Portable Shelter for the Homeless

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

• Material Innovation: Use materials that are eco-friendly, durable, and won't break the bank.
• Design Efficiency: Your shelter should be compact yet spacious and easy to move around.
• Thermal Insulation: Keep the inside cozy with innovative insulation ideas.
• Ease of Assembly: Design it so that one person can easily set it up and take it down.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Include detailed design plans and an explanation of your design decisions.
• If you make a model or prototype, show it off with photos or videos.
• Present a cost estimate and materials list.
• Remember, your shelter should be no bigger than 2.5x2.5x2.5 meters.

JUDGING CRITERIA
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

• Learn about homelessness from the National Homeless Information Project.
• Get ideas for sustainable materials at Green Building.
• Brush up on engineering basics at Engineering Basics.

CHILDREN'S BOOK CONNECTION
"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

• HS-ETS1-1: Dive deep into a major global issue and outline what makes a good solution.
• HS-ETS1-2: Tackle a complex problem by breaking it into smaller pieces.
• HS-ETS1-3: Assess a solution based on how well it meets your needs and what you have to compromise.