Grade 6 + 7 Design Thinking Challenge - 13 - 20 + 23 May 

Learning from Nature: Clifton’s Environmental Design Thinking Challenge

This term, the Grade 6 and 7 children took part in a two-and-a-half-day Design Thinking Challenge rooted in real-world environmental issues observed across the Clifton campus. The challenge followed the LAUNCH Design Thinking cycle, a structured and creative process where children explored, questioned, researched, designed, and presented nature-inspired solutions to real problems.

The journey began with a “Look, Listen, and Learn” walk led by Mr Fleischack. During this exploratory session, children visited key areas around the school—including the bike path, the stream near Greene Ellis field, the Big Hole, the edge of Davies field, compost heaps, building walls and roofs, and the car park. They documented concerns such as soil erosion, alien plant invasion, sewage disposal, damaged streams, and cold or hot buildings. They also noted sustainability opportunities like rainwater harvesting, indigenous tree planting, recycling systems, and leaf-covered forest floors.

Following this, Mr Venter, Mr Mortimer and Mr Veenstra guided the children through the full LAUNCH cycle. Teams selected one problem to solve—from erosion to sewage—and then entered the “Ask Tons of Questions” phase, brainstorming as many deep and curious questions as possible. Using these, they moved into the “Understand the Problem” phase, where children explored biological strategies like how fallen trees stabilise and enrich soil, or how aquatic ecosystems purify water.

In the “Navigate Ideas” phase, each group sketched and refined their concepts, planning nature-inspired solutions to issues they had observed first-hand. From there, they built creative prototypes using recycled materials and natural objects, labelling parts and linking design elements to real-world biological functions—for example, foil to represent water pipes or sticks to represent trees.

Once built, teams received peer feedback using the “Two Stars and a Wish” method, prompting thoughtful refinements before the final “Launch” presentations. Each group shared their problem, their inspiration from nature, and the function and construction of their prototype.

The challenge captured the spirit of inquiry and innovation we strive for at Clifton. Grounded in real problems and inspired by nature’s own solutions, the children’s work showed how observation, curiosity, and collaboration can lead to purposeful learning and meaningful change—right here on our own campus.