How I Use Annual Events to Promote Design Thinking
2020 was a sad year for the grade 5s. It was their last year of elementary and all the usual year end fun was not allowed due to Covid-19. I took this as an opportunity to introduce an event that I have been wanting to do for quite a while, a Pine Car Derby. Pine cars (or KubKars) are small wooden cars that kids and their parents design and build. Then we race them down a track in an excitement filled, head to head, series of races. Kids got kits to make the cars with. We modeled the design process, did some mini projects, and then they took them home to make their cars. On race day the grade 4 kids watched, creating buzz. Already this year, the new 5s are asking about the cars. It creates a model to hang the design thinking framework on for projects all year.
Of course I do a lot of work around design thinking, but I find a big annual event is a great way to get lots of kids excited about ADST.
Our school also does the Young Entrepreneur Show each year. (https://www.powerplay4success.com/). This event is tailor made to promote and teach design thinking from a business perspective.
If you want to promote design thinking in your school, maybe an annual event is a good way to do it.
http://wiki.scouts.ca/en/Kub_Kars
https://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/introducing-design-thinking-to-elementary-learners/
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