Eco-Fair Project – SCOPES-DF
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Lesson Details

Subjects *
Design
Age Ranges *
11-14,
Fab Tools *
3D Printer, Laser Cutter, Vinyl Cutter, Computers, Classroom Materials, Power Tools,
Author
Noel Trembly

Author

Noel Trembly
Noel Trembly

Summary

Lesson Summary: Eco Fair Design Project

The Eco Fair Design Project is a five-week sustainability-focused design challenge in which students work collaboratively to research, design, and build a physical prototype that promotes environmental awareness and inspires positive behavioral change within the school community.

 

Project Focus

The project centers on the key concept of sustainability, with related concepts of systems, form, and function. Students explore how creative design solutions can address environmental challenges and raise awareness in their immediate community.

 

The Challenge

Students select one of eight sustainability topics:

  • Food
  • Energy
  • Oceans
  • Biodiversity
  • Land
  • Water
  • Health
  • Pollution

 

Their task is to design and create a physical prototype (or video) that promotes awareness of their chosen topic and encourages positive action. Prototypes must:

 

  • Fit within a Fablab storage bin (insert dimensions)
  • Demonstrate clear form and function
  • Promote visibility and awareness
  • Use available tools (3D printer, laser cutter, Microbit) creatively and sustainably

 

Design Process (MYP Design Cycle)

Students document their work through the full design cycle:

  1. Inquiring & Analyzing (Criterion A)
  • Construct a research plan
  • Analyze existing solutions
  1. Developing Ideas (Criterion B)
  • Develop clear design specifications
  • Generate and present multiple design ideas
  • Justify their chosen solution
  1. Creating the Solution (Criterion C)
  • Demonstrate technical skills
  • Follow a plan to build a functioning prototype
  • Participate in feedback and revision cycles
  1. Evaluating (Criterion D)
  • Reflect on challenges
  • Explain improvements
  • Evaluate the prototype’s impact

 

Collaboration & Community Impact

Students work in house groups, participate in peer feedback rounds, and engage in a house-wide vote. The selected prototype represents the house at the Eco-Fair & Design Fair. Evaluation criteria include relevance, creativity, practicality, and impact.

 

Overall Learning Goal

Through research, collaboration, technical creation, and reflection, students learn how design thinking can be used to address real-world environmental issues and inspire change both inside and outside the school community.

What You'll Need

1. Planning & Curriculum Materials

 

  • Project brief and slide deck (including design cycle expectations)
  • Clear assessment criteria (e.g., MYP Design Criteria A–D or rubric)
  • Timeline/calendar outlining the 5-week schedule

 

2. Research & Sustainability Resources

 

  • Access to credible sustainability research sources (e.g., UN SDGs, government sites, NGOs)

 

3. Design & Technical Resources

 

  • Access to a makerspace or Fablab
  • Materials for prototyping (cardboard, recycled materials, wood, acrylic, fasteners, adhesives, etc.)
  • Tools such as:
  • 3D printer
  • Laser cutter
  • Microbit (if applicable)
  • Hand tools and safety equipment

 

3. Feedback Forms

  • Peer feedback form
  • Observation form
  • Advisory voting form

Lesson Materials

Learning Objectives

Sustainability (SDG-Focused Objective)

Students will critically analyze a selected sustainability issue (e.g., food, water, energy, pollution) by identifying at least three root causes and two measurable real-world impacts, supported by credible and properly cited research sources.

 

Research & Critical Thinking

Students will develop a structured research plan that prioritizes at least two primary and two secondary research methods, demonstrating how the findings directly inform and strengthen their prototype design.

 

Design & Technical Skills

Students will design and construct a functional physical prototype that meets a minimum of four clearly defined success criteria (e.g., relevance, practicality, sustainability, visibility) while adhering to all project constraints and specifications.

 

Collaboration & Communication (Non-Technical Goal)

Students will demonstrate effective teamwork by actively contributing to brainstorming sessions, integrating at least two pieces of peer feedback into revisions, and delivering a clear and engaging presentation of their prototype at the Eco-Fair.

 

Reflection & Continuous Improvement

Students will critically evaluate their final prototype by identifying at least two strengths and two specific areas for improvement, clearly explaining how feedback and iterative revisions enhanced the final design.

Reflection

TBD

The Instructions

Step 1

Prepare before launch (teacher setup)

Choose the project dates (5-week window) and block time for: research, ideation, building, feedback, revisions, and final presentations. 

 

ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

 

Confirm tools/materials access (Fablab/makerspace, storage bins, 3D printer/laser cutter/Microbit if available). 

 

ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

 

Print or share:

– project brief + success criteria/voting criteria

– design journal templates / evidence expectations 

 

ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

 

Set up assessment: decide how you will grade (rubric or MYP criteria A–D) and share it with students early. 

Step 2

WEEK 1 — Research the problem + existing solutions

Launch the challenge

  1. Present the Statement of Inquiry and guiding questions (factual, conceptual, debatable).
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Explain the challenge: design a physical prototype (or video) that promotes awareness and inspires behavior change.
  4. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  5. Review the 8 possible topics and have students pick one in groups.
  6. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

Teach research expectations

  1. Model what “credible sources” look like (short mini-lesson).
  2. Students complete:
  • Define the topic + explain why it matters
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  • List problems/impacts and include sources
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  1. Students begin a moodboard for their topic.
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Students create a research plan prioritizing primary + secondary research.
  4. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  5. Students analyze existing designs/solutions for inspiration (2–3 examples with links).
  6. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

Teacher checkpoint: approve research plan + confirm topic clarity.

Step 2

Brainstorm + sketch

Turn research into design goals

  1. Guide groups to write design specifications / success criteria (what the design must do to be successful).
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Require at least 4 criteria (example: relevance, practicality, sustainability, visibility).

Generate and select ideas

  1. Run a structured brainstorm (e.g., 10 ideas in 10 minutes).
  2. Students present a range of feasible ideas that others can interpret (sketches + notes).
  3. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  4. Students choose one final idea and justify why it was selected (based on research + success criteria).
  5. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

Teacher checkpoint: approve final concept + materials plan.

Step 4

Build prototype + feedback round 1

Build phase begins (technical instruction + safety)

  1. Deliver tool demos as needed (laser cutter / 3D printer / Microbit).
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Reinforce constraints:
  • must fit in storage bin
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  • must be physical prototype or video
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  • must promote awareness + behavior change
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  1. Students document build steps with photos + brief annotations.
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

Facilitate feedback round 1

  1. Organize groups to present prototypes to peers.
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Use the feedback criteria:
  • relevance
  • creativity/innovation
  • practicality
  • impact
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  1. Require each group to record feedback and identify what they will change.

Teacher checkpoint: verify each group has feedback and a revision plan.

Step 5

WEEK 4 — Improve prototype + house vote

Revision & refinement

  1. Students revise prototypes based on feedback (“incorporate the feedback to improve”).
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Continue documentation (photos + short reflections).
  4. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

House vote selection

  1. Run the house vote after prototypes are developed.
  2. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  3. Vote using the same criteria (relevance, creativity, practicality, impact).
  4. ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  5. Announce the house representative prototype and plan any final polish

 

Step 6

WEEK 5 — Presentation (Eco-Fair & Design Fair)

Prepare presentation materials

  1. Students finalize:
  • prototype (or video)
  • slides (each group submits their own)
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT
  • short explanation of problem → solution → impact
  1. Run a rehearsal with timing + clarity feedback.

Eco-Fair showcase day

  1. Set up display stations and ensure safe access to prototypes.
  2. Students present to visitors and explain:
  • what issue they addressed
  • how their design works (form/function)
  • how it promotes awareness and behavior change
  • ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

 

Step 7

After the fair — Evaluation & reflection

Students complete a short evaluation:

  • challenges faced + how they overcame them
  • how the idea evolved
  • improvements made and why
  • how effective the prototype is at addressing the issue 

 

ECO FAIR – DESIGN PROJECT

Teacher provides final feedback (end-of-journal teacher feedback page).

Lesson Feedback

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