Middle School Level:
Look for an idea at home, or
in your neighborhood, or at school.
* for example:
look for a problem to solve.
Examine food or product
packaging (choose one you like) for difficulties or dangers related to the design
of the packaging.
Find one to use in your project.
Try to figure out another
way the product could be packaged to solve the problem. (Try to make a proposal
that would either reduce costs and materials as well as avoid the problem entirely
through a redesign).
Write to (or email) the
manufacturer to ask for information on the product and packaging. Most manufacturers
have web sites which you could visit to get information.
Do a net search for information
which is independent (and sometimes critical) of the manufacturer to find out
what others are saying about the products. This would be considered to be part
of your research.
If your school has some
computers with graphic design software, consider using the programs to generate
the diagrams of your design.
Make a 3-D mock up model
of your new design or suggestion. Test the design on students who use the product
in a market survey. Your solution may be of real value to the manufacturer;
communicate with them again when you determined that you have a good design.
Be sure to include the information from the Internet and the reply from the
manufacturer in your project.
*for example:
do product comparison tests
Survey your peers to find
a popular product made by two competing companies, for example: paper towels,
facial tissues, blank video or audio tapes, blue jeans, games equipment, make-up,
snack food, shoes, etc.
Consider researching on
the Internet or the Web for any similar product comparisons that have been done.
This will help you learn more about how to do one, and ensure that your project
is unique.
Write to (or email) the
companies to get background information on the manufacturing process for the
product, market share data, and a sample or coupon if possible. (You will need
samples to do product testing).
Design a series of product
tests to determine which product performs better (consult consumer product testing
articles on how to design a product test and what to test - information may
be available on the Internet or the Web from the manufacturer itself and the
consumer product testing agencies).
- Test the product using
careful scientific process and experimental design; remember to make an
hypothesis about which will perform better!
- Collect data and compare
the results; repeat the testing sufficient times to establish validity.
- Compare the results
to your hypothesis and make some conclusions.
- Consider sharing these
with the companies and consider sharing your results with other schools
through the Internet!
©1996 Mary Lightbody All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to use this material for educational use as long as the document remains intact and credit is given to the author.
Elementary School | Middle School | High School
Back to Science Fair Preparation
©
1996 - 2002 Linda C. Joseph
All Rights Reserved
