Crandall - Socially Conscious Inventions

Essential Question: What can I do or build to improve my life or the lives of others? 

• I can identify the tools or resources needed to build/implement my idea. 
• I can modify and re-engineer my idea throughout the design process. 
• I can use multiple resources to research and answer my questions. 
• I can create a multimedia presentation to share my research and design with others

• SPI 0607.T/E.1 - Identify the tools and procedures needed to test the design features of a prototype. 
• GLE 0607.T/E.2 - Know that the engineering design process involves an ongoing series of events that incorporate design constraints, model building, testing, evaluating, modifying, and retesting. 
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7 - Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.5 - Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.

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Project Guide

Download a project guide here. 

Step 1: Introduction

Step 2: Research - What problem do I want to solve?

• Resources to get started: 
  • https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/teen-inventors/
  • https://www.dosomething.org/us
  • http://www.ysa.org/projects
  • http://www.oddee.com/item_99064.aspx
  • Read the news! www.nytimes.com

• Brainstorm 
  • What are you interested in? What are you passionate about?
  • What problems have you experienced in your daily life or observed in the community around you? 

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• Once you've decided: 
  • What do you already know about the topic?
  • What do you need to know? 
  • Research!

Step 3: Application
Brainstorm! Sketch and write your ideas on paper. Bounce ideas off of each other. What can you do? How will it work? What materials/resources will you need? 

Step 4: Implement/Building
Begin building your prototype. Make mistakes. Take it apart. Re-imagine your design. Build it again. 
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Step 5: Share/Document
Take pictures or make a video of your product. Make a multimedia project (iMovie, Prezi, PowerPoint, etc.) to provide an explanation for other students about how/why it works and walk them through the design process. Is there anyone else who would benefit from this? Who can we contact?