DTI - FUNDAMENTAL OF TOY DESIGN - ACTIVITIES

 

 

Subject: Design Thinking and Innovation
Class: XI

Design Challenge: Create Your Own Educational Toy Using Cardboard

Activity Type: Group Project
Group Size: 3 students

1. Objective

Design and develop an innovative educational toy using cardboard and easily available or recycled materials. The toy should make learning an interesting, interactive and enjoyable experience.

2. Instructions for Students

1. Select any topic or concept from a subject of your choice – Science, Mathematics, English, Social Science, Environmental Studies, Computer Science, etc.
2. Identify a learning concept that can be taught through an interactive toy.
3. Think of an innovative way to convert the selected concept into a playable toy.
4. Prepare an initial design sketch with labels.
5. Construct the toy primarily using cardboard and reusable materials.
6. Ensure that the toy is functional, safe, attractive and easy to use.
7. Test the toy with classmates and make improvements based on feedback.
8. Demonstrate how the toy helps someone learn the selected concept.

3. Suggested Areas for Selection

Subject	Suggested Educational Toy
Mathematics	Fraction wheel, multiplication game, geometry puzzle
Science	Solar system model, human body puzzle, physics-based game
English	Vocabulary builder, grammar game, word puzzle
Social Science	Historical timeline game, map-based quiz
Geography	Interactive map puzzle, layers of the Earth
Environmental Studies	Waste segregation game, ecosystem model
Computer Science	Binary number game, algorithm puzzle
Financial Literacy	Budgeting and money management game

 

4. Design Thinking Process

Students must follow these five stages:

• Empathise: Identify the learner and understand what they find difficult or interesting.
• Define: Identify the learning concept or problem.
• Ideate: Generate different toy ideas.
• Prototype: Build the cardboard toy.
• Test: Play, collect feedback and improve the design.

5. Mandatory Project Deliverables

Each group must present :

1. Toy Name and Selected Topic
2. Objective and Target Users
3. Initial Design Sketch – labelled drawing.
4. Materials Used – cardboard should be the primary material.
5. Working Prototype – functional educational toy.
6. Rules / Instructions – how to play and learn.
7. Testing and Improvements – feedback and modifications.
8. Final Demonstration – explain the educational value of the toy.

Expected Learning Outcome

Students will develop the ability to transform an academic concept into an interactive learning experience through creativity, experimentation, material exploration and design thinking.

Important instruction: The objective is not to make a decorative cardboard model. Students must create a functional educational toy that another person can actually play with and learn from.