Designing Solutions Activity #2: Pringles Potato Chip Mailing Challenge

General Objective: To provide an opportunity for students to design solutions in engineering based on observing a phenomenon and asking questions.

The facilitator does the following:

1. After students have DEFINED the Pringles Chip Challenge, have them design a solution by first drawing sketches/diagrams of possible mailing devices.
2. Have students generate a list of needed materials, and either provide the materials or have students gather the materials.
3. Provide time for students to design solutions using the Engineering Design Process sheet (PDF format).
4. Provide time for testing and redesign.
5. Use the Pringles Potato Chip Mailing Challenge document (from Google Docs) as a facilitator guide.

Related Crosscutting Concepts:

• Cause & Effect
• Scale, Proportion & Quantity
• Systems & System Models
• Structure & Function
• Stability & Change

Related Disciplinary Core Ideas:

• Core Idea PS1: Matter and Its Interactions
  • PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
• Core Idea PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
  • PS2.A: Forces and Motion
  • PS2.B: Types of Interactions
  • PS2.C: Stability and Instability in Physical Systems
• Core Idea ETS1: Engineering Design
  • ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem
  • ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
  • ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution
• Core Idea ETS2: Links Among Engineering, Technology, Science, and Society
  • ETS2.A: Interdependence of Science, Engineering, and Technology