WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

؜Writing down, drawing, and sharing as many ideas as possible on the whiteboard

؜To select the our main project concept that you and a partner will develop through prototyping

Final Project: Design Requirements

Your design must be inspired by a deep sea creature.

Your prototype should include moving parts that move either manually or electronically.

Your design should protect our oceans and cohabitate with diverse underwater ecosystems

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

BEFORE WE START

Review the Brainstorming Guide. Head to the resources tab in this activity.

1st



Individually, think of at least 3 ideas for designs that would either keep trash out of the ocean, or remove trash that is already there. You can express these ideas through notes or sketches.

As a class, we will brainstorm our ideas into 2 columns. Problems and solutions and start to connect them.

After everyone's ideas are collected, your teacher will find similar interests and group students together to work on the design idea.

~ 10 mins

~ 25 mins

~ 5 mins

؜2nd

؜3rd

؜4th

Create a slide showing your project statement along with you sketches. Take 2 mins to share out your idea to the class!

~ 20 mins

BRAINSTORMING STEPS

Individually, think of at least 3 ideas for designs that would either keep trash out of the ocean, or remove trash that is already there. You can express these ideas through notes or sketches.

1st

BRAINSTORMING STEPS

As a group, on the whiteboard list "Ocean Problems" on one side and "Possible Solutions" on the other.

Come up with a list of project ideas that are inspired by the share out. Feel free to combine ideas and collaborate to come up with ideas you're excited about. 

2nd

BRAINSTORMING STEPS

OCEAN PROBLEMS

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

White board

Coral destruction

Bot to

measure

Ph

؜3rd

After everyone's ideas are collected, your teacher will find similar interests and group students together to work on the design idea.

~ 5 mins

Select one idea and expand it more! Write a short concept describing your idea and sketch how it would work.

1. What type of plastic waste will our robot collect? (big items like bottles or small pieces?)
2. How will our robot move on the water? (pushed, pulled, or self-propelled?)
3. What shape will help it scoop or trap the plastic best?
4. Where will the collected plastic be stored so it doesn’t float away?
5. What materials can we use so it’s safe, light, and easy to build?

3.1

Project Statement

Improve your sketches by making them more informative:

– Add labels to show what each part is.

– Point out the key parts or actions (what moves, lights up, rotates, etc.).

– Include important elements like materials, tools, or the user’s position so it’s clear how people will interact with it.

؜3.2

Sketching

Create a slide showing your project statement along with you sketches. Take 2 mins to share out your idea to the class!

4th

؜Share out!

1. Plastic waste: Mostly larger floating items (bottles, cups, wrappers), with a fine mesh to catch some small pieces.
2. Movement: Self-propelled with small electric motors or solar-powered propellers.
3. Shape: A wide V- or funnel-shaped front with guiding arms to trap debris.
4. Storage: A sealed bin inside the robot near the intake to keep trash from floating away.
5. Materials: Lightweight, non-toxic, corrosion-resistant materials like recycled plastic or marine-grade aluminum.

Slide Example

The Trash Collectopus