Pringle S Potato Chip Challenge

Pringle S Potato Chip Challenge

Pringle’s Potato Chip Challenge

This is a fun way for students to demonstrate what they have learned in class over the last two weeks. This mini project will demonstrate knowledge about the scientific method, matter, mass and volume. Students can use their creativity to design packaging to mail one Pringle’s potato chip to the school and observe their success by accessing it for damage upon arrival. They will also use their knowledge of the subject to develop a report that demonstrates their understanding of the topics discussed in class.

Georgia Performance Standards

S8CS9. Students will understand the features of the process of scientific inquiry.

b. Scientific investigations usually involve collecting evidence, reasoning, devising hypotheses, and formulating explanations to make sense of collected evidence.

c. Scientific experiments investigate the effect of one variable on another.

S8CS6. Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly.

a. Write clear, step-by-step instructions for conducting scientific investigations, operating a piece of equipment, or following a procedure.

S8P1. Students will examine the scientific view of the nature of matter.

1) Design a shipping package that will be used to transport one Pringle’s potato chip from point A (Your house) to point B (Palmer Middle School). The student’s goal is to design packaging that will prevent the chip from being broken during shipment.

2) To qualify, the package must be received through the United States Postal System and post marked with student name and return address.

3) Write a paper using what you have learned about the scientific method, matter, mass and volume to describe your project.

4) This is an optional project due to possible costs; however, students who choose to accept the challenge will be graded based upon the following rubric (On page 2 below). It will count for each student who participates as a Quiz/Mini Project grade.

5) Must be postmarked by September 4th, 2009

Pringle’s Potato Chip Challenge

Name:______Possible points = 40

Beginning
1 / Developing
2 / Accomplished
3 / Exemplary
4 / Score
Purpose/Problem / Does not address the problem / Minimally addresses the problem / Mostly addresses the problem / Clearly addresses the problem
Hypothesis / Does not include a hypothesis / Includes a hypothesis, but is lacking organization / Hypothesis can be identified easily / Includes a well defined and thought out hypothesis
Procedure / Not sequential, most steps are missing or are confusing. / Some of the steps are understandable; most are confusing and lack detail. / Most of the steps are understandable; some lack detail or are confusing. / Presents easy-to-follow steps which are logical and adequately detailed.
Packaging
Design / Not successful, chip in many pieces / Moderately successful, chip is somewhat intact / Mostly successful,
chip is mostly intact / Successful, chip is in one piece
Matter, Mass and Volume / Not included in report / Included in report, but not fully understood / Terms are used in report and mostly understood / Terms are used in report and convey complete understanding