Posted by: Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
9/20/2007 3:02:28 PM


Title: Designing Scavengers
Grade Level: High School
Subject Area: Arts
Language Arts
Lesson Time: Two or three fifty-minute class periods
Introduction: One of the most amazing features of Cooper-Hewitt's People’ s Design Award Web site is the diverse collection of objects. The People’ s Design Award, which is hosted each year by Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and sponsored by Target , gives the general public an opportunity to nominate and vote for favorite designs. In this lesson, students will have an opportunity to view the depth and breadth of the collection by exploring the People’ s Design Award Web site, and then creating a scavenger hunt comprised of objects from the collection.
Standards:
Reading
Standard 7. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts Level IV. 1. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of informational texts (e. g. , textbooks, biographical sketches, letters, diaries, directions, procedures, magazines, essays, primary source historical documents, editorials, news stories, periodicals, catalogs, job-related materials, schedules, speeches, memoranda, public documents, maps)
Writing
Standard 1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process Level IV. 5. Uses strategies to address writing to different audiences (e. g. , includes explanations and definitions according to the audience's background, age, or knowledge of the topic, adjusts formality of style, considers interests of potential readers)
Arts Connections
1. Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines
Arts and Communication
Standard 3. Uses critical and creative thinking in various arts and communication settings
Working With Others
Standard 1. Contributes to the overall effort of a group
Objectives: Students will:
  • conduct Internet research
  • participate in small-group and large-group discussion
  • analyze, summarize, critique, and evaluate information from varied sources
  • work collaboratively in small groups
  • create a scavenger hunt using resources from the People’ s Design Award website
Resources:
  • “ Design Scavenger Hunt: Part One” handout (attached)
  • “ Design Scavenger Hunt: Part Two” handout (attached)
  • People's Design Award Web site: www. peoplesdesignaward. org
Materials:
  • Computer with Internet access
Vocabulary: Students in this age group should be familiar with all words used.
Procedures:
Building Background
Introducing the People’ s Design Award The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to different aspects of the People’ s Design Award.

1. Introduce the People’ s Design Award Web site to your students (www. peoplesdesignaward. org ). As a class, browse the different sections of the site to give students a comprehensive overview and background knowledge about the award.

2. Divide the class into groups of three students. Ask the students to respond in writing to the following prompt:

You are at a staff meeting of your city’ s local newspaper. Your boss wants you to write a newspaper article headline that captures the most important elements of the People’ s Design Award. She feels that people don’ t know enough about design  or the competition. As you write your headline, make it compelling, exciting, and engaging. Remember, you are on deadline!

3. Ask each group to write its headline on the blackboard. After the students have finished, lead a class discussion comparing and contrasting the different headlines.

Steps for Learning
Go Hunt! The purpose of this activity is to give students an opportunity to explore the People’ s Design Award Web site. 1. Divide the class into small groups and ask them to complete the “ Design Scavenger Hunt: Part One” handout (attached).
2. Ask each group to design its own scavenger hunt on the "Design Scavenger Hunt: Part Two" handout (attached). Encourage creativity, as there is no one correct way to construct the scavenger hunt.
Assessment: Ask the students to write a paragraph describing what they learned about the diverse submissions on the People’ s Design Award Web site.
Enrichment
Extension Activities:		 Have students conduct further research on the People’ s Design Award Web site and new design scavenger hunts.
Teacher Reflection: N/A.
Related
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