Investigate and understand that forces from direct contact can cause an object to move.

Toyineer is a direct-contact mechanical system. Learners push or pull an input component and can trace how contact forces move connected parts through the mechanism.

II. 2023 Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning: Measurement and Geometry

Grade 22.MG.4

Describe, name, compare, and contrast plane and solid figures, including circles and spheres, squares and cubes, and rectangles and rectangular prisms.

Toyineer places flat printed shapes beside assembled solid components, giving educators a direct physical context for comparing plane figures with three-dimensional objects.

Grade 44.MG.6

Identify, describe, compare, and contrast plane and solid figures according to characteristics including angles, vertices, edges, and the number and shape of faces.

Blueprint parts and completed Toyineer structures provide tangible examples of angles, vertices, edges and faces that learners can identify and compare during normal construction.

Official standards sources: Virginia Science Standards of Learning and 2023 Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning.

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