Smart plant pots 1 (Year 9 Digital Design)
- SOI: The development of sustainable systems positively improves the environment.
- Key concept: Systems
- Related concept: Sustainability
- Context: Globalisation and sustainability (human impact on the environment)
- Assessed criteria: A, B
- Technology: Shaper3D
Help promote the sustainability of increased greenery at home or in our classrooms, by designing a system tor an IoT connected self-watering pot that nurtures your plant according to it’s requirements.
Schedule
Lesson 1 - Introduction to unit
Lesson 2 - Research & product analysis
Lesson 3 - Success criteria + begin sketching
Lesson 4 - Finalise sketches & justify decision
Lesson 5 - Develop final plan (drawing or CAD)
Lesson 6 - Submit design journal (A & B)
Lesson 7 & 8 - Shapr3D introductory tutorials and exercises
Lesson 9 & 10 - Design the basic pot
including overall shape, water tank and how the various components will fit together
Lesson 11 & 12 - Design the electronics bay
including supports to fit, mount and support each of the required components
Lesson 13 & 14 - Finalise your designs and prepare to 3d print
Finalise ARR
Rubrics
Criterion A: Inquiring and Analysing
1-2
- Say what the problem is and why someone might want a better planter.
- Share a few things you found from your research.
3-4
- Explain why someone needs a better planter.
- Say what you researched and what you still need to find out.
- Describe one product that gave you an idea.
- Write a basic design brief that says what your planter will try to do.
5-6
- Give a clear reason why a smart planter is needed for a specific user/group.
- Plan your research and say what is most important.
- Describe several real products that inspired you.
- Write a clear design brief that explains what you learned.
7-8
- Explain and justify the need for your planter.
- Create a detailed research plan independently.
- Compare products to see what works and what doesn’t.
- Write a detailed design brief that includes analysis.
Self assessment and peer feedback checklist
- A.i Clearly explained why someone needs this product, not just what it is*
- A.i Described a real problem this planter could solve
- A.ii Created a research plan that includes what I needed to find out and why
- A.ii Prioritized the most important research topics (e.g. planter features, electronics, printing limits)
- A.iii Described at least 3 existing products and what I learned from them
- A.iii Compared what works and doesn’t work in other planters
- A.iv Written a design brief that explains what I learned from research
- A.iv My design brief clearly explains what my design will aim to do
Criterion B: Developing ideas
1-2
- Write a short list of what your planter should do.
- Share one sketch or idea.
- Try to draw your final design (may be incomplete).
3-4
- Make a longer list of success criteria.
- Share 2–3 design ideas with notes or labels.
- Say why you chose your final idea.
- Make a basic diagram of your final design.
5-6
- Create a clear success criteria list.
- Share detailed sketches of at least 2–3 design ideas.
- Explain why you chose your final design.
- Make an accurate and labeled diagram.
7-8
- Use your research to develop strong success criteria.
- Share multiple well-labeled design ideas.
- Clearly explain why your final design is best.
- Make a detailed, labeled, and scaled drawing (or CAD model).
Self assessment and peer feedback checklist
- B.i Created a clear list of success criteria (what my planter must do)
- B.i Based my success criteria on research and target user needs
- B.ii Sketched at least 2–3 different design ideas
- B.ii Labeled and explained the key features of each idea
- B.iii Chosen one final design and explained why I chose it
- B.iii Used my success criteria to justify my final design
- B.iv Created a detailed and accurate diagram (hand-drawn or Shapr3d)
- B.iv Labeled all key features (e.g. reservoir, electronics space, dimensions)
- B.iv My drawing/diagram could be used to actually build the planter