Good ideas for projects come from activities students are
Try the ideas
below:
First: Jot down all
the things you choose to do in your leisure time. Is there a problem with any
of them, for instance listening to music uninterrupted by other noises;
carrying gear on your bike; refilling the dog’s water bowl?
What activities do you do?
Are there any problems related to any of them?
Second: Is there a
question you’ve wondered about, such as the health of your local stream, bush
or air; how good is thermal underwear; what plants do sheep prefer; how quickly
can people learn words from another language; how much water can soil hold?
What have you ever wondered about?
Third: Can you see an
opportunity to develop a product? It might for in stance
be a device or system to clarify cowshed effluent, game to help children learn
basic maths, or a better way to store CDs, a kit for makin g
kites out of supermarket shoppin g
bags or a chimney filter to reduce smoke emissions
What’s your product idea?
Fourth: Is there a need you thin k should be addressed?
It could be
something like preventing cats getting at birds nests; encouraging people to
save water; making a dangerous corner in a school corridor or on a cycle track
safer; dealing with smelly socks; or protecting colour photos on display…
What is a need you have seen or have thought of?
Fifth: Does someone you know have a
problem you could help with? It might be how to get rid of a weed in a reserve
area; a way to keep a baby occupied while a parent is busy; or a way to carry a
hockey stick on a bike…
What is a problem you have seen that you can help
with?
Sixth: Is there a local
environmental issue? It may be that an area of the school needs redesigning, or
that the local stream is polluted…
Do you have a local environmental issue?
Seventh: Is there something you have
done at school you would like to follow up and find out more about, or do
differently?
What would you like to follow up?
