DT2014 Task Lamp
TECH
Medium-tech
CHALLENGE
Simple
TIME
5 sessions (one week)
TEAM SIZE
1 or 2
About
Lamps let us work indoors where it is dark, or at night when it is dark. A task lamp lights the area where you are at work. A desk lamp lights up the area around your desk, it is an example of a task lamp.
Your task
Design a battery-operated task lamp for use at your home. Your task lamp should light up an area where someone in your family works. Think about places in your home where a lamp would be useful. Think about the position of the lamp, the light that it should give, and other functions. Make a model of your task lamp out of cardboard or wood. Do this design topic on your own, or together with a classmate.
Follow the design steps
To design something well, do it step-by-step and use the methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website. There are four design steps. The first step is LEARN. To design something, you must first learn about it. There is much to learn on any topic, and it is always interesting. Learning will help you to understand the thing that you are designing, so you can do a good job. The second step is DRAW. Try to think of as many different ideas as you can while you draw them with pencil on paper. Keep drawing until you have some ideas that you really like. Improve your ideas and combine them into a single excellent idea. Drawing is easy and fun. Enjoy it! The third step is MAKE. Make the thing that you are designing to show your teacher and classmates. You can only tell if your idea works by making it. Improve your idea while you are making it. Making something with your hands is fun too! The fourth step is TRY. Once you have made something, you should try it to see if it works or not. You can also let someone else try it to see what they think. When you try, you will often find ways to improve your design idea. That will make you a better designer.
Note for teachers
Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the MAKE Step for Level II to safely supervise this design task.
More design topics for Level II…
Read the next design topic for Level II children (9 to 11 years old).
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