About this resource
Students learn about the engineering design process by doing an engineering design challenge called Toxic Popcorn where they need to design both a process and a product to solve the challenge. Students must figure out how to move the toxic popcorn to a safe location and save the city.
Modifications for all Learners:
For ages 9 and younger use marshmallows instead of popcorn. The lighter the material to be transferred the easier the challenge.
For ages 14 and older instead of a hula hoop use a circular table cloth 8' in diameter (or taped down rope). The larger the diameter the more difficult the challenge.
Also for older students containers without a lip will be more of challenge-coffee cans work well.
Curriculum & Standards
Related General Curriculum / Common Core Area
Environmental Science/Engineering/Human Impact
Related Curriculum / Common Core Standard
AASL Main Standard(s): II. COLLABORATE Work effectively with others to broaden perspectives and work toward common goals. B. Create - Learners participate in personal, social, and intellectual networks by: 1. Using a variety of communication tools and resources. 2. Establishing connections with other learners to build on their own prior knowledge and create new knowledge.
Related STEM Area: Engineering and design.
NGSS Main Related Engineering Design Standard: 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.
What students will do
- Students will apply the engineering design process to remove Toxic Popcorn from a city.
- Students will build, test, and design/redesign a prototype to remove Toxic Popcorn from a city.
- Students will employ teamwork and communication to successfully solve the challenge.
Apply the engineering design process to solve a design challenge. Build, test, and redesign a prototype. Employ teamwork and communication to successfully solve the challenge.
Resources Needed
Materials:
One full set of material for each team:
- 2 containers (plastic containers with lips are great) - should be slightly different size than the containers used for the actual toxic zone.
- 100-200 pennies in a zip lock bag (represents the toxic popcorn)
- 6-8 pieces of 7 1/2-foot rope (clothesline rope works great!)
- 1 bicycle tire tube 18" diameter
- 1 hula-hoop 3'-4' diameter (other options: rope taped down or a circle cut from a paper table cloth)
- 1 piece of large flip chart paper
- 1 marker
- EDP worksheet (per student) Found here: p. 7-14
- One full set of material for ACTUAL TOXIC ZONE:
- 2 containers (plastic containers with lips are great)
- Popcorn kernels (fill about 1/2 of the container)
- 1 hula-hoop 3'-4' diameter (other options: rope taped down or a circle cut from a paper table cloth)
How learning is assessed
- Students applied the engineering design process to remove Toxic Popcorn from a city.
- Students built, tested, and designed/redesigned a prototype to remove Toxic Popcorn from a city.
- Students employed teamwork and communication to successfully solve the challenge.