2. The Design Process – Stage 7
Taking Action
Taking Action means doing something to help improve a community
In the area of design, it refers to making some item that you can use for the betterment of others
and/or the environment that they live in
- There are various ways to take action in design (and in other processes for science and society)
- The diagram below is helpful in describing some useful ones:
Why Take Action?? Humanity is facing many serious personal, social and environmental
problems that are associated with professional science and technology and their products. People are
particularly concerned, for example, about Climate Change - much of which appears to be caused by
increases in atmospheric 'greenhouse gases' (e.g., CO2), which block release of heat from the earth.
Some suggest that the problem is so serious that most life on Earth will be gone by about 2080! If this is,
indeed, likely, there would be few other problems on which we must focus
People are concerned with many other WISE issues. Many of these relate to everyday activities
of people, such as problems with manufactured foods, personal hygeine products, forms of
transportation, the kinds of homes in which we live, etc.
It is worth emphasizing, though, that many of these problems appear to be related to societies'
extraction, processing, marketing, consumption and disposal of various products and services of
business and industry.
3. Designing a Garden – Final Project Component
Taking Action !
You have worked hard to create a design to meet the problem of
bettering your school’s environment: Making a Garden
You have made a good effort to manufacture, upgrade and maintain
your garden until its harvest
Now, harvest is hand the moment has come to take action: You will
take specific steps to allow your design and its harvest to influence
your school community to help ensure the betterment of your school’s
community
Big Goals for the Final Project Component: Taking Action
Taking Action means doing something to help improve a community
For this particular project, you will take action through the harvesting of your garden to do three
things for the sake of your community
1. Give a tour of the garden to expose your school’ community to its beauty and the warming
effects it has had and will potentially have on your school in the future
2. Prepare a special healthy lunch menu using the harvested crops of your garden for the middle
school students as an appetizing way to improve student mood and general well-being
3. Engage the middle school students in a few fun, safe and competitive food events using
again crops from your garden for their general entertainment and fun
General Strategy for Taking Action and Meeting Your Project’s Goals-
--> All grade 6’s will be divided into 5 groups based on desire, skill and general comfort
--> Each group will be given a particular role
--> Each group will then complete particular tasks which require specific skills
--> Each group will communicate an important aspect(s) of their garden design process i
** In doing so, both the tasks and the communication will serve to help improve the welfare of the school
community. Such would in turn educate the school community on important aspects that relate well to
the welfare task and the design process used in order to take action
Group Descriptions –
Again, there will be 5 groups in total to implement the general strategy outline above for taking action the
school as follows:
A. Tour Leader Group-
Members of this group will be responsible for communicating the basic ideas of this project to the middle
school students, guiding the middle school students through all planned activities and events and
ensuring their general happiness throughout by supporting the other groups.
4. Group Tasks – the tour group leaders must ensure the following 3 tasks are completed on the planned
day for taking action
1. The middle school students are welcomed through a carefully planned greeting speech at the
beginning and introduced to the main goals and ideas of the planned tasks
2. The middle school students are taken on a short tour of the garden and then brought to the
lunch room for their meal and other events
3. An appropriate ending message is delivered at the end of all activities and events to explain
how the planned activities and event help to make the school a better environment for the
community
Required Skills for All Members of this Group
1. Members must demonstrate good leadership skills to guide older middle school students and
teachers
2. Members must demonstrate good speaking skills to communicate effectively in their roles
3. Members must possess good spirit and enthusiasm to motivate all participants in positive ways
B. The Designers Group-
Members of this group will be responsible for communicating the basic ideas of the specific design
process used to develop and maintain the school’s garden
Group Tasks – the designer group leaders must ensure the following task is completed on the planned
day for taking action
1. Information is communicated to small groups of middle students at one time on the basic steps
of the design process used to make and maintain/improve the garden
Required Skills for All Members of this Group
1. Members must possess a good understanding of all steps of the Design Process
2. Members must possess good organizational skills to arrange and communicate their
information on the design process to the other students
C. The Informative Group-
Members of this group will be responsible for informing other students of important background
knowledge relating to the garden and its design (Ex. give information about plants)
Group Tasks – the designer group leaders must ensure the following task is completed on the planned
day for taking action
1. Information is communicated to small groups of middle students at one time on important
scientific knowledge of plants and other possible areas that relates well to the garden and its
design
Required Skills for All Members of this Group
1. Members must possess a good understanding of important background knowledge for the
garden and its design
5. 2. Members must possess good organizational skills to arrange and communicate their
information on plants and other important areas of scientific knowledge to the other students
D. The Cooks Group (two groups or one bigger group is permissible)
Members of this group will be responsible for creating a number of dishes using the harvested crops
from the garden. Other food items can be included. The members are also permitted to seek out the
help of the school’s lunch staff.
Group Tasks – the cooks group leaders must ensure that the following 4 tasks are completed on the
planned day for taking action
1. Healthy food dishes are created for the other students to eat and enjoy
2. Special food dishes are created for The Competitors Group’s activities
3. Information is communicated about the general description and the food health for the
dishes made
4. Information is communicated about the cooking and other food preparation procedures
utilized to make the food dishes
Required Skills for All Members of this Group
1. Members must be good at cooking and/or preparing food for large number of people
2. Members must possess good organizational skills to prepare and deliver information about
their food dishes
E. The Competitors Group
Members of this group will be responsible for creating a few (2 or 3) competitions involving select food
dishes for the other students to participate in a fun, comfortable and safe way.
Group Tasks – the competitors group leaders must ensure that the following 4 tasks are completed on
the planned day for taking action
1. At least 2 or 3 food competition games are created
2. Proper food dishes are acquired from the The Cooks Group for the food competitions
3. Other necessary materials are also obtained for proper running of the food competitions
4. Information is communicated about the rules and general nature of each competitions
Required Skills for All Members of this Group
1. Members must be creative people to come up with good competitive yet safe and fun events
2. Members must possess good organizational skills to prepare and deliver information about
their food events
6. Required Items for ALL Groups-
Regardless of the role, all five groups are each responsible for creating and using the following items for
their activities and/or events
i) _______ A presentation board is created with the following items:
___ relevant information is presented on group’s activity or event
___ proper titles and headings are used such that all information is organized in a clear and easy
to understand way
___ pictures or other illustrations are included to make the information more appealing and
accessible
ii) ______ Sufficient materials are secured as follows:
___ at least one material is created and used to enable if not improve the group’s activity or event
** Most groups will likely need multiple materials to ensure success for their activity or
event
(ex. the cooks will need many food dishes, the competitors will need competition game items, the tour
leaders could use candy treats, microphones and/or wear special uniforms, the designers and informers
could create models or other props to help communicate their knowledge)
iii) _____ A proper speech will need to be created as follows:
____ the speech must be of sufficient length and contain appropriate content for the group’s
activity or event
____ group members must share the delivery of the speech
____ the speech should be learnt well and delivered with a good voice and body gestures
7. Planner Handout For Taking Action for Your Garden’s Harvest
--> This handout will help you and your group to adequately prepare your planned activity or event
--> Remember to use good group work skills to ensure everything is completed well in a fair way
--> Do not hesitate to ask for help and have fun!
Part A – Group Information
--> Complete all blanks on the basic information of your group members and roles
My Group’s Letter: _______
My Group’s Name: _____________________________
My Name: ____________________
Other Group Members’ Names: _____________________ ________________________
_____________________ ________________________
Our Group’s Tasks (copy from other handout)
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
Required Skills for Our Group (copy from other handout)
1. ___________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________
Part B - Idea Brainstorm for Each Task-
- write in the box some useful ideas on how you will complete the task
- you may choose to use other paper for more space
- you may do this alone first and then share or with your group the entire time
Task 1 - ________________________________________________________________ (copy from above)
8. Task 2 - ________________________________________________________________ (copy from above)
Task 3 - ________________________________________________________________ (copy from above)
(if necessary)
Part C - Idea Brainstorm for Required Materials-
- write in the box some useful ideas on how you will obtain or create all of your needed materials
- you may choose to use other paper for more space
- you may do this alone first and then share or with your group the entire time
Part D - Idea Brainstorm for Speech-
- write in a box some useful ideas on how you will create and deliver your speech
- you may do this alone first and then share or with your group the entire time
** Just make the box on other paper and attach!
FINAL NOTE: Be sure that you have accounted for all items in the Required Items for ALL Groups-
Section of your other handout!!!
