Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
By: Dusti Bowling
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling follows 13-year-old Aven Green, a girl born without arms, as she adjusts to a new life in Arizona, makes friends, and learns to navigate challenges while discovering self-acceptance and solving a mystery at a theme park.
Students will read Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and explore how the main character, Aven Green, navigates life without arms. Through discussion and analysis, students will build empathy and understanding of diverse abilities. They will then apply the Engineering Design Process to create an assistive device or adaptive solution that could help Aven (or another character with a disability in the novel) accomplish a specific task more independently.
Core Content: Literature and Engineering
Grade Levels: Grades 4-5
Time Required: 4-6 weeks
ME Career Connection: Students use the engineering design process to complete hands-on activities while exploring real-world microelectronics careers, applying problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration to design solutions and see how these skills connect to ME professions.
Author: Suzie Philyaw