Using the Teacher Grant for Innovation, Ms. Stone will give her students the opportunity to act as engineers, tasking them with designing water filtration systems and encouraging them to think critically as they tackle the challenge of purifying “dirty water.” The engineering design process—ranging from research and brainstorming to testing, redesigning, and documenting—cultivates a growth mindset and emphasizes iterative learning. By engaging with a range of activities, including a guest engineer presentation and group collaboration, students gain an understanding of how innovative solutions are created and refined. Additionally, the project highlights the real-world issue of water quality, demonstrating how innovation can address critical global challenges, such as the need for clean water on Earth and in space.
