No Prep Sub Plans: Extreme Jobs — Deep Sea Diver STEM DESIGN SERIES (5th-8th)

No Prep Sub Plans: Extreme Jobs — Deep Sea Diver STEM DESIGN SERIES Research + STEM Design Challenge
Take students beneath the ocean’s surface as they explore one of the world’s most dangerous and fascinating careers: Deep Sea Diving! In this engaging STEM Design Challenge, students investigate the science behind deep sea exploration while designing, building, testing, and improving their own waterproof “Recovery Pod.”
Students will research real-world deep sea diving challenges such as water pressure, decompression sickness, underwater recovery missions, and specialized breathing systems before applying engineering and design thinking skills to create a functional prototype.

Perfect for:
- STEM Classes
- Science Enrichment
- Engineering Challenges
- Career Exploration
- Emergency Sub Plans
- Fast Finishers
- Makerspace Activities
- Collaborative Learning

This flexible challenge can be completed in 1–3 class periods depending on the depth of research, testing, and redesign you choose to include.

What’s Included
✔ Teacher Directions
✔ Materials List
✔ Suggested Scheduling Options (1–3 class periods)
✔ Online Research Resources Page
✔ 2-Page Student Planner (Color Version)
✔ 2-Page Student Planner (Black & White Version)
✔ Research Questions
✔ Engineering Design Planning Sheets
✔ Prototype Sketch Space
✔ Testing & Improvement Tracking
✔ Final Reflection Questions
✔ STEM Design Process Integration

Students Will:
- Research the science of deep sea diving
- Learn about pressure, decompression, and underwater engineering
- Design a waterproof recovery device
- Test and improve prototypes
- Apply real-world STEM problem-solving skills
- Practice collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity

STEM Challenge
Students must design and test a waterproof “Recovery Pod” capable of protecting fragile cargo underwater for at least 60 seconds.

Prep Level
Light Setup Required

Materials Needed
Most materials are inexpensive classroom or household supplies such as:
- Plastic containers
- Tape
- Plastic wrap
- Rubber bands
- Modeling clay
- Foil
- Paper towels
- Small weights
- Water tubs or sinks

Why Teachers Love It
This resource combines high-interest career exploration with hands-on STEM learning in a structured, classroom-friendly format. Students stay highly engaged while practicing the engineering design cycle through testing, failure, redesign, and improvement.