Students learn how engineers design and develop packaging. Students develop a plan, select materials, manufacture their
package, test it, evaluate their results, redesign, and develop a final product.
GOALS & STANDARDS:
GOALS AND STANDARDS:
SCIENCE:
3-5-ETS1 Engineering Design - Students who demonstrate understanding can:
3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and
constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the
criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify
aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved
ELA:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a
point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1b Provide logically ordered reasons that are
supported by facts and details.
Goals:
Students work in small groups to design and construct a package to
safely ship a single Pringle Chip. The chip will be evaluated and scored on its condition upon delivery.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
What is the best packaging material when shipping
fragile material? How can something be
constructed to fill this need while being cost-effective, efficient, and have limited environmental impact?
Ship the Snack - Part 1
Background Information -.When packaging a food product, there are many things to consider. The process involves science, technology, engineering, and math and requires a balance between function, food safety, and cost. Universities have degree programs to develop skills in designing innovative packaging styles. Potential job titles include packaging engineer, packaging scientist, packaging sales, and structural designer.
Packaging information - link: at 3:38
Assignment: For this task, you will take on the role of a food packaging specialists to design the best package for a single snack unit.
Activity Details: Kellogg's wants to ship one of their delicious snacks to everyone in the country, and they have chosen you to create the package. Remember that the package must be light to save money, protective enough to keep the snack in good condition, and small enough to fit in the average mailbox. Be sure to have a creative design so that the recipient will know that the package is from Kellogg's!
One prototype will be made and tested. Based on the testing results, make any modifications and create final design. A second set of materials will be purchased and used for the final package. You will mail your packages for final delivery and assessment.
Part 1 - Design
Before you begin your design, research materials and designs for your package. Packages should be designed to hold one unit.
The packaging should be suitable for shipping through the U.S. Postal Service.
Each group must keep track of materials cost, package dimensions, shipping cost.
Websites with packaging materials and information: (DO NOT purchase these, use this to gather ideas for types of materials that could be used)
· Graham
· Expedx
1. Plan your design. Designs must meet size, weight, material, and cost requirements and restrictions as listed on Design Sheet.
2. Collect packaging materials. (This can be found in recycling bins). Examples of packing materials include cardboard, packing peanuts, newspaper, tissue paper, cellophane, lint.
3. Build a prototype package.
4. Design a decorative label that will go on the package. Create a company name This should be used on the lab sheet
Ship the Snack - Part 2 Testing
Food travels a long way from where it is manufactured to when it reaches your mouth. Along the way it can be dropped, rained on, or left on a warm loading dock. During that time, packaging protects the item from damage. Packaging engineers must work to ensure that it arrives in the best possible condition while using materials that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Discuss the considerations in designing a package. What problems could occur? How should the design address these? Deliveries Gone Wrong
1. Test your prototype - Conduct a durability test. Following the test, rate the durability of your packaging.
2. Improve the design of the package based on the data from the test
2. Improve the design of the package based on the data from the test
What we learn from testing
Ship the Snack - Part 3
Part 3 -
Additional considerations:
Sustainable packaging- Packaging is all around us. Almost everything we buy and use comes packaged. Think about the packaging material being used and its potential impact on the environment. Used, empty packaging makes up more than two thirds of what we throw away. Is it over-packaged? Is more packaging being used than is needed to protect or transport the product? Can the materials be reduced? Reused? Repurposed? Will it decompose?
Zero Waste Packaging Link
Ship the Snack - Part 4
Mailing Procedure: Packages must be mailed with a mail service such as FedEx, UPS, USPS, or other specialty mail service.
Scoring Procedures: Once all of the packages have been received, the receiving teams may open the individual packages under their teacher’s supervision. Receiving teams should review the unpacking instructions on the entry form before opening the package. Receiving teams will need to determine the rating of the chip using the rating scale and record that information on the entry form.
Overall Score: Receiving teams will need to use the information on the entry form to calculate the final score. The overall score will be the one used to determine the winner. In the case of a tie, the package with the smallest mass will be declared the winner.
