Everyday Design Briefs

Submitted by Elementary Teachers
Chesterfield County, Virginia

The following design briefs have been posted as a courtesy to teachers in
Chesterfield County, Virginia. Remember to check out the activities in the grades above and below the grade you are look for. Most activitivies can be adapted to another grade level with a minimum of work.

Virginia SOL refers to specific Virginia Standards of Learning published by the Virginia Department of Education.

STL Refers to the Standards of Technological Literacy published by the ITEA (International Technology Edcuation Associaltion) in 2000.

Kindergarten

• Catch the Leprechaun! by Amy Gordy, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning:  Oral Language K.1, K.2 • Measurement K.8 • History K.1 (Holidays) • Visual Communication & Production K.1, K.10

• Marriage of Q and U, by Sally Tirs, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Follow Directions K.2 • Oral Language K.7 • Visual Communication & Production K.1, K.4, K.1

• Who Will Be at the Wedding?, by Amy Gordy, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language K.7 • Visual Communication & Production K.1, K.4, K.10

• Groundhog Day, by Michele McMullen, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: History K.1 • Science K.1, K.9 • Language Arts K.2, K.3

• Shapes in Our World, by Michele McMullen, Watkins Elementary School   
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Math K.1, K.11, K.14 • Science K.1 • Language Arts K.1 Oral Language K.2, K.3

• Native American Pow-Wow by Jana Flood, Ecoff Elementary School   
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Language Arts K.1,K.2, K.6, K.9 • Measurement K-10 •
  Science K.10  • History K.1, K.2

• Thank You Firefighters by Kristen Atkinson, Ecoff Elementary School   
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning:  Language Arts: K.1 Oral Language,  K.2 Follow Directions,  K.6 Reading,  K.9 Writing • Social Studies: K.8 Civics, K.6 Economics Community Helpers

• Community Helpers & Their Vehicles by N. Guedri, K.Burnette, H. Sinnot  
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: History K.6 Community Helpers • Science K.1 Plan and conduct Investigations • Oral Language K.2, K.3 • History 1.7 Explain differences between goods and services

• Good Citizens Say Thank You by Leslie Lenhard, Gordon Elementary School   
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Social Studies Civics K.8 Citizenship • Oral Language K.2 Listening and Speaking Vocabulary, K. 3 Build Oral Communication Skills  • Writing K.10 Prints name, K.11 Write to communicate ideas

1st Grade

• What's Your Name?, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

• Little Lumpty Sat on a Wall, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the book Little Lumpty by Miko Imai
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3  •  Civics 1.10

• Bears, Bears, Bears, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the book Corduroy by Don Freeman
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3  • Civics 1.10

• Dream Houses, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the book Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language 1.1,  1.2, 1.3 • Math 1.12 (optional) • Science 1.1, 1.8 •  Civics 1.10

• Happy Birthday, Little Gorilla! by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the book Little Gorilla by Lercher Bornstein
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL:  Oral language 1.2, 1.3  •   Writing 1.11, 1.12  •  Civics 1.10 

• Butterflies Are Free! by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the story Butterflies Are Free! by Harcourt School Publishers Staff
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Oral Language 1.2, 1.3  •   Civics 1.10

• I Need to Sit Down!  and  Ahhh...A Comfy Place to Sit, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the book A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 • Reading 1.9 • Science K.10 • Economics 1.8, 1.9 • Civics 1.10, 1.12

• Traveling Pets, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the story Pets, by Michael Dunning
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, .13 •  Measurement 1.12, 1.13 • Science 1.1, 1.2,K.10  • Economics 1.8 • Civics 1.10

• Uncle Sam, by Pattie Sutton, Evergreen Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Science 1.1 • English 1.1, 1.2

• Wonderful Worms, by Pattie Sutton, Evergreen Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Science 1.1 • English 1.1, 1.2

• Snail's Adventures, by Pattie Sutton, Evergreen Elementary School
  Based on the story The Adventures of Snail at School, by John Stadler
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 1.1, 1.2 • Science 1.1

• Growing Plants, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Science 1.4, K.8 • English 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

• Penguins in Winter, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Oral Language 1.2, 1,3 • Writing 1.11, 1.12 • Civics 1.1

• Fun in the Snow, by Christopher S. Lee, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Based on the book: The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Science 1.7 • Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

• Famous Americans, by Nancy Thagard, Clover Hill Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Social Studies 1.2, 1.3, 1.11 • Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

• Show Off Learning - Math, by Cindy Staneart, Ecoff Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Target: Writing 1.11, 1.12 • Math 1.1 Supporting: • Civics 1.10 Traits of a good citizen • Oral Language 1.2, 1.3

• Family Fun Night, by Calandra Williamson, Ecoff Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: History 1.6 •  English 1.5, 1.7, 1.11, 1.12 • Science 1.1, 1.4

• Thank You Card, by Nora Saunders, Ecoff Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia Standards of Learning: English 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 (Oral Language) • Writing 1.11 (Print Legibly) • 1.12 (Write to Communicate Ideas) • Civics 1.10 (Good Citizenship)
  

• Changing Seasons, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief and Mini-Portfolio
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Science 1.1, 1.7, 1.8 • Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 • Civics 1.10
  STL: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12

• The Forest is Falling! by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the story Little Rabbit, retold by Gerald McDermott
  Design Brief & Mini- Portfolio
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 • Writing 1.11, 1.12 • Science 1.1, 1.2 • Civics 1.10
  STL: 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
  
• Hold that Snack, by Martha Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the story Pelican Was Hungry by Jim Arnosky
  Design Brief & Mini- Portfolio
  Virginia Standards of Learning: Oral Language 1.1, 1.2, 1.3• Science 1.1, 1.2 • Civics 1.10
  STL: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

2nd Grade

• Thank You Card Design Brief, by Brenda Koebel, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Oral language 2.3 • Vocabulary 2.2 • Writing 2.9

• Save Alexander's Money! by Kristin Martin, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Based on the book Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst
  Virginia SOL: Money 2.11

• Be Unique! Back to School Name Cards, by Kristin Martin, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief

• Butterfly Design Challenge, by Amanda Kehoe, Greenfield Elementary School
  Design Brief   (involves pneumatics)
  Virginia SOL: Science 2.4a, 2.5 Animals in their Environment• Oral Language/Listening 2.1, 2.2, 2.3

• A Long Winter's Nap, by Christopher Lee, Becky Calhoun, & Debbie Popp   
  Design Brief    (involves pneumatics)
  Virginia SOL: Science 1.7, 2.7 Animals in their Environment• Oral Language/Listening 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 Technology: C/T K-2.6

• Water Cycle Challenge, by Nancy Tucker, Evergreen Elementary School  
  Design Brief   
  Virginia SOL: Science 2.3 Properties of Water, 3.9 Water Cycle • Oral Language 2.2 and 2.3

• Good Speech at Home by Susan Hastings, Ecoff Elementary School  
  Design Brief   
  Virginia SOL: 2.1-Oral Language, grammar, sentences  2.2-Vocabulary and following directions

• American Indian Design Challenge by Nancy Tucker, Evergreen Elementary  
  Design Brief   
  Virginia SOL: Oral Language 2.2, 2.3 • American Indian History 2.2 • Geography 2.4 • Civics 2.12

3rd Grade

• Ancient Greece, by Teresa Fisher, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: History and Social Science 3.1, 3.4 • English 3.1, 3.2

• The Scorched Coyote, by Debbie Self, Elizabeth Landry, Watkins Elementary School & Jeannine Dearmon, Spring HIll Elementary School
  Based on the book The Three Javelinas by Susan Lowell
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 3.4, 3.5 • Math 3.14, 3.18  • Science 3.2 

• Schools Days Then and Now, by Lisa Barrett, Evergreen Elementary School 
  Based on the book My Great-Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 3.6 Make connections between previous experiences and reading selections

4th Grade

• Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, by Kendall Hall, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Reading 4.3 • Writing 4.8 • Math 4.11

• A Case of Goals, by Kendall Hall, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Based on the book Oh the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 4.1, 4.2, 4.4  • Writing 4.7, 4.8
  
  
• Blowing in the Wind, by Kendall Hall, Crenshaw Elementary School & Ginger Whiting, Children's Engineering Educators, LLC
  Design Brief
  Guided Portfolio
  Virginia SOL: Science 4.6 a-b •  Math 4.11a • Reading Comprehension

• Because of Winn Dixie , by Kendall Hall, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Based on the book Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 4.1 a-d, 4.2 a-c • Writing 4.7, 4.8

• Build a Character, by Kendall Hall, Crenshaw Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 4.1 a-d,, 4.2 a-c • Writing 4.7, 4.8

• Virginia History Lives, by Heather Asimos, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Virginia Studies 9- The student will identify the political, social, and/or economic contributions made by famous Virginians.• Oral Communication 4.1, 4.2

• The Hallo-Wiener, by Sarah Glass, Ecoff Elementary School
  Reader's Theater Activity • Based on the book The Hallo-Wiener  by Dav Pilkey
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English Oral Language 4.1 a, e; Writing 4.7 a-c, 4.8; • Mathematics-Measurement 4.10-1.12 
  

5th Grade

• Burglar-Proof Lunch Box, by Mary Hunter Ayer, Watkins Elementary School
  Based on the book Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Language Arts-Oral 5.1, 5.3  • Science-Magnets  •  Math-Measurement

• Stained Glass Windows, by Mary Hunter Ayer, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Math-Symmetry  •  WS 3b Middle Ages, influence of the Catholic Church

• Alphabet Book for Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Age of Enlightenment
  by Mary Hunter Ayer, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Language Arts 5.8, 6.9  • WS 3ab

• 4 Corner Foldable for Middle East, by Mary Hunter Ayer, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Social Studies WS 4a-b • Language Arts 5.8

• China Foldable, by Mary Hunter Ayer, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL:  English 5.8  • Measurement

• India Foldable, by Mary Hunter Ayer, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Social Studies WS6a India • Language Arts 5.8, 5.9  •  Science-Simple Machines

• Show How "Bright " You Are: An SOL Review, by Allison Needham, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Science 4.3 • Technology 5.2 • Language Arts 5.8, 5.9

• Personal Journey Aircraft, by Devon Waltersheid, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 5.8 • Math 5.11

• Castles of the Middle Ages, by Mallory Smith, Watkins Elementary School
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: World Studies 3b •  5.11, 6.10

• Egg Drop, by Allison Needham, Watkins Elementary School
  Includes planning pages
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Science 4,2 Force, Motion, and Energy
  
• Book Fair Challenge for Grade 5! by Melanie Haimes-Bartolf
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: Math 5.3 Problem Solving, 5.11 Measurement, 5.13 Measurement and angles • Language Arts 5.1 Draw conclusions, 5.3 Oral presentations, 5.8 Writer for a purpose, 5.9 Edit

• Birthday Party Invitationby Cherrie Everette, Gordon Elementary School
  Based on the book Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
  Design Brief
  Virginia SOL: English 5.1 & 5.2 Oral Language,   5.5 Reading comprehension,  5.8 Writing,  5.9  Editing  • Science 3.2 Simple Machines, 4.2 Force, motion, energy • Math 5.8 Measurement       

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