Golden Hill K-8

Overview: Students will plan, sketch, prototype, test, and build a final product. Teams will design a tool to meet unique therapy needs, and receive multiple rounds of feedback before creating their final product of a tool to help children practice the fine motor skills related to getting dressed. 

Project Initiation: Students heard from our site's Occupational Therapist about her role at the school and the needs she has for new therapeutic tools to use with students.

Project Exploration and Development: Students first created scissor and pencil modification prototypes using criteria set by our client. Students tested these designs and revised, then presented their work. Students worked on sketching, measurement, and sewing skill building to utilize these skills for the project work. Students then transitioned into the next phase of the project, designing a wearable device to allow children to practice the fine motor skills of zipping/buttoning/fastening. Designs were brainstormed then shared with group. Groups chose team design using decision matrix, then developed sketches and prototypes. Prototypes were tested in early elementary classrooms, then revised and re-tested. Students created final designs and presented to the class and client. Students reflected on the process.

Project Revision and Exhibition: Students will track their work throughout the process following the main steps of the engineering design process. Students reflected at end of project about the challenges they faced and areas where their prototype needed to be troubleshooted and the steps they took to revise their work. Students also reflected on their creative thinking and collaboration skills through multiple checkpoints throughout the project.

Teachers and Subjects: Vanessa Joy - PLTW Makers