Projects
These are projects that have been done in the past for Design Tech, more so as a collection of awesomeness!
Wand Making to Practice Hot Glue Gun Creativity and Safety
Food Trucks
Using the PBL Unit from TPT, students created their own food truck concept, business plan, logo, design, menu, blueprint, and final 2-D and 3-D Food Truck. Throughout the project math concepts like area and perimeter were practiced, as well as perspective. We culminated with a Food Truck Rally, where students showcased their trucks and some even brought in food to share!
Phyiscal Computing
Students created projects that integrated devices that needed to be coded. Students created software for the Micro:bit, Circuit Playground Express, and The Brain Pad.
Music Coding
This student coded the music notes from, "My Heart Will Go On" to play on the ship that he built.
A Digital Spinner
These students created a spinner using the Circuit Playground Express.
Makey Makey
This student created a Makey Makey piano with simple circuits, as well as integrated the Micro:bit.
Minecraft Integration
Students that were interested in Minecraft integrated it several times during the semester. Here students created holiday scenes in Minecraft for their holiday project.
Students also integrated it into our Vans Checkerboard Challenge Day.
Vans Checkerboard Challenge
Students had to create a checkerboard project. The goal was to have it be able to move. We received a box full of goodies from Vans and the Imagination Foundation, including a lot of great Makedo sets for cardboard creativity!
Computer Science
Students engaged in several coding experiences, including getting to know the basics of Computational Thinking, learning skills from Code.org, coding apps on Bits Box, and physical computing on MakeCode.
Google Applied Digital Skills
Students completed 2 lessons in Google Applied Digital Skills. First, they created pixel art using conditional formatting in Google Sheets. Then they created an If/Then Choose Your Own Adventure Story using hyperlinks in Google Slides.
Students completed the 50 Stick Challenge during the Our Path remote learning.
Mini-Cardboard Challenge
Students were able to use a wide-variety of techniques and their inventiveness to create some pretty awesome designs!
Textiles/Sewing Challenge
Geodesic Domes
Students went through the process of following specific directions to create a geodesic dome using precise measurements. This was a difficult project, but students felt great pride when they were done.
Tinkercad
Students went through a variety of tutorials to create things on Tinkercad, which is a 3-D designing platform.
Animated Gifs Using Piskel
After having a strong sense of pixel art, students then transferred their knowledge and created their own animated pixel art using an app called Piskel! Students had to animate using at least 5 frames, but most created even more!
This is one of those animations that have a ton of frames!!! I love when students go over and beyond my expectations and take pride in their work!
Creating Rooms for Characters
Students used their creativity and use of transparent images to build a room for a character of their choice in Google Slides.
50 Stick Challenge
Students went through the Design Thinking Process/Enginerring Design Process to create a project using 50 popsicle sticks.
Operation Games
Students 3-D printed game pieces, created a board, and coded on Scratch to bring their own Operation game to life using a Makey Makey.
Historical Figure Treehouses
Students had a client of a historical character to create a treehouse for. They had to use an empathy map and create a blueprint before building their treehouse.
Constraints and Criterion
Treehouses had to be between 12-18 inches and no more than 8 inches wide. It also had to have at least 2 points of entry and exit from the ground. It needed to have interior elements including furniture, and it had to represent their historical person well. There also needed to be an element of decorative woodworking.
We Love Veterans Pin Contest
Tinkercad Unicorn Dudes
Having Fun with Tinkercad
Paper Roller Coasters
Groups of students needed to create thematic coasters that were over 4 feet tall that kept the marble in motion for at least 30 seconds. They also were challenged with working on large groups, something they don't get to experience quite often. We worked on developing soft-skills, in addition to the technical skills that were part of this project.
Table Top Putt Putt
Students worked in groups to design a 3-hole table-top putt putt course. They had many criteria to follow including a 3-D printed element, using exactly 50 popsicle sticks on one hold, elevated obstacles, the use of motors, tunnels, and more!
Students used the Design Thinking Process
Pop Art
Students used Google Drawings to create pop art from images they found! Here are some that were quite complex!
Bottle Rockets
Students in 7th and 8th grades created a bottle rocket that launched with the power of air and water! They soared into the air and went quite high...if they were engineered correctly! Students enjoyed decorating them too.
Design Tech Labs.mp4Lab Rotations
Students engaged in 3 different labs that focused on engineering. There was a paper engineering lab that focused on paper roller coasters, a cardboard engineering project that allowed students to learn about cardboard connections to create a spinning carnival ride, and then students were involved with physical computing and 3D printing by creating a mascot in Tinkercad and integrating the Micro:bit programmed with carnival music and lights.