Planter Boxes
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In groups of 3, students designed and built planter boxes and composters for a local community center. Our donated products helped transform an empty lot into a community hub. Students pitched their designs to the community business improvement association, and secured funding, along with financial support from Real World Scholars.
Students researched possible designs and liaised with local businesses and food justice organizations in order to best represent their interests. Having hand-drawn their ideas, we conducted a series of critiques before working with Google SketchUp to draw 3D designs. Students learned how to use power tools safely, then worked in build groups. Students constantly revised work, striving for beautiful products. |
Student Reflections
This project helped me gain perspective on building and woodworking. This was a great immersive experience because we got hands-on very quickly. This helped me learn about the world because doing hands-on projects like these gives you so much more knowledge and perspective than learning in a traditional way from a textbook. It's a way of being cultured in a sense, as well as simply gaining experience in such a unique way that I think benefits you and provides you with more scholarly perspective.
I think that I mastered collaboration on this project because my group persevered no matter what obstacles came our way and we functioned so well as a unit. The soft skills that were developed during this project include going out of my comfort zone and not only talking, but working with new people. - Eva |
This project was more than just a planter box, it was about raising awareness about various food justice issues within the community in addition to promoting local businesses.
The planter box posed a lot of challenges and allowed for multiple growth experiences that allowed our planter box to be the best it could be. We constantly evaluated our work and improved it in order to get to a final product that we could be proud of. - Katelynn |
1. Planter Box Drawings |
2. SketchUp Tutorials |
Students began by researching possible planter box designs with simple Google searches and reviewing Pinterest boards. This was followed by interviews with community restaurants and businesses, coupled with food justice organizations, in order to design authentic, personalized products. Their initial hand drawings, were critiqued, revised and shared with their clients
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Having received feedback from their clients and developed basic carpentry skills, students learned how to use Google SketchUp to turn their 2D drawings into 3D designs. They watched a series of tutorials, completing this log:
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3. SketchUp 3D DrawingsStudents moved from hand-drawn designs to technical 3D designs using Google SketchUp. Students collaborated by sharing existing and newly acquired skills, to design complete planters. After a series of critiques and revisions, their detailed designs included exact dimensions for each required cut and screw placement, in order to facilitate the build process.
When considering their final designs, students took into account available wood sizes and potential costs. This budgeting process ensured their products were cost efficient while long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing. Planter Box AssessmentDuring this portion of the project, students were assessed in the following areas:
1) Willingness to fail 2) Collaboration 3) Critique 4) Beautiful products 5) Respect 6) Reflection |
4. Planter Box Proposal In preparation for our final pitch to a local business improvement association, each group completed a detailed proposal. This proposal included a cost breakdown, build calendar with potential pitfalls, food to be grown, and connection to food justice. As a result, we secured invaluable funding, allowing us to proceed with the project.
Planter Box CritiqueThroughout the project, we used a variety of critique protocols, leading us to beautiful work.
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