We know that all children are natural makers. But how do we unleash this creativity in a system where you don’t have enough technology and you lack time and you have a rigid curriculum map tied to a high-stakes test?

Well, here are two ideas. The first is called a maker project.
The second is a design challenge. Both projects allow students to experiment and create and collaborate. However, each project fulfills a different role.

Maker projects are short-terms projects while design challenges are long-term. Maker projects focus on rapid prototyping while design challenges involve the entire design thinking cycle. Maker projects focus on an audience of one while design challenges have a specific, larger audience in mind.

Now, here’s the beauty of it. These two ideas don’t require a ton of technology and they can work within the standards you have to teach. So ultimately, they don’t require any extra time.

All they require is a little bit of imagination and a willingness to try something new.

You can get a free maker project by getting the Design Thinking Toolkit below:

The FREE Design Thinking Toolkit and Maker Project

[wr_row width=”boxed” background=”none” solid_color_value=”#FFFFFF” solid_color_color=”#ffffff” gradient_color=”0% #FFFFFF,100% #000000″ gradient_direction=”vertical” repeat=”full” img_repeat=”full” autoplay=”yes” position=”center center” paralax=”no” border_width_value_=”0″ border_style=”solid” border_color=”#000″ div_padding_top=”10″ div_padding_bottom=”10″ div_padding_right=”10″ div_padding_left=”10″ ][wr_column span=”span6″ ][wr_text text_margin_top=”0″ text_margin_bottom=”0″ enable_dropcap=”no” appearing_animation=”0″ disabled_el=”no” ][/wr_text][/wr_column][wr_column span=”span6″ ][wr_text text_margin_top=”0″ text_margin_bottom=”0″ enable_dropcap=”no” appearing_animation=”0″ disabled_el=”no” ]Curious about design thinking? This toolkit provides a set of free, out-of-the-box resources you can use from day one. Simply fill out the form on the left and the entire toolkit will be sent to your inbox. You’ll also be enrolled in the Creative Classroom newsletter. The toolkit includes:

1. Getting Started with Design Thinking: a comprehensive eBook explaining the LAUNCH Cycle

2. The LAUNCH Cycle Video

3. A free maker project that you can adapt to your K-12 classrooom

4. The Creative Classroom Assessment toolbox, complete with nine assessments you can integrate into a design thinking project[/wr_text][/wr_column][/wr_row]