Adventures in Engineering for Kids: 35 Challenges to Design the Future - Journey to City X - Without Limits, What Can Kids Create? (Design Genius Jr.)

Design Genius Jr.: Adventures in Engineering for Kids **invites kids to take charge of the world they wish to create by designing inventions and solutions to challenges faced in an imaginary City X, the first human settlement on another planet.** Explore the future through problem solving, design thinking, and engineering. This adventure takes children and adults on an epic journey: humans are leaving Earth, arriving at a new planet, and creating the first settlement there, City X. It’s a journey of historic proportions, to a fledgling city on a distant planet, where humanity has a chance to start fresh and design a future that works for everyone. In settling another planet, humans discover a host of challenges , much like those faced on Earth: challenges related to issues of energy, environment, transportation, security, food, safety, and health. Empowered by design thinking and advanced technology, their problems are to be solved by a vast team of young designers on Earth (your children!). With this book, you and yours will be able to develop the tools to explore, understand, imagine, create, and share your own irresistible futures through accessible real-world activities and awesome ideations. **Without limits, what can kids create?** Design thinking—creative problem solving—will be crucial to resolving the global challenges in business, politics, and the environment facing the next generation. Each book in the **Design Genius Jr. series** teaches kids this important skill through fun, hands-on projects in a single area of design that challenge them to identify problems, explore possibilities, test ideas, and then come up with original solutions. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS TRANSMISSION FROM THE MAYOR OF CITY X ENGINEER BRIEFING The Irresistible Futures Agency The Design Process Seven Social Challenges Prepare Yourself to Be a Designer of the Future 1 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION Understand the Challenge Transportation Basics Explore: Immerse Yourself in the Challenge User Research: Survey Synthesize: Create a “What-if” Question Design a Solution Case Study: The Importance of Perspective Imagine: The Blank Page Create: Improve and Repeat Share: The Three-Act Story 2 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF ENVIRONMENT Understand the Challenge Environment Basics Explore: My Little Corner of the World User Research: Vote Synthesize: The Why Game Design a Solution Case Study: Biomimicry Imagine: The Creative Walk Create: Build a Prototype Share: Your Citizen’s Irresistible Future 3 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF COMMUNICATION Understand the Challenge Communication Basics Explore: The “What’s in My Head?” Game User Research: Letter Writing Synthesize: Draw a Problem Map Design a Solution Case Study: Innovation by Accident Imagine: Scrambled Imagination Create: Blueprint Your Idea Share: Storyboard 4 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF FOOD Design a Solution Food Basics Explore: Make an Empathy Web User Research: Word On the Street Synthesize: The Four P’s Design a Solution Case Study: Building Our New Home World Imagine: Interconnected Challenges Create: Clay Modeling Share: TV Commercial 5 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF HEALTH Understand the Challenge Health Basics Explore: Your Own Life User Research: Point of Service Synthesize: Think like a Doctor Design a Solution Case Study: The World’s Youngest Space Engineer Imagine: Designing with Constraints Create: Feedback from Everyone Share: A Poetic Solution 6 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF ENERGY Understand the Challenge Energy Basics Explore: Live a Day User Research: Data Analysis Synthesize: First Principles Design a Solution Case Study: Horse Poop 9 Feet High Imagine: “This is not a . . .” Create: Focus Group Share: Musically Speaking 7 DESIGN THE FUTURE OF SAFETY Understand the Challenge Safety Basics Explore: Safety First User Research: Town Hall Synthesize: Systems Thinking Design a Solution Case Study: Innovation vs Invention Imagine: Outside the Box Create: Engineer’s Choice Share: Your Moment of Fame CONCLUSION THANK YOU FROM THE MAYOR OF CITY X What Is Your Irresistible Future? Acknowledgments About the Author Index A B C D E F H I L M N P R S T U V W Help your kids take charge of the world they want to create by designing inventions and solutions to challenges faced in the imaginary City X , the first human settlement on another planet. *2021 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books in Hands-On Science Longlist* *2021 EUREKA! Nonfiction Children's Honor Book* Adventures in Engineering for Kids features: 35 hands-on problem-solving, design thinking, and engineering activities Flexible and adaptable content for different ages and stages Social distance compatibility Design an Irresistible Future In settling another planet, humans discover a host of challenges, much like those faced on Earth. The Mayor of City X has established an elite engineering team called the Irresistible Futures Agency , charged with tackling major challenges like: Energy Environment Transportation Security Food Safety Health Problem Solving, Design Thinking, and Engineering As an Irresistible Futures engineer, kids (and adults!) come up with their own unique solutions to big problems. They use design thinking, systems thinking, and other problem-solving activities that are part of being a good engineer for the future. Activities help them: Explore the impact of global challenges Make complex issues simple and understandable Imagine a better future Create solutions to the challenges they care most about Share their best ideas with the world Science-Fact and Real-World Case Studies Along the way, readers learn about real-world innovators and technologies that are making this future possible, from inventors building megastructures in space to companies powering cities with baby poop. Diversity and Inclusion In each Chapter, kids design a solution for citizens of City X, who share perspectives on each challenge. The 35 citizens represent a diversity of culture, age, gender, background, and ability, so every reader can see themselves in the story and expand their perspective at the same time. Without limits, what can kids create? About the Series: Design thinking—creative problem solving—will be crucial to resolving the global challenges in business, politics, and the environment facing the next generation. Each book in the Design Genius Jr. series teaches kids this important skill through fun, hands-on projects in a single area of design that challenge them to identify problems, explore possibilities, test ideas, and then come up with original solutions. Design Genius, Jr.: Adventures In Engineering For Kids Explores The Future Through Problem Solving, Design Thinking, And Engineering In A Science-fact World That Most Parents And Kids Don’t Yet Know Exists. This Book Invites Kids To Take Charge Of The World They Wish To Create By Designing Inventions And Solutions To Challenges Faced In An Imaginary City X, The First Human Settlement On Another Planet. This Adventure Takes Readers On An Epic Journey: Humans Are Leaving Earth, Arriving At A New Planet, And Creating The First Settlement There, City X. It’s A Journey Of Historic Proportions, To A Fledgling City On A Distant Planet, Where Humanity Has A Chance To Start Fresh And Design A Future That Works For Everyone. In Settling Another Planet, Humans Discover A Host Of Challenges, Much Like Those Faced On Earth: Challenges Related To Issues Of Energy, Environment, Transportation, Security, Food, Safety, And Health. Empowered By Design Thinking And Advanced Technology, Their Problems Are To Be Solved By A Vast Team Of Young Designers On Earth (your Children!). With This Book, You And Yours Will Be Able To Develop The Tools To Explore, Understand, Imagine, Create, And Share Your Own Irresistible Futures Through Accessible Real-world Activities And Awesome Ideations. Without Limits, What Can Kids Create? Design Genius Jr: Adventures in Engineering for Kids teaches creative problem solving, design thinking, and multiple facets of engineering to expands kids’ understanding of the world today and the possible worlds of the future.