Make a Bugatti inspired chicken coop

In this fun activity, learners will discover how egg shapes were used in Bugatti designs and use that idea to sketch their own chicken coop. It’s a great way to learn about design, nature, and how engineers solve real problems.

Activity:

Learners will start by finding out why chicken coops are important and how they are built to keep chickens safe and comfortable. Then, they’ll draw and label their own chicken coop design, making sure it includes everything chickens need—like space, food, water, and a place to lay eggs. To make it extra special, they’ll add at least one design feature inspired by Bugatti, such as using smooth egg shapes or stylish patterns from Bugatti cars.

Tools/supplies needed: 

• Pens, pencils, coloured pencils
• A3 or A4 paper

Follow our step-by-step guide to building the chicken coop:

Step 1: Meet Bugatti 

Learn about Ettore Bugatti, a famous car designer and engineer. Talk about the cool cars he made and why people still admire his work today.

Step 2: Look at Egg Shapes 

Find out how Carlo Bugatti, Ettore’s father, used egg shapes in his designs. See how these shapes were used in Bugatti car parts like radiators. Use pictures to help spark ideas.

Step 3: Understand the Task

Your challenge is to design a chicken coop for up to four chickens. It should include:

• Room for four chickens
• Safety features to keep out animals like foxes
• Food and water access
• A place for chickens to lay eggs
• One design feature inspired by Bugatti (like an egg shape or stylish detail)

Step 4: Draw Your Design 

Sketch your chicken coop and label the parts. Be creative and try to include something inspired by Bugatti’s style.

Step 5: Check and Improve

Look at your design and see if it meets all the goals. Swap with a partner and give each other tips to make your ideas even better.

Engineering Context:

Engineers often get ideas from nature. Egg shapes are strong and look nice, which is why designers like Bugatti used them. In this activity, you’ll learn how old designs can help us make new things, and how to follow a plan to solve real problems.

Suggested Learning Outcomes:

In this activity, learners will discover why egg shapes are used in design and how they can make structures strong and stylish. They’ll learn what chicken coops are for and how they help keep chickens safe and healthy. Using a design brief, learners will plan their own chicken coop, draw it, and label the important parts. They’ll also think about how to make their design better after getting feedback from others.

Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources

All classroom activity sheets and supporting teaching resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

You can download our step-by-step instructions below as a classroom lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation.

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