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Bike Shop 3-5 / Week 12 / Tuesday
2/6
Week 12 · Design a Better Bike

Tuesday

Many ideas
// Define, compare, test, improve
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: Many Ideas

Rocket sketches one basket and stops. "Done! That is my design."

Raven flips to a blank page. "What do you notice? Is there only one way to carry books?"

Nova hovers over the notebook. "There is always more than one possible solution," she says.

Rocket picks up his pencil again. "Okay. Three ideas. Maybe four!"

Research, then brainstorm

Research the problem before you start to design.

Look at how other things solve a similar problem.

There is always more than one possible solution.

So engineers sketch many ideas, not just one.

Silly ideas are welcome. They can spark good ones.

  1. Look around your home for things that carry, shine or stay dry.
  2. Write what each one does well.
  3. Sketch idea 1 quickly.
  4. Sketch idea 2, totally different.
  5. Sketch idea 3, the wildest one.
BRAINSTORM QUESTIONS
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
When should research happen?
Why sketch more than one idea?
A backpack keeps things together. Which problem could it give ideas for?

Ideas for being seen

One state health page gives tips for being seen.

Wear clothing in bright colors.

At night, reflective stickers or patches on clothing or a bike help drivers see you.

Your being-seen idea could use what you learned in the Be Seen week.

Research happens ____ you design.
At night, reflective ____ help others see a bike.
Try it
Fold a paper into three boxes.
Sketch one add-on idea in each box.
Give each idea a fun name.
Safety first
Paper, pencil and markers only today.
Look at home objects, but leave sharp or hot things alone.
Sketch your three add-on ideas. Label the parts of each.

Idea machine! Tomorrow we compare your ideas and pick one to build.

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