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2nd Grade  Project 5 weeks

Inventive Minds: Empowering Solutions for All!

Sarah F
Feb 17, 2026
Updated Feb 18, 2026
K-2-ETS1-1
K-2-ETS1-2
K-2-ETS1-3
2-PS1-2
Collaboration
+ 2 more
1-pager

The Challenge

Disability justice acknowledges systemic barriers that restrict individuals with disabilities from fully participating in society. Thoughtful engineering design can address these barriers, enabling more inclusive and equitable access for all individuals.

Challenge Question

How can we design and construct innovative devices that help remove barriers for people with disabilities, enabling them to accomplish their goals and contribute meaningfully to our community?

Standards
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] K-2-ETS1-1 - Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] K-2-ETS1-2 - Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] K-2-ETS1-3 - Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] 2-PS1-2 - Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.
Competencies
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • 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.
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.

Learning Partners and Clients

Partner with ADAPT in New York City, a prominent disability service organization known for advocating accessibility and rights for people with disabilities. Their insights into real-world barriers will significantly inform the project. Through direct interaction, students have the opportunity to form personal connections with clients, enabling them to gather authentic information and ensure their inventions effectively meet real needs.

Phase Outcomes

Phase Learning Outcome
Discover
I can learn about the diverse ways people move and communicate, exploring how thoughtful designs can improve accessibility and understanding the importance of creating welcoming environments.
Examine
I can investigate various assistive technologies and how they function, analyzing their design features to inspire solutions for our clients' challenges.
Engineer
I can develop and construct inventive prototypes that address the challenges faced by our clients, focusing on creating meaningful solutions through collaborative and iterative design processes.
Do
I can test my prototypes with real clients, carefully collecting data and feedback to refine the effectiveness of my solutions in addressing identified needs.
Share
I can share my invention and personal growth journey with an authentic audience, highlighting the impact of my work on real-world challenges and reflecting on my learning experiences.
Plan
By Phase By Day Calendar
Discover Examine Engineer Do Share
Discover
Students will explore and identify community issues by listening to experiences shared by individuals with disabilities, observing real-life barriers, and discussing potential opportunities for innovative solutions.
Days 1 - 3
Discover Disability-Inclusive Design for Everyone
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
End User Overview
Deliverable
Challenge Definition
Deliverable
Inquiry Questions
Deliverable
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Examine
Students will investigate assistive technologies by analyzing existing examples, create detailed diagrams for their solutions, experiment with material properties for their devices, and iterate on designs with peer and client feedback over the course of five days.
Days 4 - 11
40 min over capacity (240 min available across 8 days)
Identify Client Needs through Observation
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Prototype Two Device Concepts and Test
Project Work 60m
Labeled Diagram (15 min)
Deliverable 15m
Plan Client Testing Protocol with Clients
Project Work 45m
Materials Analysis (20 min)
Deliverable 20m
Test Two Prototypes with Clients
Project Work 45m
Material Trials to Choose Prototype Materials
Project Work 50m
Solution Proposal
Deliverable
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Engineer
Students will collaboratively create detailed plans and construct two different prototypes of assistive devices, using their experiments on materials to inform their designs and preparing to have these tested by clients.
Days 12 - 17
30 min over capacity (180 min available across 6 days)
Hypothesis
Deliverable
Creation Plan
Deliverable
Understanding Accessibility Needs and Sketching
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Prototype Two Different Design Variations
Project Work 60m
Materials Properties and Selection Criteria
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Client Feedback and Patent Planning
Project Work 60m
Solution Development Report
Deliverable
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Do
Students will test their assistive device prototypes with community clients, gather feedback, and analyze data to refine their designs and update their patent applications.
Days 18 - 21
Implementation and Data Collection Plan
Deliverable
Plan Client Testing Protocols With Clients
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Conduct Dual Prototype Testing with Clients
Project Work 45m
Implementation Results
Deliverable
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Share
Students will present their final prototypes and patent applications to community members, explaining how their designs address specific client needs, documenting their process and impact, and sharing their inventions with the clients to keep, culminating in a celebration of their learning and collaboration.
Days 22 - 25
20 min over capacity (120 min available across 4 days)
Testing Two Prototypes with Clients
Project Work 60m
Material Testing & Blueprint Drafting
Project Work 60m
Growth Reflection
Assessment
Materials Quiz (20 min)
Assessment 20m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Discover Days 1–3
Day 1
Discover Disability-Inclusive Design for Everyone
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 2
End User Overview
Deliverable
Day 3
Challenge Definition
Deliverable
Inquiry Questions
Deliverable
Examine Days 4–11
Day 4
Identify Client Needs through Observation
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 5
Prototype Two Device Concepts and Test
Project Work 60m
Day 6
Labeled Diagram (15 min)
Deliverable 15m
Day 7
Plan Client Testing Protocol with Clients
Project Work 45m
Day 8
Materials Analysis (20 min)
Deliverable 20m
Day 9
Test Two Prototypes with Clients
Project Work 45m
Day 10
Material Trials to Choose Prototype Materials
Project Work 50m
Day 11
Solution Proposal
Deliverable
Engineer Days 12–17
Day 12
Hypothesis
Deliverable
Creation Plan
Deliverable
Day 13
Understanding Accessibility Needs and Sketching
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 14
Prototype Two Different Design Variations
Project Work 60m
Day 15
Materials Properties and Selection Criteria
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 16
Client Feedback and Patent Planning
Project Work 60m
Day 17
Solution Development Report
Deliverable
Do Days 18–21
Day 18
Implementation and Data Collection Plan
Deliverable
Day 19
Plan Client Testing Protocols With Clients
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 20
Conduct Dual Prototype Testing with Clients
Project Work 45m
Day 21
Implementation Results
Deliverable
Share Days 22–25
Day 22
Testing Two Prototypes with Clients
Project Work 60m
Day 23
Material Testing & Blueprint Drafting
Project Work 60m
Day 24
Growth Reflection
Assessment
Day 25
Materials Quiz (20 min)
Assessment 20m

April 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
20 Day 1
Discover
Discover Disability-Inclusive Design for Everyone
21 Day 2
End User Overview
22 Day 3
Challenge Definition
Inquiry Questions
23 Day 4
Examine
Identify Client Needs through Observation
24 Day 5
Prototype Two Device Concepts and Test
27 Day 6
Labeled Diagram (15 min)
28 Day 7
Plan Client Testing Protocol with Clients
29 Day 8
Materials Analysis (20 min)
30 Day 9
Test Two Prototypes with Clients
1 Day 10
Material Trials to Choose Prototype Materials

May 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4 Day 11
Solution Proposal
5 Day 12
Engineer
Hypothesis
Creation Plan
6 Day 13
Understanding Accessibility Needs and Sketching
7 Day 14
Prototype Two Different Design Variations
8 Day 15
Materials Properties and Selection Criteria
11 Day 16
Client Feedback and Patent Planning
12 Day 17
Solution Development Report
13 Day 18
Do
Implementation and Data Collection Plan
14 Day 19
Plan Client Testing Protocols With Clients
15 Day 20
Conduct Dual Prototype Testing with Clients
18 Day 21
Implementation Results
19 Day 22
Share
Testing Two Prototypes with Clients
20 Day 23
Material Testing & Blueprint Drafting
21 Day 24
Growth Reflection
22 Day 25
Materials Quiz (20 min)
Share
Activities
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