Thesis

Walk the Planks is a project that teaches self-advocacy and collaboration through a sensory group building activity. Two students must work together to allow for our character, Toby the T-Rex, to collect treasure from various pirate ships. Students take turns placing connectors and planks to form a "bridge" of sorts, advocating for their placements along the way. When not being used as a group activity, Walk the Planks can be used as a sensory fidget--the snap fasteners are fun to use, there are magnets, and things are connected, allowing for a more Montessori approach.

Designing for a Montessori client

Target kids who are new to or struggle with the Montessori method

We decided to tone down the "game-iness" of our game to be more of a collaborative experience

Have an elder student teach and mentor a younger student

Students were taught the Montessori method extensively

Students aren't given flashy or exciting toys, but constructive ones

Students are given (or choose) tasks where they can feel successful while paired with partners

Initial sketches, prototypes & ideas

Initial sketches, prototypes & ideas

Lesson Plan for Educators

Use & User Overview

Age of user: 3-6

Number of students: 2

Level of teacher supervision while playing: low to none, important for teacher to pair partners

Type of student collaboration: older and younger student or two students who need to practice collaboration and self-advocacy (paired by teacher)

Phase 1: Exploration

Phase 2: Vocab & Concepts

-Hold up a block, show the snap fastener to the kids

-Pick up a connector and show the other side of the snap fastener to the kids

-Place the block and connector near each other

-Introduce the necessary vocab

-Include words such as connector, plank, boat/ship

-Concepts: fastening and bridges

-Show how they snap together when introducing the concept of fastening

Phase 3: Two-player Demonstration

Phase 4: Rule Demonstration

-After exploration, allow for the instructor to demonstrate the turn-by-turn aspect with a second instructor

-Demonstrate placing the objects into their sorted bins

-Demonstrate the double connectors to create a split path

-Show the rules of the game, how the dinosaur can cross the bridge and get to the treasure when all of the bridges are connected

-Show a simple level being completed by drawing out the plan with a partner beforehand

-Introduce self-advocacy with a healthy disagreement with the partner

Phase 5: Booklet Demonstration

Phase 6: Free Choice

-Demonstrate copying a design from the booklet

-Show two or so levels at two different difficulty levels

-Allow for the kids to complete a level

-Give the kids free reign to clear a stage of their choice

-After, encourage them to put the items back

-Assist them if they have trouble clearing a level and encourage them to ask for help (self-advocate!)

Potential expansion

While this may not be a particularly useful tool for kids older than the 5-6 range, there are "difficulty settings" that can allow some students to build up their skills over time as opposed to a single round.

Additional notes for Wildflower teacher:

• What sorts of challenges might students face when playing with your toy?
• What should the teacher be prepared for?
• What should the teacher be aware of?
• If the pieces break, there are small parts that can become choking hazards.
• Pair students in a way that can allow for them to self-advocate
• Allow for students to play in their own way if they don't want to play the game

Burn No Bridges is a project that teaches self-advocacy and collaboration through a sensory group building activity. Two students must work together to build a bridge- one has the pieces, and one has the snap fasteners, advocating for their block placements along the way. The act of fastening requires the two students to work together- one must hold the bridge up while the other attaches the fasteners, constructing the bridge. When not being used as a group activity, Burn No Bridges can be used as a sensory fidget- the snap fasteners and suspension of the pieces are a great tool to build muscle strength for 3-5 year olds, and the "snap" feeling and noise are incredibly satisfying.

Who: 3-5 year old children that are currently struggling with self-advocacy

What: Project that assists with the learning of self-advocacy through an enriching and sensory experience

Why: Kids may have difficulty adapting from an environment that discourages self-advocacy to one that encourages it, and some kids may simply struggle with it in the Montessori system

https://improvingliteracy.org/kit/self-advocacy

Burn No Bridges Bertha

Core Needs

-Needs help advocating for herself socially

-Needs a sensory experience to learn

-Requires some help socially interacting with other students

Pain Points

-Has difficulty transitioning from the public school system to the Montessori school system, where self-advocacy is rewarded

-Due to her age and lack of Montessori experience, has difficulty expressing her personal needs to a teacher

-Struggles with collaborative projects

Motivation

-Loves creativity and building blocks

-Loves playing with friends at recess

-Wants a fun and engaging way to learn

About

-4 years old

-Goes to Greenhouse Montessori School

-Lawful Evil

-Struggles when overstimulated or understimulated

-Shy and struggles with some social interaction

-Lives in Boston

"If I have an idea and fail to create it before my death, that idea is lost forever."

Key Design Features:

-Wooden blocks that act as planks for a bridge

-Fasteners that allow for the wooden blocks to stay together

-A design requiring 2 players for the "main game"

Next Steps:

-Begin prototyping and purchase or create then test fasteners

-Start cardboard bridge model

-Accrue knowledge