GoalChoose a problem for the future, brainstorm with a team, improve a model using feedback, and name the working parts of the final design.
New words
future · the time that has not come yetbrainstorm · to think of many ideas quickly, without saying any is wrongdesign · a plan for how something looks and worksworking part · a part of a design that does a job
Explanation
The year 2040 has not come yet, so we use our imagination, but our ideas still need to make sense. Start with a problem, for example rubbish floating on the river, people waiting a long time for buses, or farms that need more water. Write the problem in the middle of a page. Then brainstorm: write many ideas, and at this stage no idea is wrong. With your team, choose one idea and answer three questions: What is the problem? What is the solution? How will it help connect people? Then draw a plan and build a model from card and recycled things. Show your model to another team. They tell you what works and what to improve. Make the changes, then draw the final design. Label every working part and say what its job is, and give your design a name. For example, the Nile Cleaner is a boat that cleans the river. Its net catches floating rubbish, a belt lifts the rubbish into a bin, and a solar panel makes power from sunlight, so the boat uses no fuel.
The working parts of the Nile Cleaner and their jobs.
Question
Answer
What is the problem?
People do not know when the bus will come.
What is the solution?
A sign that shows how many minutes until the bus arrives.
How does it connect people?
People plan their trips and meet friends on time.
Three questions for another idea, the Talking Bus Stop.
Rubbish collected. The Nile Cleaner makes 4 trips a day and collects 6 bags on each trip. 4 × 6 = 24 bags a day.
Class activity
Invent for 2040. Work in a team of three or four. Choose a problem that people might still have in 2040 and write it in the middle of a page. Brainstorm eight ideas. Choose one and answer the three questions. Draw a plan and build a model from card, tape, string and recycled things. A grown-up does the cutting. Show it to another team. Write their feedback in two columns, Notes (what works well) and Improvement (what to change). Make the changes. Then draw your final design, label every working part with its job, and give your design a name. Do not build anything that uses mains electricity.
Practice
1
What is the first step when we invent for 2040?
Choose a problem.
2
What does brainstorm mean?
To think of many ideas quickly, without saying that any idea is wrong.
3
In the design of a bus-stop sign, what job does the solar panel do?
Part
Job
screen
shows the minutes
lamp
gives light at night
solar panel
?
It makes power from sunlight.
4
A boat collects 5 bags on each trip and makes 6 trips. How many bags is that?
