Sustainable Solutions Brainstorming

Technology — Sustainable Design Explorations | Lesson 4

Name:

Date:

Group Members:

Students brainstorming sustainable technology solutions

🎯 WALT & Success Criteria

We Are Learning To: Generate creative sustainable ideas to solve community problems, and collaborate with our peers to build on those ideas.

✅ I can do this if I can:

☐ Contribute at least 3 sustainable ideas to solve a community problem

☐ Use a mind map to organise and connect my ideas

☐ Listen to and build on my group members' ideas

☐ Explain why my idea is good for the community and the environment

💡 Part 1: Warm-Up — What Do You Already Know?

Think about what you've learned in previous lessons. Answer these quick questions.

1. What does sustainable mean? Circle the best answer:

Using as many resources as we want

Meeting our needs without harming the future

Building the tallest possible structures

Making things look nice and colourful

2. Tick ALL the examples that show a community problem that could use a sustainable solution:

Too much rubbish ending up in landfill

Wasting too much water at school

Using too much electricity in classrooms

Having a favourite colour

Not enough green spaces or gardens in the neighbourhood

🌱 Understanding Sustainability

Sustainability means making choices that do not harm the environment and ensure resources are available for future generations. Here are some key concepts:

Reducing Waste: This means using less and recycling more. For example, bringing a reusable water bottle to school instead of using plastic bottles.
Conserving Water: Simple actions like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save gallons of water each day.
Saving Energy: Turning off lights when you leave a room or using energy-efficient appliances helps reduce energy consumption.
Protecting the Environment: Planting trees and creating green spaces can improve air quality and provide habitats for wildlife.

🧠 Part 2: Individual Brainstorm (My Ideas!)

Choose ONE community problem from the list below, then brainstorm your own sustainable solutions. You can write, draw, or use dot points — whatever works best for you!

3. Choose your community problem (circle one):

🗑️ Too much waste and rubbish

💧 Water being wasted at school or home

⚡ Too much energy being used

🌿 Not enough plants or green spaces

4. My Mind Map — Brainstorm at least 3 sustainable ideas to solve your chosen problem.

💬 Sentence starters to help you:

→ "We could reduce waste by..." | "A sustainable solution might be..." | "Technology could help by..."

Write your community problem in the centre, then add your ideas around it:

5. Which of your ideas do you think is the MOST sustainable? Write or draw it here and explain why.

Sentence starter: "I think the best idea is __________ because it helps the community by..."

🤝 Part 3: Group Brainstorm & Reflection

Now share your ideas with your group. Together, create a combined mind map on large paper or using a digital tool (e.g., MindMeister or Padlet). Then answer these reflection questions.

6. What were your group's top 3 sustainable ideas? List them below:

💡 Idea 1: _____________________________________________________________

💡 Idea 2: _____________________________________________________________

💡 Idea 3: _____________________________________________________________

7. How did working as a group make your ideas better?

Sentence starter: "Working with my group helped because..."

8. How is your group's best idea sustainable? How does it help the community AND the environment?

Sentence starter: "Our idea is sustainable because it..."

9. 🌏 Bonus Thinking: Could technology (like an app, a sensor, or a website) make your idea even better? How?

Sentence starter: "Technology could help our idea by..."