Design thinking

The design thinking process forms the foundation for all projects that we do in the classroom. Finding ways to solve complex problems and creative challenges is an amazing way to meet outcomes across the subject areas. Here are a few of the projects that I have designed for students in my classroom that feature the use of the design thinking process for long term projects.

Sub irrigation planters

In this project, students were learning about ways that we can use water more efficiently in gardens. Students designed and built subirrigation planters to reduce evaporation and watering in our school garden.

Working together and learning new tools

A work in progress

Measure twice...

Testing our prototype

Inside bottom of the planter

Filling them up!

Students presenting work at the Mayor's Expo

APEGA GRANT - 2023

Giving Back to the Land: A project of reciprocity

In this project, students were challenged to design an automated irrigation system. Students in grade 5/4 used micro:bits to code a timed system that watered plants at a time determined by the students. Students in grade 6 designed and built powered fans to enhance the growing environment of the seedlings.

Attaching fans and working together

Determining volume

Testing, testing and retesting

Debugging code

AI enabled Ice cream trucks

In this project, students designed ice cream trucks that represented either a geographical region of Alberta or Canada. They then used the things they were learning in science to motorize the trucks. Using micro:bits, students then coded the trucks to play music and use AI to recognize the area of the province or country in which their were "authorized" to run (matching the geographical region they chose).

Learning about and programming AI

Creating circuits

Experimenting with materials

Page updated

Report abuse