Problem-Solvers: Project Ideas
In this post-field trip project, students take a deeper dive into real-world challenges, apply their knowledge to skill-building scenarios, and see firsthand how they can have a positive impact on the world.
Choose a core subject area to explore problem-solving project ideas for your students.
You can download and print this Design Thinking worksheet
to help your students organise their work!
to help your students organise their work!
Problem-Solvers: Language Arts
Issue #1: The Zero-Ambiguity Radio Protocol
Real-World Problem: Vague or confusing language between train operators leads to catastrophic miscommunications during emergency events.
Your Challenge: Analyze a wordy, confusing scenario report about an unexpected track obstruction. Edit the text into a 3-step standardized radio protocol using short, unambiguous phrasing and call signs. Then stress-test your protocol with a partner through a "whisper/blind wall" simulation to prove that the receiving partner can execute the exact safety action with zero misinterpretation.
Real-World Problem: Vague or confusing language between train operators leads to catastrophic miscommunications during emergency events.
Your Challenge: Analyze a wordy, confusing scenario report about an unexpected track obstruction. Edit the text into a 3-step standardized radio protocol using short, unambiguous phrasing and call signs. Then stress-test your protocol with a partner through a "whisper/blind wall" simulation to prove that the receiving partner can execute the exact safety action with zero misinterpretation.
Issue #2: Transit Resistance Persuasive Campaign
Real-World Problem: Residents often protest the construction of high-speed electric rail lines near their homes due to fears of noise and disruption. Such protests delay green transit initiatives.
Your Challenge: Research common community objections to light-rail expansion. Then draft a 1-page persuasive op-ed and a 30-second public service announcement script that directly counters local noise and traffic fears to convince skeptical residents to support the project.
Real-World Problem: Residents often protest the construction of high-speed electric rail lines near their homes due to fears of noise and disruption. Such protests delay green transit initiatives.
Your Challenge: Research common community objections to light-rail expansion. Then draft a 1-page persuasive op-ed and a 30-second public service announcement script that directly counters local noise and traffic fears to convince skeptical residents to support the project.
Problem-Solvers: Mathematics
Issue #1: Zero Waste Materials Estimator
Real-World Problem: Over-ordering steel rebar for train platforms increases construction budgets and creates heavy industrial waste, while under-ordering stalls public transit projects.
Your Challenge: Given structural dimension drawings for a new electric rail platform, calculate the exact volume of concrete (V=lâ‹…wâ‹…h) and length of steel rebar grid lines needed. Then create a cutting schedule for standard 12-meter rebar stock that completes the structural grid with less than 3% material waste scrap.
Real-World Problem: Over-ordering steel rebar for train platforms increases construction budgets and creates heavy industrial waste, while under-ordering stalls public transit projects.
Your Challenge: Given structural dimension drawings for a new electric rail platform, calculate the exact volume of concrete (V=lâ‹…wâ‹…h) and length of steel rebar grid lines needed. Then create a cutting schedule for standard 12-meter rebar stock that completes the structural grid with less than 3% material waste scrap.
Issue #2: Aircraft Cargo and Fuel Balance
Real-World Problem: Off-center weight in an airplane's cargo hold forces engines to burn excess fuel to stay level and can create dangerous instability during takeoff.
Your Challenge: Given a simulated cargo manifest with conflicting weights (passengers, mail, luggage containers), map out the aircraft on a graph paper grid. Using balance and weight formulas, redistribute container placements across specific grid coordinates to balance the aircraft.
Real-World Problem: Off-center weight in an airplane's cargo hold forces engines to burn excess fuel to stay level and can create dangerous instability during takeoff.
Your Challenge: Given a simulated cargo manifest with conflicting weights (passengers, mail, luggage containers), map out the aircraft on a graph paper grid. Using balance and weight formulas, redistribute container placements across specific grid coordinates to balance the aircraft.
Problem-Solvers: Science & Technology
Issue #1: Corrosion Shield Challenge
Real-World Problem: Road salt and rain rust the steel rebar inside concrete bridges and transit hubs, causing hidden structural cracking that costs billions to repair and endangers public safety.
Your Challenge: Using standard steel paperclips (representing rebar), test different low-cost protective coatings (wax, clear tape, vegetable oil, nail polish) against an untreated control paperclip. After soaking them in saltwater for 48 hours, analyze which coating best prevents oxidation.
Real-World Problem: Road salt and rain rust the steel rebar inside concrete bridges and transit hubs, causing hidden structural cracking that costs billions to repair and endangers public safety.
Your Challenge: Using standard steel paperclips (representing rebar), test different low-cost protective coatings (wax, clear tape, vegetable oil, nail polish) against an untreated control paperclip. After soaking them in saltwater for 48 hours, analyze which coating best prevents oxidation.
Issue #2: Fuel-Saving Winglet Redesign
Real-World Problem: Commercial airplanes waste millions of liters of fuel fighting wingtip drag (air vortices that pull back on the aircraft).
Your Challenge: Fold a standard paper airplane to fly a baseline distance. Modify the wingtips using precise angled folds or tape additions to cut vortex drag. Launch your modified designs 10 times, aiming to increase total flight distance by at least 20% while keeping the flight path straight.
Real-World Problem: Commercial airplanes waste millions of liters of fuel fighting wingtip drag (air vortices that pull back on the aircraft).
Your Challenge: Fold a standard paper airplane to fly a baseline distance. Modify the wingtips using precise angled folds or tape additions to cut vortex drag. Launch your modified designs 10 times, aiming to increase total flight distance by at least 20% while keeping the flight path straight.