We are excited to introduce you to Playing with the Sun, an open-source construction kit designed to inspire young people to explore sustainable energy through hands-on play. As Playing with the Sun expands from a research project to a global community, we are seeking $10,000 from the Playbook Imagination Fund to partner with Froghouse Design Studio and develop a new product strategy and brand design.
We are excited to introduce you to Playing with the Sun, an open-source construction kit designed to inspire young people to explore sustainable energy through hands-on play. As Playing with the Sun expands from a research project to a global community, we are seeking $10,000 from the Playbook Imagination Fund to partner with Froghouse Design Studio and develop a new product strategy and brand design.
↑ Above - A child encountering a Playing with the Sun Activity called SunFlowers. He accidentally creates a small shadow over the solar panel with his head, which slows the motor down. He moves his shadow away to test and - ah, it was the shadow that caused it to slow down! He uses his hand to experiment further.
↑ Above - A child encountering a Playing with the Sun Activity called SunFlowers. He accidentally creates a small shadow over the solar panel with his head, which slows the motor down. He moves his shadow away to test and - ah, it was the shadow that caused it to slow down! He uses his hand to experiment further.
↑ Above - A young person building a solar-powered creature that roams through a desert landscape using energy from solar panels she placed on a mountaintop.
↑ Above - A young person building a solar-powered creature that roams through a desert landscape using energy from solar panels she placed on a mountaintop.
These two photos exemplify the type of hands-on discovery and experimentation that Playing with the Sun encourages. If we want people to understand something intuitively, we need to design experiences that invite playful experimentation. Through this approach, we are not just teaching young people how energy works, but how to improvise and be creative with it— crucial skills for navigating our rapidly changing climate.
This project will kick off with a 30-day design sprint focused on refining the Playing with the Sun brand ethos and product strategy, the results of which will be published freely online. Ultimately, this funding will empower more educators to incorporate Playing with the Sun into their teaching, inspiring a generation of learners to explore and innovate in the realm of sustainable energy.
Below we've included our prior work, a bit about us, and our project proposal. We look forward to sharing our journey and impact with the Playbook community!
– Amos, Carl, and Grif
These two photos exemplify the type of hands-on discovery and experimentation that Playing with the Sun encourages. If we want people to understand something intuitively, we need to design experiences that invite playful experimentation. Through this approach, we are not just teaching young people how energy works, but how to improvise and be creative with it— crucial skills for navigating our rapidly changing climate.
This project will kick off with a 30-day design sprint focused on refining the Playing with the Sun brand ethos and product strategy, the results of which will be published freely online. Ultimately, this funding will empower more educators to incorporate Playing with the Sun into their teaching, inspiring a generation of learners to explore and innovate in the realm of sustainable energy.
Below we've included our prior work, a bit about us, and our project proposal. We look forward to sharing our journey and impact with the Playbook community!
– Amos, Carl, and Grif
