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Biomedical Assistive Design

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Grades 6-875-90 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Students design and build a simple helper device, like a jar-opener grip or a page-turner, for one real person's needs. They test it with that person until it works well for them. It is engineering that puts the user first.

Budget levels

Amazon prices checked Oct 9-10, 2026 and may change

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only.

$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

  • stopwatchBorrow or school hasuse what you have

Full Experience

Required materials for the class.

$59.94 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups). Exceeds $25 per class.

Classroom cardboard or boxes can lower the cost.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

  • Spring scale or rubber band with rulerRequired61 scale$9.99Amazon

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, with every optional item included.

$59.94 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Materials

Materials to build a hand-sized helper device (type not specified); Measuring tool for the user's hands or needs; Spring scale or rubber band with ruler; stopwatch

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

  • Lightweight assistive-device prototyping kit

    Materials to build a hand-sized helper device (type not specified)

    No link

  • Measuring tool for the user's hands or needs

    Measuring tool for the user's hands or needs

    No link

  • Stopwatch

    stopwatch

    Shop

Steps

  1. Interview a real user about one daily task that is hard for them. Measure their comfortable grip width with a ruler.
  2. Write a design spec. Criteria: the user completes the task at least 25 percent faster and with at least 25 percent less force than without the device, with a comfort rating of 4 or higher out of 5. Constraints: safe low-cost materials under a set budget, grip within 1 cm of the user's measured grip width, no sharp edges. Use lever ideas (a longer handle needs less force) and note impacts on the user. List one impact on the natural environment (for example, plastic that ends up in landfill) and add a constraint: at least 75 percent of the materials are reused or recyclable.
  3. Build a first prototype sized for that person's hands or needs.
  4. Test round 1: time the user doing the task with and without the device, measure the force needed with a spring scale or rubber band stretch, and get a 1 to 5 comfort rating. Record in a data table.
  5. Use the data to choose one change (longer handle, thicker grip, softer padding) and predict how the numbers will change.
  6. Rebuild and retest for at least two more rounds, recording the same measurements each time.
  7. Give the finished device to the user and present the data table showing how each change improved time, force and comfort against the spec.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · MS-ETS1-1

    Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

  • NGSS · MS-ETS1-4

    Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.