Creator's Lab Season 2

Invention Lab

Lesson 1 of 6 · IL-2.1

The Design Thinking Process

Watch First

How the bendy straw was invented — TED-Ed Moments of Vision

full

Watch Second

One of the most epic engineering feats in history — TED-Ed

full

Lesson Brief

The Design Thinking Process helps you practice engineering, science, making through a concrete watch, think, and build cycle.

Learning Goals

Build Your Understanding

Start by watching the assigned resource and writing down three specific details that connect to The Design Thinking Process. Do not try to capture everything. Look for the ideas that would help you build, explain, compare, or improve something.

Think Like a Builder

This lesson belongs to Invention Lab, so the goal is not just to remember information. Use the lesson to practice engineering and invention. Pay attention to materials, forces, systems, tradeoffs, and testing.

  1. Notice: What is one detail from the video or source that seems important?
  2. Connect: How does that detail change the way you understand The Design Thinking Process?
  3. Build: Use the idea to make a prototype plan, test, or pitch note.

Practice Move

Your practice move is to observe a problem, choose a constraint, and improve a design. Keep it small enough to finish today, but clear enough that someone else could understand your thinking.

Assignment

Write a short response for The Design Thinking Process. Include:

  1. One idea you learned from the video or source.
  2. One example, sketch plan, calculation, comparison, or prototype note you made.
  3. One question or next step you would explore if you had more time.

Use complete sentences. A strong answer explains your thinking, not just the final result. For this Invention Lab lesson, your response should show how you practiced engineering and invention.