Third Graders Think Creatively to Reimagine Traditional United States Landmarks

Students first choose a famous landmark (natural or manmade) within their chosen state and then engage in a design thinking routine called “Imagine If”—first examining their landmark and then imagining what they could do to enhance it.

The thinking game includes two steps: “Exploring Complexities,” which involves answering questions about the landmark’s significance, identifying its most recognizable features, exploring in what ways visitors interact with it, and why it may have been designed in the way that it is.

The second step is “Finding Opportunities,” where they imagine redesigning their landmarks while maintaining the integrity of the landmark’s main features. Students aim to preserve what already makes it special, but with an added twist of enhancing its beauty, making it more ethical, or even adding more elements of fun!

Students then took their work to the Idea & Design Lab to build 3D prototypes of their reimagined landmark. Using pipe cleaners, clay, wire, glue guns, and whatever other materials they could find, students brought their ideas to life, creating dioramas to put on display at the Third Grade State Spectacular.

“Students are challenged to take their research and use it to put their creativity to the test. Oftentimes, their original ideas don’t go as planned as time and resources are limited, and students must adapt. Even though these are individual projects, students can collaborate and get inspired from one another as they engineer solutions,” says Lower School Technology, Innovation, & Design Integrator Jen Garvey.