High Tech Elementary, Chula Vista
Design Learning Experience: Life Cycle of Objects
Curriculum Designer & Facilitator · 2022
How might we design and deliver an interactive and engaging teaching activity for fourth graders at High Tech Elementary in Chula Vista to help them understand the life cycle of objects?
Stakeholder Interview
After talking to Samantha, who is the teacher for fourth graders, we understand our objectives for teaching are to help kids learn:
- Process of making clothes
- “What does throw away mean”
- Value of objects
On-Site Visit
We visited the school and learned about the environment and contexts of teaching. Through interacting with the students, we get to know their educational background and have a better sense of who we are designing for (as all of us are already too far from a fourth-grader).
The Activity
We developed a series of collaborative and hands-on activities to recreate the process of a life cycle.
01.Material Extraction
Each kid took three prepared strips of fabrics.
02.Manufacturing
We pre-made cardboard looms for students to learn how to weave with their strips.
03.Shipping
I prepared the country/address labels so students will deliver their fabrics to their designated country.
04.Use
Kids can decide how they are using their creations (as shown, she will use it as the bowtie for her pet!).
Stakeholder Feedback
“I feel that the thought and care that went into this work was very evident to me. You were prepared, had a clear lesson plan in how you wanted to impart the information and structure for the kids to feel engaged and participate. It felt very natural and the learning objectives were met in a very accessible way.”
— Samantha, our stakeholder