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In this activity, learners are invited to imagine the park of their dreams! In small groups, learners place moveable pieces on a grid, iterating on their plan together to create a plan for a community park. A variety of park features are offered as choices to include on the map, including a playground, skate park, water features, picnic areas, trails, and more. Like real-world projects, the plan is limited by the realities of space and funds. For younger learners, groups are limited to choosing less than 10 features. Learners ages 9 and up are limited not by the number of features, but by their cost in terms of points: They are challenged to keep track of the points on the park features cards and use less than 250 total points. Some park features, including a natural wetland and ice cream shop, promise to provide revenue back to the community and are worth points. Others, like a skate park or swimming pool, "cost" points. This activity is part of a curriculum designed to engage learners in hands-on engineering challenges.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 45 to 60 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 4 - 11
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 1 (27" × 17" or so) blank sheet of graph paper (with 1-inch square rule)
- 1 (8½" × 11") set of Park Features, preferably printed on cardstock at actual size, and cut into individual pieces
- 1 (44") length of brown, tan, or gray yarn
- 1 pair of safety scissors
- 10 yellow pony beads in a small container (such as a cup or baggie)
- 1 (8½" × 11") Be Creative…Be an Engineer! poster (for tweens, teens, and adults), preferably printed in color
- 1 (8½" × 11") Grand Challenges of Engineering poster (for teens and adults) (optional)
- coloring supplies (optional)
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
-
Engineering
-
Life Sciences
-
Ecology
- Human Impact
-
Ecology
-
The Nature of Science
- Science and Society
- Science as a Career
-
The Nature of Technology
- The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Financial Literacy
- Model Building
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Department of Education and Public Outreach, Lunar and Planetary Institute; STAR Library Education Network
Rights:
Funding Source:
- NSF, DRL-1010844