Metamorphosis Project

Immersive, in-school design and build project.

We guide students to deepen their understanding of and connection with the Earth through hands-on experiences in nature, and use this knowledge to envision and craft solutions to social and ecological challenges facing their communities and the broader world.

Client
ASAP!

Collaborators
ASAP! & Jason Killinger

Disciplines
Teaching/education
Art, engineering, science, civics,
& SEL integration
Teacher instruction

Location
Waterbury, CT

Year
2014-present

Recent Metamorphosis Projects:

Fall 2022
Dreaming Up An Eco-Neighborhood

We tasked the students with imagining and designing a neighborhood that could be built in a deciduous forest. Their challenge was to create a network of structures and transportation that meets their individual and community needs without harming the life and ecosystem that already exists there.

Our eco-neighborhood design process:

  • 1. Research and sketching

    We identified the most meaningful elements of a community by discussing, categorizing, and mapping out what makes up a neighborhood.

  • 2. Nature Field Trip

    On a field trip, students experienced life in a deciduous forest: an oak tree’s acorn output, the flow of water, and patterns of animal movement.

  • 3. Imagining and Designing

    Each student designed one element of the neighborhood, taking into account individual and community needs, and the patterns of life in the forest.

  • 4. Building the neighborhood

    Students built models of their designs, then created their new neighborhood and invited their schoolmates to visit and learn about their ideas.

‘I really loved how this program challenged the students' life skills and thoughts.’

-Ryan, 5th grade classroom teacher

Fall 2023
Designing A Beautiful Water System

In the summer of 2023, Waterbury, CT flooded after a major storm overwhelmed the municipal water system. We invited 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to reimagine what a functional, ecologically responsible, and beautiful urban water system could look like.

Our water system design process:

  • 1. Connecting to the Subject

    Students began thinking about their relationship with water by creating artwork depicting themselves interacting with it.

  • 2. Research andSketching

    They researched the natural water cycle and current human-made systems, then reimagined more beautiful and functional systems.

  • 3. Nature Field Trip

    On a field trip, students observed and recorded water moving in nature, saw a dam in action, and followed a water drop on its journey around the planet.

  • 4. Model Building

    Back in the classroom, they fine-tuned their designs, engaged in critiques, and constructed 3-dimensional models. They shared, reflected on, and celebrated their work in an exhibition.

‘I always take something away from Ms. Jenna's teaching style. She creates a space where our students feel free to learn, discuss, and create.’

-Kadiann, 3rd grade classroom teacher

Photos by Zakiyah Scaramuzzino for ASAP!