High School Grade  Project 5 weeks

Stack 'n' Stash: The Convertible Shelf!

Andres M
Updated
Collaboration
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Content Expertise
Effective Communication
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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to enable you to design and build a versatile, portable bookshelf that meets practical needs and aesthetic values. Throughout this process, you will collaborate with peers, engage in critical problem-solving, and develop content expertise in woodworking and design. You will gain hands-on experience and deepen your learning by actively participating in the entire creation process, from conception to a public exhibition. This project aims to enhance your skills in communication, creativity, and independence, reflecting your personal growth and readiness for future challenges.

Learning goals

Develop hands-on skills by constructing a modular bookshelf with detachable platforms using relevant building techniques and materials like plywood. Enhance your critical thinking by exploring inventive solutions to design challenges focusing on aesthetics, durability, and practicality. Strengthen communication by collaborating with peers and mentors, such as Mr. Wyatt, for constructive feedback and shared decision-making in the design process. Gain content expertise through applying 3D printing knowledge and furniture-making principles to create a functional shelving unit for various everyday uses. Reflect on personal growth by participating in an Interactive Build-a-Shelf Workshop and presenting your project to assess its practicality and effectiveness.

Competencies
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.

Products

Throughout the project, create detailed sketches and blueprints of your shelf design, incorporating peer and mentor feedback for improvement. By the end, construct a fully functional prototype of your modular shelf, showcasing its portability and aesthetic appeal. Additionally, prepare a reflective presentation on the design and building process, highlighting key learning experiences and the shelf's practical applications.

Launch

Kick off your project with a hands-on workshop led by Mr. Wyatt, where you and your peers will explore basic woodworking techniques and tools. Collaborate to brainstorm and sketch initial designs for your modular bookshelf, discussing various approaches that prioritize functionality, aesthetics, and practicality. Use this session to generate ideas, consider initial challenges, and establish design goals as a team, setting the groundwork for your project journey.

Exhibition

Organize an 'Interactive Build-a-Shelf Workshop' where you, along with peers, demonstrate and guide attendees through the assembly and disassembly of your modular bookshelf. Encourage participants to test out different configurations to see the shelf's versatility in accommodating various items. Share your design journey, highlighting critical problem-solving moments, and engage in discussions about potential improvements and new use cases drawn from audience feedback.