Challenge 055 · Ages 10–16
Phone Stand Challenge
Design a phone stand.
Recommended Guided Learning Time: 3 hours
Learners may require additional or fewer hours depending on age, prior experience, pace and the level of development they choose to take their project to.
Primary STEAM area
Engineering
The Challenge
What will your learner investigate?
Can you design a phone stand. and explain the choices that make your solution effective?
Learning outcomes
- Define the design problem and identify useful constraints.
- Build or model a solution using an iterative engineering process.
- Test performance, analyse evidence and improve the design.
Connected learning
Design & Technology: design cycle and prototyping; Science: forces/materials/energy as relevant; Mathematics: measurement and geometry; English: design communication.
Dream Areas
Prepare for this Challenge
What you'll need
Here's what may be useful for completing this activity. Requirements may vary depending on the learner, activity format and equipment available.
Materials & consumables
- Filament or recycled card first model made to test an idea
- device-size template.
Equipment, tools & software
- computer-aided design (CAD) software for drawing 3D models
- 3D printer
- ruler
- test phone or non-working practice.
Safety & preparation
- Use non-working practice devices where possible
- avoid trapping charging cables.
These preparation notes support planning and do not replace a project-specific risk assessment or appropriate adult supervision.