The "Eco-Friendly Holiday Tree Challenge"

Day 3
Challenge Overview: The "Eco-Friendly Holiday Tree Challenge" invites young learners to engage in a meaningful engineering design challenge that combines creativity with environmental consciousness. This challenge is particularly significant in today’s world as it addresses issues of sustainability and waste reduction, especially during festive seasons like Christmas, where consumption often leads to increased waste.
Challenge Statement: Participants are tasked with designing and building a Christmas tree that is entirely recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable, without compromising on the festive spirit and aesthetic appeal of traditional Christmas trees.
Background/Scenario: During the holiday season, millions of Christmas trees are cut down, leading to a significant environmental impact. This challenge aims to promote sustainability by encouraging participants to rethink traditional practices and create environmentally friendly alternatives. Participants are called upon to design a Christmas tree that is not only decorative but also aligns with the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Children's Picture Book Connection: The challenge is inspired by the children's picture book "The Beautiful Christmas Tree" by Charlotte Zolotow, which tells the story of a man who nurtures a small, unattractive tree into a beautiful one, teaching the value of care and patience. This book serves as a metaphor for nurturing our environment and understanding the beauty in sustainable practices.
Challenge Categories:

1. Material Innovation: Use of recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable materials.
2. Design and Aesthetics: Focus on the artistic and aesthetic aspects of the tree.
3. Practicality: Ensure the tree is stable, easy to assemble, and disassemble.
4. Innovative Features: Incorporation of unique elements, like eco-friendly lighting or decorations.

Submission Guidelines:

• Submissions must include a detailed report explaining the design, choice of materials, and construction process.
• A model or prototype of the tree, with photographs or a video demonstration, is required.
• Use only recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable materials.
• The design must be safe and feasible for indoor use.

Judging Criteria:

1. Sustainability: Adherence to eco-friendly practices in materials and design.
2. Creativity and Innovation: Originality of the design and use of materials.
3. Aesthetics: Visual appeal and resemblance to a traditional Christmas tree.
4. Functionality: Stability and practicality of the tree design.
5. Presentation: Clarity and comprehensiveness of the report and demonstration.

NGSS Standards Connection:This challenge aligns with the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

• K-2-ETS1-1: Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
• 3-5-ETS1-3: Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
• MS-ETS1-1: Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.