When elementary teacher Allison Fisher received an invitation to review The Henry Ford inHub Model i program, she approached it with curiosity but uncertainty. What she discovered was a treasure trove of resources designed to cultivate innovative thinking among her students. Offered at no cost—just create an account!—this program empowers children to grasp the habits of innovation and guides them in becoming innovators themselves.
Allison Fisher, an elementary school teacher based in Atlanta, Georgia, has dedicated a decade to educating young minds. Currently teaching Special Education to 4th and 5th graders, she frequently engages her students in STEM activities that emphasize design, creativity, and problem-solving. In this Teacher Pick feature, Allison elaborates on how the inHub Model i program connects to various educational standards in engaging and innovative ways.
For which grade levels and subject areas do you think The Henry Ford inHub Model i is best suited?
Does this product align with any specific standards?
This program aligns with an extensive array of standards across various subjects! Below are several standards from the Georgia Department of Education that correspond with the Henry Ford Model i:
Math:
5.MP Display perseverance and patience in problem-solving. Demonstrate skills and strategies necessary for success in mathematics, including critical thinking, reasoning, effective collaboration, and expression. Seek help and apply feedback. Set and monitor goals.
Science:
S5E1 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to identify surface features on the Earth caused by constructive and/or destructive processes.
S5L4 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information regarding microorganisms’ impact on larger organisms.
Social Studies:
SS5H3 Explain how the Great Depression and New Deal influenced the lives of millions of Americans.
ELA:
5.P.EICCI. BIG IDEA: Engagement & Intention for Comprehension & Composition. Students build personal and academic identities as readers and writers, engaging with texts for diverse purposes and enhancing their comprehension and composition skills.
5.P.CP.1 **Collaboration** Collaborate with peers to achieve shared goals and complete projects.
5.T.C **I. BIG IDEA: Context** Students analyze the influence of purpose and audience on texts.
How did you use this program in your classroom?
I integrated the Model i framework during my ELA block by first introducing the visuals of the Henry Ford Model i Habits and Actions. We conducted a brief review of each Habit and Action to clarify any misconceptions, followed by a discussion about their personal implications. Together, we explored how these habits and actions can be applied both in school and everyday life.
My students particularly enjoyed sharing real-life examples of when they had to “rewrite the rules,” demonstrate empathy, collaborate, or revise and optimize something. They recounted experiences like devising new plays for their sports teams, learning to sew and design their clothing, and collaborating during play rehearsals to bring imaginative worlds to life on stage.
Can you share an example of how you’ve taught or reinforced one of the Model i habits in your classroom?
My focus was on collaboration, which began with the primer lesson and a Kahoot quiz. I utilized the Kahoot after we had reviewed what collaboration entails, but before commencing the Zoo Trip Planning activity. It proved to be an excellent method to reinforce our recent discussions. During the primer lesson, I observed my students listing numerous qualities associated with effective collaboration—only to see a limited number of those qualities exhibited during our initial five-minute planning session. After some reflection, the students gained a clearer understanding of what collaboration entails in practice, resulting in a more successful second planning session. This turned out to be a valuable lesson in the significance of compromise and respectful teamwork.
Additionally, I had my students complete the “Driven To Win: Racing as a Team” virtual field trip, which served as a great follow-up to our collaboration lesson. The students loved learning about the pit crew and how the team’s success hinges on each member fulfilling their responsibilities. Their designs were innovative and thoughtful, and they effectively assigned roles within their “pit crew.” We concluded with a gallery walk and dedicated some time to providing constructive feedback to each group.
How did your students react to the product?
My students found the lessons and accompanying videos to be highly engaging. They were particularly enthusiastic about the Model i: Actions of Innovation Kahoot and expressed a desire to continue playing! I discovered that teaching the Habits and Actions in separate lessons allowed students to develop a deeper understanding of each concept. We also enjoyed the Model i: Habits of an Innovator Kahoot! The vocabulary presented ample opportunities for discussion and language development, prompting us to collaborate in brainstorming synonyms for some of the more challenging terms. For instance, we replaced “implement” with “try it out” and “optimize” with “improve,” which facilitated students’ connections to their own experiences.
Can you sum up your overall experience with Model i?
The Henry Ford Model i is an exceptional resource for learners of all ages. I particularly appreciated the engaging videos and lesson ideas. These skills are vital for young minds to acquire.
Was Model i easy to use and implement in your classroom?
Implementing the program in my classroom was incredibly straightforward. I appreciated that all materials required for the activities were standard classroom supplies I already possessed. The lessons were engaging, well-structured, and required minimal preparation time from me, making the process seamless. Additionally, the website was user-friendly, allowing me to easily locate the necessary tools and lessons.
What were the two features you liked most about Model i?
The Kahoot quizzes and lesson plans were outstanding. I particularly appreciated how the Kahoots broke down vocabulary and included short videos to reinforce key concepts. Each video was followed by a relevant Kahoot question, helping my students stay focused and eager to participate. Additionally, the lessons were clearly structured and easy to implement. My students enjoyed both of the lessons they completed, and the discussion prompts, design activities, and supplementary videos and resources resulted in comprehensive, engaging lessons that required little to no preparation on my end.
What makes Model i special or unique compared to other frameworks you’ve used?
I find the division of the framework into Habits and Actions particularly appealing. Personally, I am more naturally inclined towards the Habits, while some of my students connected more with the Actions. I value the diverse engagement opportunities the framework offers and its application across different tasks—not limited to just design or STEM activities. The exploration of each component reveals how interconnected and valuable the framework truly is.
How will the framework save you time or make teaching easier?
As my students and I grow more familiar with the framework, it will become easier to recognize and reference its components during classroom activities. Rather than using different terms based on the subject matter, we can consistently apply the Model i framework terminology across all areas of learning.
Do you plan to use Model i again?
I intend to utilize the framework in our upcoming writing activity, particularly during peer editing. I will revisit the concepts of collaboration, empathy, and accepting feedback to optimize their work, guiding students on how to apply those skills as they review each other’s writing.
Do you have any suggestions for improvement or constructive feedback? Did you add anything to your lesson that might be helpful for other teachers?
The synonyms we incorporated for challenging vocabulary proved beneficial for my students. I’d recommend developing a more child-friendly version of the framework tailored for elementary learners. As a Special Education teacher, I also enjoy introducing my students to Thomas Edison—he’s one of my favorite innovators due to his experiences with dyslexia. His resilience and achievements in the face of learning challenges could enhance a lesson featuring his story.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your experience?
Throughout this process, I learned just as much as my students did! I truly enjoyed discovering various innovators and exploring The Henry Ford museum. After our lessons, I felt inspired, and I believe my students did too.
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program available from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.
