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Day 15
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW Welcome to the "Accessible Holiday Decorations" engineering challenge! In this exciting and meaningful project, students are invited to design holiday decorations that are inclusive and sensory-friendly, catering to children with special needs. This challenge emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in our communities, particularly during the festive season. CHALLENGE STATEMENT Your task is to create holiday decorations that are safe, engaging, and accessible for children with special needs. These decorations should be enjoyable for all children, including those with sensory sensitivities or other disabilities, enhancing their holiday experience in schools and community centers. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO During the holiday season, schools and community centers are adorned with bright, flashy decorations. However, these traditional decorations are not always suitable for children with special needs, especially those with sensory processing disorders. Your challenge is to rethink holiday decorations to make them inclusive, ensuring every child can participate in and enjoy the festive spirit. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES
Submissions will be evaluated on their creativity, inclusivity, sensory-friendliness, safety, educational value, use of eco-friendly materials, and overall appeal to children with special needs. CHILDREN'S BOOK CONNECTION "The Silent Owl" by Clemency Pearce and Rebecca Elliott. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of an owl who doesn't speak but shows his love and friendship in other ways. It’s a wonderful example of inclusivity and understanding different ways of experiencing the world, reflecting the core values of this challenge. NGSS CONNECTIONS
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Day 14
Welcome to the "Water-Saving Christmas Tree Stand" engineering challenge. In a world increasingly aware of the importance of water conservation, this challenge invites you to innovate for sustainability. Your task is to design a Christmas tree stand that not only keeps the tree fresh longer but also does so by using water more efficiently. CHALLENGE STATEMENT We challenge you to invent a Christmas tree stand that minimizes water usage while ensuring that the tree remains fresh throughout the holiday season. Your design should balance functionality, water efficiency, and environmental sustainability. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO Every holiday season, millions of homes enjoy the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree. However, keeping these trees fresh requires a significant amount of water – a precious and often scarce resource. Your invention could revolutionize how we enjoy this tradition, reducing water waste without diminishing the joy and beauty of the holiday season. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES
Submissions will be judged on their innovation in water conservation, effectiveness in maintaining tree freshness, use of sustainable materials, practicality for everyday use, and overall design aesthetics. CHILDREN'S BOOK CONNECTION "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" by Robert Barry is a charming story that touches upon the joy a Christmas tree brings and the importance of sharing and sustainability. It's a perfect read to inspire creativity and environmental consciousness in this challenge. NGSS CONNECTIONS
Day 13
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT? Ready to spread joy across all winter holidays? We want you to create and share DIY All-Holiday Decoration Kits with kids in hospitals. Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other winter celebration, your creativity can make hospital stays during the holidays much brighter and more festive! YOUR MISSION Your task is to create easy-to-assemble, super fun decoration kits for various winter holidays. These kits will be sent to children in hospitals to help them decorate their rooms and celebrate the holiday season in style, no matter what holiday they observe. STUFF YOU'LL NEED
Dive into "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" by Susan Wojciechowski. It’s a moving story about sharing your gifts to bring joy to others, fitting perfectly with the spirit of this project! WHAT YOU'LL ACHIEVE At the end of this project, you'll have created amazing, inclusive holiday kits that will light up the faces of many children in hospitals. You're not just making decorations; you're bringing a piece of holiday joy to those who need it most. Get ready to have fun, learn a lot, and make this holiday season unforgettable for everyone! Day 12
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW Gear up for an exciting engineering journey! This challenge brings to the forefront a critical need in our communities: making public spaces accessible in all weather conditions, especially for wheelchair users. Your mission is to create an innovative device that clears snow from wheelchair ramps and access points, merging your technical skills with a deep understanding of accessibility and inclusivity. CHALLENGE STATEMENT Your task is clear but vital: Design a snow-clearing device that makes wheelchair ramps and access points in public spaces navigable during winter. This device should be efficient, user-friendly, and effective, ensuring safe and accessible pathways for everyone, regardless of the weather. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO Envision a snowy day where pathways and ramps are buried under snow, creating barriers for wheelchair users. Your creation aims to remove these barriers, ensuring that people who use wheelchairs can move freely and safely. This challenge requires you to understand the difficulties faced by wheelchair users in snowy conditions and design a solution that promotes independence and mobility. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES
We'll evaluate designs based on their innovation, practicality, user accessibility, cost-effectiveness, safety, and how well they address the needs of wheelchair users in snowy environments. The goal is to balance creative engineering with real-world functionality. CHILDREN'S BOOK CONNECTION "Katy and the Big Snow" by Virginia Lee Burton is a delightful story about a brave, hardworking snowplow determined to clear the streets of a small town. This book can inspire young engineers to think about how vital such services are, especially for those who face mobility challenges in winter. NGSS CONNECTIONS
Day 11
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW Welcome to the "Portable Shelter for the Homeless" engineering design challenge. This project is about making a real difference. Homelessness is a serious issue, especially in the colder months. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create shelters that are not only portable and light but also easy to put together. This is a chance to blend your engineering talents with compassion and make a lasting impact. CHALLENGE STATEMENT Your goal is simple yet profound: Design a portable, lightweight shelter for homeless individuals. It needs to provide protection from the cold and be suitable for city living. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO Picture a chilly winter night in the city, with people struggling to find a warm, safe place to sleep. Homelessness is a heartbreaking reality worldwide. Through this challenge, you have the power to offer warmth and safety. Think about insulation, weight, affordability, and the environment as you sketch out your ideas. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES
Your designs will be evaluated based on creativity, functionality, environmental friendliness, practicality for mass production, affordability, and how well you explain your ideas. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
"The Little House of Hope" by Emma Redden is a touching story that introduces the concept of homelessness and the power of community. It's a wonderful resource to help grasp the human side of this engineering challenge. NGSS CONNECTIONS
Day 10
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW: This project engages students in designing a vending machine-style dispenser that provides essential items for homeless individuals. It's an opportunity to apply engineering skills for social good, addressing the critical needs of homeless communities during the holiday season. CHALLENGE STATEMENT: Students are tasked with developing an innovative, user-friendly, and reliable dispenser system that can distribute care packages containing essential items to homeless individuals in shelters. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO: Inspired by the children's picture book "Fly Away Home" by Eve Bunting, which sensitively portrays the challenges faced by a homeless father and son, this project places students in the context of real-world issues faced by homeless individuals. Students must consider the practicality, accessibility, and sustainability of their designs in the environment of a homeless shelter. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES:
This project engages students in designing a vending machine-style dispenser that provides essential items for homeless individuals. It's an opportunity to apply engineering skills for social good, addressing the critical needs of homeless communities during the holiday season. Challenge Statement: Students are tasked with developing an innovative, user-friendly, and reliable dispenser system that can distribute care packages containing essential items to homeless individuals in shelters. Background/Scenario: Inspired by the children's picture book "Fly Away Home" by Eve Bunting, which sensitively portrays the challenges faced by a homeless father and son, this project places students in the context of real-world issues faced by homeless individuals. Students must consider the practicality, accessibility, and sustainability of their designs in the environment of a homeless shelter. Challenge Categories: Design and Engineering: Creating a functional and durable dispenser design that can reliably dispense various types of items. Sourcing and Contents: Determining the contents of the care packages and establishing partnerships for donation sourcing. User Accessibility: Ensuring the dispenser is easily accessible and user-friendly for individuals of all ages and abilities. Sustainability: Designing a system that is environmentally friendly and sustainably managed. Submission Guidelines: Design Blueprints: Detailed schematics of the dispenser, including dimensions, materials, and mechanical or electronic components. Content List: A comprehensive list of items to be included in the care packages, along with their sourcing plan. Prototype or Model (optional): A physical or digital model of the dispenser showcasing its functionality. Impact Report: A written report explaining how the dispenser will benefit homeless individuals, considering factors such as ease of use, reliability, and the choice of items. Judging Criteria: Innovativeness of Design: Creativity and practicality in the design of the dispenser. Functionality and Reliability: The dispenser's ability to operate efficiently and reliably. Impact on the Homeless Community: Effectiveness in addressing the needs of homeless individuals. Sustainability and Environmental Consideration: Use of eco-friendly materials and consideration for long-term sustainability. Overall Presentation: Clarity and thoroughness in documentation and presentation of the project. Day 9
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW: This engineering design challenge focuses on creating a low-cost, nutritious holiday meal kit for families in need. In a world where food insecurity remains a critical issue, this challenge aims to make the holiday season more inclusive and joyful for everyone. CHALLENGE STATEMENT: Participants are tasked with designing a holiday meal kit that is both affordable and nutritious, catering to the dietary needs and constraints of underprivileged families. The challenge also involves enlisting family members to help assemble and distribute these kits, fostering a sense of community and empathy. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO: Drawing inspiration from the children's picture book "Stone Soup" by Jon J. Muth, which tells a story about sharing and community, this challenge places participants in a scenario where they must consider budget constraints, nutritional requirements, and the logistics of distribution. The goal is to ensure that the joy of a holiday meal can be shared by all, regardless of economic status. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES:
Day 8
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW: In an era where environmental sustainability is paramount, this engineering design challenge focuses on developing an eco-friendly holiday light recycling program. With millions of holiday lights discarded each year, often ending up in landfills, this challenge is not just timely but essential for promoting a greener holiday season. CHALLENGE STATEMENT: Participants are tasked with designing an innovative and sustainable program for recycling old or broken holiday lights. The goal is to minimize environmental impact while ensuring the process is feasible and efficient. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO: Inspired by the children's book "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, which emphasizes the importance of caring for the environment, this challenge situates participants in a real-world scenario where holiday lights significantly contribute to environmental waste. Participants should consider the entire lifecycle of holiday lights, from production to disposal, and the challenge they pose to waste management and recycling systems. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES:
Day 7
CHALLENGE OVERVIEW: In today's digitally connected world, mental health has become a paramount concern, especially during the holiday season, which can be a time of increased stress and anxiety for many. The "Mental Health Support App for the Holidays" engineering design challenge invites participants to leverage technology and empathy to create a solution that addresses this important issue. This challenge integrates the principles of engineering with the sensitivity required for mental health support, encouraging students to develop innovative applications that make a real difference. CHALLENGE STATEMENT: Design and develop a mobile application that provides mental health support and resources specifically tailored for the holiday season. Your solution should aim to ease stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges that are often amplified during this time. BACKGROUND/SCENARIO: The holiday season, while joyful for many, can also be a source of significant stress due to factors like family dynamics, financial pressures, and social expectations. This period can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. To make your app relevant and effective, consider integrating concepts from a children's book that deals with emotions or mental health, such as "The Color Monster" by Anna Llenas, which helps children identify and understand their feelings. CHALLENGE CATEGORIES:
Day 6
Challenge Overview: The "Cozy Steps Challenge: Engineering Warmth for Winter Feet" is an engineering design challenge that invites students to create innovative solutions for keeping people's feet warm during harsh winters. This challenge is highly relevant today as it addresses a common problem faced in colder climates and emphasizes the importance of empathy, sustainability, and practicality in design. Challenge Statement: Participants are challenged to design and prototype foot-warming solutions that are affordable, effective, and available in multiple sizes. These solutions should utilize materials that are good insulators and, if possible, conduct heat, all while being sustainable and easily accessible. Background/Scenario: In many parts of the world, winter brings extremely low temperatures, making it difficult for many, especially those without proper housing, to stay warm. Keeping feet warm is crucial for overall body temperature regulation. This challenge aims to help those in need by encouraging young engineers to develop practical, cost-effective solutions for foot warmth. Children's Book Connection: This challenge is inspired by the children's book "Brave Irene" by William Steig, which tells the story of a young girl braving a harsh winter storm. This story can serve to highlight the challenges of cold weather and inspire students to think creatively about how to overcome these challenges. Challenge Categories:
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