1-Pager
Back to Plan
Deliverable

Brainstorm Clean-Up Concepts

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving HS-LS2-7 Product Submission Required

In small groups, students rapidly generate multiple inclusive clean-up kit concepts, grounded in direct input from community partners. They collect empathy artifacts (stakeholder maps, quick interviews, and observed needs), create concept sketches or storyboards for 4–6 ideas, and fill a feasibility/impact matrix to compare potential benefits and constraints. Each group selects their Top 3 concepts with clear rationale and iterates the concepts based on partner feedback gathered during a brief testing session. Deliverables will include empathy artifacts, brainstorm documentation (quantity over quality), concept sketches/storyboards, feasibility/impact matrix, and Top 3 concepts with rationale, all reflecting social inequality insights and user-centered design.

Plan day
Day 21
Duration
90 min
Grouping
Small Group
Steps
8 steps

Lesson plan

8 steps · 90 min
# What teachers do
1 Introduction and framing of the clean-up concept brainstorming session. Discuss essential question and goals (10 min)
2 Team formation and distribution of brainstorming materials. Assign roles within teams (5 min)
3 Individual quiet brainstorming to generate initial ideas. Capture thoughts on paper or digital notes (10 min)
4 Group sharing of ideas and rapid generation of concept sketches/storyboards (15 min)
5 Development of stakeholder maps and empathy artifacts through quick interviews and observations about social inequality and environmental challenges (15 min)
6 Create and fill a feasibility/impact matrix to evaluate potential benefits and constraints of each concept (10 min)
7 Discussion and selection of Top 3 concepts based on matrices and rationale. Prepare for brief testing session (10 min)
8 Gather feedback from brief testing session with community partners and refine concepts (5 min)
Preparation (4 items)
  • Arrange materials needed for brainstorming, including paper, markers, digital devices, and templates for sketches/storyboards and matrices.
  • Coordinate with community partners to arrange availability for feedback session.
  • Prepare instructions and role descriptions for team activities.
  • Ensure students have access to previous sessions' documentation on social inequality and environmental policy as reference.
Student-facing instructions
You will collaboratively generate multiple clean-up kit concepts in small groups, beginning with individual idea generation and progressing to inclusive brainstorming. Create sketches or storyboards for 4-6 ideas, identify potential benefits and constraints using a feasibility/impact matrix, and select your Top 3 concepts based on rationale. Use stakeholder maps and empathy artifacts to incorporate social inequality insights during concept development.