Growing the Global Cardboard Challenge Project

Our team continues to develop the Global Cardboard Challenge Project. We added more time to teamwork teaching and activities before the project began this year. We collected a lot more supplies upfront and we chose to do the project outside. I also taught scissor safety and ordered special safety box cutters for the project.

It was definitely good to teach teamwork ahead of the project. It was also great to teach scissor safety, collect lots of supplies, and work on the project outside. The box cutters were okay, but I didn't order enough and they weren't quite as strong and flexible as we needed. I ordered more paint and brushes, but not enough. Fortunately the kindergarten teacher next door gave us some. Next year I want to give a painting lesson prior to the project too. It was clear that it had been some time since many students had painted, and many forgot about good painting protocols in order to not waste paint or ruin brushes. Many students heeded the message to wear old clothes, but some didn't so next year we have to be more explicit about that too.

All in all it was a great day of building and making. The high points were the words and expressions of enthusiasm that filled the day. It was great to see students invested in the activity throughout the day. Next week students will continue to work on their projects at home and during recess and free time. Then on Friday we'll invite the whole school to play the games during their lunch recesses.

While a bit more teamwork practice with smaller projects may have made some teams stronger, I really like starting the fifth grade year with this project as the project teaches the students a lot about each other and how to work together. Further the project truly solidifies the students, TeamFive, as a community of learners and creators. In my opinion, the project is a keeper.

Note:
We had some great supplies for the project this year including the following:

• Lots of boxes
• Paint and paintbrushes
• Duct Tape
• Box Cutters (not enough or the best kind)
• Plastic Sheets
• Fabric
• Sring
• Little balls (could have used more)
• Marbles
• Markers
• Scissors
• Recycled plastic bottles
• Plastic cups
• Odds and ends of recycled materials
• Colored paper

I want to collect more materials from families the first weeks of school next year as we prepare for the project. 

Global Cardboard Challenge: Blueprints and STEAM "Shopping"

A picture from last year's cardboard build day.

Tomorrow students will continue the ideation stage for the Global Cardboard Challenge. To do this they'll fill in The Design Process Chart and draw a large detailed picture of the arcade game they plan to build. I'll model the drawing to start the class.

As part of this drawing they'll list the kinds of supplies they need too. I'll have them put an * next to supplies from home, and an ! next to supplies from the classroom.

Before they do this, however, I'll give them a short introduction to the available STEAM supplies. In the past many months I've collected LOTS of cardboard and a variety of other items too.

While they plan and draw, I'll invite each team up to choose cardboard pieces and  fill a cardboard box with the supplies they plan to use. I'll ask them to write their names on the cardboard so people know it belongs to them. At the end of class, I'll ask them to gather their supplies and bring the supplies back to their homerooms

On Friday those supplies will give them a good start for their cardboard creations.

STEAM Teams: Introducing the Design Process

Last year's reflections about the Global Cardboard Challenge pointed to the fact that we had to utilize a more explicit team building and design thinking introduction and process before jumping into the Global Cardboard Challenge. We felt that laying a good teamwork and design process foundation would lead to greater satisfaction and successful inclusion with regard to the overall project.

With this in mind, students got together yesterday with their Global Cardboard Challenge STEAM teams--teams created with teacher and student choice and voice. We sang the Lego movie song and discussed whether "Everything is awesome and cool when you're working with a team." Students were quick to mention that teamwork can be difficult, and that's when we watched Kid President's latest video about how to disagree:

Today the class will focus on The Design Process. We'll discuss the fact that we'll employ The Design process as we work on the Global Cardboard Challenge. We'll talk about the word "process" and what it means. Then I'll note that many designers, inventors, scientists, artists, engineers, and others define the design process in somewhat different ways. I'll ask students to watch the video below and list the steps they hear as they watch:

Next, I'll tell students that we're adopting IDEO's design process illustrated below. And then we'll use that process to map out a Global Cardboard Challenge project together. Tomorrow groups will begin the project in earnest designing their individual team projects as we prepare for Friday's Team Build Day.