ITEMS TO USE FOR PROTOTYPING ACTIVITIES
“How do you close the gap between I wonder and I know? You make a prototype.” Scott Witthoft
A design thinking classroom should have various simple materials that students can use to build simple prototypes that represent their solutions. Anything can be a part of this supply - include things that you find interesting and watch the ways students combine them to represent their ideas! Many of these items can be sought through donations or found in the craft aisle of stores that sell items for a dollar. Here is a list of things to get you started:
Storage bins for supplies
Cardboard: my number 1 go-to for prototyping.
Cordless electric scissors for cutting cardboard (you can’t do it with regular scissors)
Tracing paper or regular typing paper and Sharpies: for sketching
Post-it notes
Paper tubes from toilet paper or paper towels
Pipe cleaners
Masking tape
Play-doh
Popsicle sticks
Felt squares
Styrofoam balls and other shapes
Floral foam
Felt squares
Aluminum foil
Toothpicks
Buttons
Clothespins
Pom Poms
String
Small
Glue guns and glue supply
TIPS:
A great book to read to really do a deep dive into prototyping is: This Is a Prototype: The Curious Craft of Exploring New Ideas by Scott Witthoft.
Keep interesting prototypes in a visible location to provide exemplars and to create a visible connection to the design process. Use student-created prototypes to start building a design culture.
Include parts for prototyping that can be reused after a design challenge or sprint has been accomplished.
Prototyping is a great way to unleash creativity - I’m always amazed at what the students and adults I work with create when just given the opportunity.
Consider limiting prototype materials to introduce a constraint into the process. See how creative students can be with access to the same five materials.