VISUAL ARTS: Cool Cardboard Creations Challenge

Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

Art is all around us, can we create an artistic cardboard creation that is unique and memorable?

What can you create artistically with cardboard?

In this challenge, the student will take everyday materials, especially cardboard and create an animal, object  or person.

Take before, during and after photos. Think about where this artistic creation could be displayed? In a museum? park? home?

How can you create a final project that best showcases your artistic abilities using your preferred art medium*?

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

In order to run your own Challenge, check out these resources that I created:

Cool Cardboard Creations Challenge Teacher – highlighted areas are important pieces of information to share with students via an LMS such as Google Classroom.

Cool Cardboard Creations rubric

Cool Cardboard Creations slide deck Overview

Darrell Wakelam’s Art Jump Start series of cardboard projects

Finally, feel free to share your experiences on the comments below or via Twitter. Enjoy all the unique cardboard designs!

 

STEAM: Sensational Super Shoe Challenge

Shoes by Rachel Fujii is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0

What materials can you use to make a unique shoe?

Take the Maker Challenge set by Izi Morley and be the maker of your own sensational super shoe! Explore sensations in your feet, create your own materials and invent a shoe that the world has never seen before.

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

Want to run this Challenge in your classroom? Here are the documents for you to use that I have created:

Sensational Super Shoe Challenge Teacher

Sensational Super Shoe Challenge rubric

Have fun seeing how creative your students can get with their original shoes. Take lots of photos and feel free to share their creations or your experiences in the comments below or via Twitter.

 

STEAM: Fantastic Fabric Invention Challenge

Festival Pattern Group Fabric, 1951 (textile sample) by Old Bleach Linen Company is licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0

Can you create an original fabric with items around the house?

Take the fabric dyeing challenge set by material designer Ella Bulley with fun activities to help you create an amazing invention!

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

Resources so that you can run your own Challenge are found below:

Fantastic Fabric Invention Challenge TEACHER

Fantastic Fabric Invention Challenge rubric

Have fun seeing all the creative inventing students will come up with! Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below or via Twitter.

 

VISUAL ARTS: Be a Film Critic Challenge

Photo by Louis on Pexels.com

People love to watch films/movies and some even create their own movie.  Have you ever made a short video clip before? Have you ever felt pride in creating something and sharing it with family/friends?

Different film genres (romantic, historical, detective, thriller, adventure, horror, science fiction…) are found throughout the world. Record yourself reviewing two films to share with family, friends and teacher.

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Teacher documents for this Challenge are found below:

Be a Film Critic Challenge TEACHER

Be a Film Critic Challenge rubric

And for those who would like the slide deck, you can find it HERE.

Finally, if you would like to share your experiences with this Challenge, please do so in the comments below or via Twitter. Have fun viewing!! 🍿🎬

 

VISUAL ARTS: The Artist in YOU Challenge

Photo by Marko Blazevic on Pexels.com

How can you create a final project that best showcases your artistic abilities using your preferred art medium*?

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Now, for more in-depth information from a Teacher standpoint, please check out the Google Doc that has the overview.

The ARTist in YOU Challenge TEACHER

And there is a Rubric as well if you would like to associate an assessment with this particular Challenge.

The ARTist in YOU Challenge Rubric

Although the next few documents are directly linked into the TEACHER item, here they are:

The ARTist Mediums List

Elements & Principles of Art

As well the teacher slide deck is available HERE.

Finally, if you would like to show off your students artwork, cc me on Twitter or in the comments section. Enjoy all the creative and artistic designs! 

 

STEAM: Block-based Coding Challenge

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

How does coding interact and influence the world around us? Can you create an authentic experience using block-based coding? Have you ever wanted to create your own code?

Using a variety of digital learning environments, students will learn the basics of block-based coding. Problem solving, citizenship, communication, critical thinking and creativity skills are a must.

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Here is what you need to get started:

Block-based Coding Challenge TEACHER

Block-based Coding Challenge Rubric

Block-based Coding Challenge Student overview

And for those who asked, my above slide deck from the intro video is HERE.

Finally, feel free to share students coding creations with my via comments below or Twitter.

 

VISUAL ARTS: Spoken Word Challenge

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

We talk to ourselves and each other everyday.  Whether it’s a discussion, response, lyric, song or poem, we speak often. Do you know how to get your point across to someone? Do you know how to evoke emotion via a phrase or poem? How can you become an effective speaker?

This challenge will provide you the opportunity to:

• Speak on a variety of topics, in a variety of situations
• Write and perform Spoken Word Poetry (aka SLAM)

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

There are a lot of great resources that I have created for this Challenge, check them out at:

Spoken Word Challenge TEACHER and you even get access to a bunch more resources at the bottom of this document including the rubric!

Spoken Word Challenge overview – the slide deck above.

I always love hearing about you and your students’ experiences, feel free to leave comments below or share via Twitter!

 

FOODS: Let Them Eat Cake Challenge

Photo by Abhinav Goswami on Pexels.com

As part of birthday or special occasion celebrations, people have often had cakes for guests to consume. Have you ever made a cake before? Have you ever felt pride in creating/baking something from a recipe to the final product that is offered to family/friends to eat? Even the Food Network on TV has many popular cake shows.

A special celebration is quickly approaching and you have been asked to create a one-of-a-kind cake. It is up to you to decide what you bring but it needs to serve 8 people and you need to plan so that it is ready to be served by (date and time _____________).

You will learn the necessary techniques needed to be a baking expert! This challenge will allow students to explore their inner foodie as they create delicious recipes for a given audience.

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Below you will find all the necessary documents to get this Challenge set up and made available for your students:

Let Them Eat Cake Challenge TEACHER

Let Them Eat Cake Challenge rubric

And for those who asked for my presentation that was shared in the above video, you can get it HERE.

Finally, feel free to share those delicious student cake creations in the comments below or via Twitter @nlakusta.

 

STEAM: Extreme Room Makeover Challenge

Re-design my bedroom part 2 by Minh Nguyen is licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0

Have you ever remade a room before? Have you ever felt pride in redesigning a space just for you or your family?

This challenge is to design and then create an updated space in a room in your place of residence. Take before and after photos (during too if you like). Indicate your or your client’s specific uses for the space, type of feeling, colors, furniture, etc.

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Also below you will find the overview, rubric and CTF template that I created for this challenge.

Extreme Room Makeover Challenge TEACHER

Extreme Room Makeover Challenge Rubric

Extreme Room Makeover Challenge Overview presentation slides from the video above. (And if students would like to complete this challenge but do not have the means to do the actual extreme physical room makeover, why not have them do all the planning, sketching, diagramming and present a timeline, cost analysis on what they would like to do.)

Feel free to share student before and after photos in the comments below or via Twitter!

 

FOODS: Rice Krispie Design Challenge

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Something known as cereal or special treats can be changed into a superb challenge for students. Check it out:

You’ve landed on an episode of Iron Chef – you are challenged to create a structure that is connected to a movie using Rice Krispies. What movie will you choose? What will you make out of Rice Krispies? How are you adapting the recipe to add a creative element?

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment. One could even use it with younger students for a Science Structures unit (grade 3 Alberta) in a small group of 3.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Now, for more in-depth information from a Teacher standpoint, please check out the Google Doc that has the overview.

Rice Krispie Design Challenge TEACHER

And there is a Rubric as well if you would like to associate an assessment with this particular Challenge.

Rice Krispie Design Challenge Rubric

As well the teacher slide deck is available HERE.

Finally, if you would like to show off your students Rice Krispie Structures, cc me on Twitter (@nlakusta) or in the comments section. 🥣+🏗️