About

A vivarium is a place where animals and plants are kept and raised. Vivariums are fun and educational. There are many kinds, the most popular are aquariums for freshwater or saltwater fish. Other popular types of vivariums are terrariums for plants, and ant farms. (Note the plural forms: one vivarium, two vivariums or vivaria; one aquarium, two aquariums or aquaria; one terrarium, two terrariums or terraria.)
 

Your task

Design an interesting and unique table-top vivarium. It can be for yourself, for a relative, or a friend. You may design any type of vivarium, such as an aquarium, or a terrarium, and so forth. Your vivarium may contain any species of plant or animal that is native to your region. Note that your vivarium may NOT contain the following: non-native species, endangered species, species that are dangerous or poisonous, nor invasive species or pests. Build a full-size working model of your vivarium to test it. Work on this project on your own, or together with a classmate.
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The design thinking stages

Follow the five design thinking stages to ensure that you think of everything and do everything necessary in order to succeed in your design project. First, you must UNDERSTAND the design topic and the needs of the users. With that understanding, you can DECIDE what is important to your design solution and what is not so important. Then you CREATE to come up with ideas and improve them. Then you BUILD your chosen design idea in a physical form and improve it through trial-and-error. Finally, you TEST your built design idea to get the opinions of users. Use the methods from the Design Thinking for Schools website as you follow the design thinking stages.
 

Note for teachers

Designing and building a vivarium is a big task for students of Level III (12–14 years old). The teacher must approve of the project before beginning. They must consider:

• Do the students have a place to install and test the vivarium that they designed and built?
• Do they have permission to install and test the vivarium at that location?
• Can they afford to build a working model? They will need containers, glass, and other equipment to build a vivarium.

CAUTION
​​​​​​​The students will need professional help to build a table-top vivarium.

• Working with glass and other materials is dangerous.
• Metal and glass edges can be sharp and dangerous, wires can poke your eyes.
• Get professional help with cutting and preparing glass parts.
• Only build with adult supervision.
• You must be trained to use hand tools.
• Wear protective equipment like gloves, and eyeglasses.
• Do not use power tools.

​​​​​​​Read the guide for teachers on Safety for the BUILD Stage for Level III to safely supervise this design project.​​​​​