Thinking Inside of the Box
Guiding Questions: What is technology? What is an engineer? How do packaging engineers use the design process
to develop packages that meet the needs of the consumer and of the product? How can we improve a great design?
Guiding Questions: What is technology? What is an engineer? How do packaging engineers use the design process
to develop packages that meet the needs of the consumer and of the product? How can we improve a great design?
So you may be wondering why we’re asking students
to think INSIDE the box rather than OUTSIDE the
box...well we have been using the design process to
connect Science, Engineering, and Complex Thinking
to complete a challenge to design a plant package.
We've been looking at packaging and their functions.
Students use their knowledge of plants to ask
questions, imagine solutions, plan their packaging.
create the package out of recycled or used materials,
and then test it out and improve their designs.
Students have stretched their thinking about the
technologies around them, as well as, the work of
engineers.
To make our work even more authentic we are using
our parent resources to bring in some experts in the
fields of packaging and engineering. Mr. Eddie Gartland
from Cincinnati Container shared with 4th graders
the process of matching up the right packaging with
the product. He brought in all types of packaging
examples and described their functions. Also, Mr. Ryan
Pavlasek spoke with 4th graders about the career of
mechanical engineering. Ryan works at Honda
Research and Development America in the
motorcycle design department. He shared a visual of
the process engineers use to go from concept and
design to prototype and manufacture an all terrain
vehicle
A really important part of this project is to focus on
the 21st Century Skills of Complex Thinking,
Communication, and Collaboration. The teachers are
doing their best to document the process and to note
how students' thinking develops over time. Students
are helping to do this by reflecting in writing on their
work. Packages should be completed today and then
will be tested over the weekend to see how well the
package preserves the plant. Also students will
conduct tests to see how well the package protects
and carries the plant. Students will then have the
chance to improve their designs and make changes to
improve functions or to cut costs.
to think INSIDE the box rather than OUTSIDE the
box...well we have been using the design process to
connect Science, Engineering, and Complex Thinking
to complete a challenge to design a plant package.
We've been looking at packaging and their functions.
Students use their knowledge of plants to ask
questions, imagine solutions, plan their packaging.
create the package out of recycled or used materials,
and then test it out and improve their designs.
Students have stretched their thinking about the
technologies around them, as well as, the work of
engineers.
To make our work even more authentic we are using
our parent resources to bring in some experts in the
fields of packaging and engineering. Mr. Eddie Gartland
from Cincinnati Container shared with 4th graders
the process of matching up the right packaging with
the product. He brought in all types of packaging
examples and described their functions. Also, Mr. Ryan
Pavlasek spoke with 4th graders about the career of
mechanical engineering. Ryan works at Honda
Research and Development America in the
motorcycle design department. He shared a visual of
the process engineers use to go from concept and
design to prototype and manufacture an all terrain
vehicle
A really important part of this project is to focus on
the 21st Century Skills of Complex Thinking,
Communication, and Collaboration. The teachers are
doing their best to document the process and to note
how students' thinking develops over time. Students
are helping to do this by reflecting in writing on their
work. Packages should be completed today and then
will be tested over the weekend to see how well the
package preserves the plant. Also students will
conduct tests to see how well the package protects
and carries the plant. Students will then have the
chance to improve their designs and make changes to
improve functions or to cut costs.
Want to see more of our project? Visit the this project's wiki at
