Duke School Under the Oak Magazine, Fall 2018

Design Thinking in Project Work
By Dillon Ross, Duke School Teacher
that focused on architecture, fashion, industrial
design, and graphic design. They saw designers
at work and were challenged to figure out what
all the different design types had in common.
With newly acquired background knowledge, the
students were eager to take on design projects
of their own.
Lucky for them, we had several local animal
organizations that needed help. Personnel
from Hope Animal Rescue, the Museum of Life
and Science, the North Carolina Zoo, Piedmont
Wildlife Center, and the Duke Stream and
This project was developed by Duke School’s
Fifth Grade Team and librarians Elaine Cameron
and Lisa Simmons.
The Animalia project gives Duke School fifth
graders opportunities to learn about the design
process and use it to come up with innovative
ways to improve the world for animals and
humans. Their journey as designers began with
a visit to the North Carolina State University
College of Design. There, the students were
immersed in the world of design by visiting labs
Wetland Assessment Management Park (SWAMP)
all met with students about challenges that their
respective organizations faced. Following the
meetings, the fifth graders returned to school
filled with ideas. They continued the design
process by empathizing with and asking lots of
questions of the various stakeholders connected
to their chosen organizations.
Once students understood the needs of their
stakeholders, they began designing and
innovating. Some groups created physical
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UNDER THE OAK