Headed up to the east side of Indianapolis to work with four 4th grade classrooms. They had some recent discussions about inventions, so we thought students could design and prototype an invention of their own (in groups of 2 or 3, though a few wanted to work alone).
They mad drawings, then got some cardboard and other stuff (pipe cleaners, yarn, buttons, pom poms, straws, colored foam, craft sticks, skewers) and did some building (we had hot glue guns)
As with anyone new to designing, many had difficulty deciding what to make. Also, new tools are fun to explore (various cardboard cutters, geometry compasses), and some spent more time with the tools than with building.
We had a variety of ideas : car design, teddy bear, vending machine, house on wheels, dragon toy, toy for cat, basketball shoe, storage box, computer case…
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