Toy Design Challenge
Group Members:
Key Concept: Development
Related Concepts: Function, Innovation, Adaptation
Global context: Scientific and Technical Innovation
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Factual questions: What are the learning needs of children at different ages? What is Micro:bit and how does it work? How do simple electrical circuits function? What types of toys are suitable for different age groups? What safety considerations must be taken when designing toys for young children?
Conceptual question: How does the function of a toy influence how children learn? Why is age-appropriate design important when creating toys? How does technology enhance learning through play? How do designers adapt ideas based on user feedback? In what ways does physical design affect user interaction?
Debatable question: Are high-tech toys better for learning than traditional toys? Should educational toys focus more on learning outcomes or enjoyment? Can technology replace imaginative play in early childhood? Is a simple toy sometimes more effective than a complex one? How much technology is too much for young children?
STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Through innovation and development, designers create functional and age-appropriate solutions that use technology to support learning through play.
You are a junior toy designer working for Hasbro. Your team has been assigned to design a children’s educational toy that helps young children learn through play.
Design Challenge
Create a functioning educational toy prototype that supports learning for a specific age group using physical design, coding, and electronics.
Your toy must be:
You will design and build a fully functioning prototype using:
Your toy will be tested and evaluated by children of different ages (children of school staff).
Lesson 1: Project Overview
Lesson 1
READ
CLICK ON ME
CLICK ON ME
5
Task 1 – Research & Analysis
What You Must Do:
Research how toys help children learn at your assigned age.
Required Evidence:
For each toy, explain:
Explain:
You will be assessed on the following:
Criteria
A
Lesson 1
Case Scenario:
Why your toy is needed?
What your toy must do to be successful?
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Target age:
What the toy teaches:
Strengths and weaknesses:
Target age:
What the toy teaches:
Strengths and weaknesses:
Task 1 – Research & Analysis
Toy 1
Toy 2
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Target age:
What the toy teaches:
Strengths and weaknesses:
Toy 3
Insert Video Here
PASTE ARTICLE LINK HERE:
Lesson 1
Criteria
A
What You Must Do: Design possible toy ideas before choosing your final design.
Required Evidence: 3 different design sketches, each:
1 final selected design, showing:
Assessed Skills:
Task 2 – Developing Design Ideas
Lesson 1
Criteria
B
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… insert an explanation of your sketch along with links to the learning goals.
… insert an explanation of your sketch along with links to the learning goals.
Task 2 – Developing Design Ideas
Sketch 1
Sketch 2
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… insert an explanation of your sketch along with links to the learning goals.
… insert an explanation of your final sketch along with links to the learning goals.
Sketch 3
Final Sketch
Lesson 1
Criteria
B
What You Must Do: Learn how Micro:bit and Scratch work before building your final toy.
Required Evidence:
Short explanations of:
Notes on:
Task 3 – Exploring Coding & Micro:bit
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
Supporting Resources
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
Task 3 – Exploring Coding & Micro:bit
Answer the following questions:
What does each program do?
What are inputs and outputs?
What worked?
What didn’t work?
What did you learn?
Screenshots of Micro:bit MakeCode experiments
Screenshots of Scratch experiments
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
Task 4 – Coding Documentation
What You Must Do:
Document how your code develops from early attempts to a working solution.
Required Evidence:
Explanations of:
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
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Early code
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Task 4 – Coding Documentation
Improved code
Final code
Explain what the code controls, how it supports learning, evidence of problem-solving and debugging.
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
What You Must Do:
Document how electricity is used in your toy.
Required Evidence:
Explanation of:
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
Task 5 – Electrical / Circuit Documentation
Task 5 – Electrical / Circuit Documentation
Photos or Diagram of Circuits
Insert photos of buttons
Insert photos of inputs/ outputs
Explain how electricity flows, how circuits connect to code, and reflect on at least one circuit issue and how it was fixed.
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
What You Must Do: Document how you build and improve your fully functional prototype
Reminder: Your fully functional prototype must have:
Required Evidence:
Notes explaining:
What You Must Do:
Video or live demonstration
Explanation of how all systems work together
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
Task 6 – Physical Prototyping Documentation
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Early prototype
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Final Prototype
Video
Mid-stage prototype
Lesson 1
Criteria
C
Task 6 – Physical Prototyping Documentation
Notes explaining:
Lesson 1
Criteria
D
Task 6 – Physical Prototyping Documentation