Activity Idea: How to design Crazy

I am finding that my family, and some others I’ve heard from, are cycling through a range of emotions during our time at home, some calm and some… not so calm.  In our house, we have recently returned to the nutso-bonkers stage.  So how do we use this to our benefit?  Let’s design Crazy!

How to Start: How do you design Crazy, you ask?  I have no idea.  But it sounds like a fun experiment to me!  Start by thinking about what Crazy would look like to you.  Use your senses to figure out how it would look, feel, sound, etc.   Then brainstorm ideas, make a design, and determine what materials you would need to build your Crazy. 

What to do next: Go ahead and make it!  If you don’t have the materials, make a model and include a description of what you need to complete your Crazy.  Then, ask relatives to join in.  Set a date to share pictures or hold a video conference to present and compare your Crazy’s.

Expand it: How can you bring in other content areas?

This is the fun part.  You can use ANY content area you want.  Reach for the stars and design something outrageous. 

• Science: One definition of science from Merriam-Webster is: “an area of study that deals with the natural world (as biology or physics).”  How would this apply to your Crazy?
• Technology: What technology will you use to build your Crazy?  What technology is part of your Crazy? 
• Engineering: What do you need to build your Crazy?
• Arts: How are you designing your Crazy? What materials are you using?
• Math: Did you include patterns in your design?  What are they?

STEAM Resources:

• PBS Kids explanation of the design process: http://www-tc.pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/DS_TG_DesignProcess.pdf
• No sure about the design process?  Check out this parents’ guide from The Tech Interactive: https://www.thetech.org/sites/default/files/ttiah-parentguide.pdf
• A YouTube video on the principles of design in art: https://kidcourses.com/
• Linking Math with Art Through the Elements of Design: http://www.share2learn.com/asilomar07packet.pdf

-Peace