Pringles Project 2023-24: Grades 2-5
When: Register for this event by Nov. 17, 2023 Mail packages after winter break. Click here to register.
Coordinator: Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter and Deirdre Mulligan
Grades: 2-5
Description: Students will design and test a container for shipping a single Pringles potato chip via the US Postal Service. Students will exchange packages with a partner school in Warren County.
Curriculum Goals:
Scoring:
Scoring will be done by the school receiving the package. Schools should report results back to the sending school through email or snail mail. Intactness score of the chip will be determined by the evaluating school, according to the chart below:
Perfectly Intact
Like it just left the factory
100 Points
Slightly Damaged
Cracked, but still in one piece
50 Points
Chipped Chip
Broken along the edges, but less than 5 pieces
10 Points
Split Chip
The chip is broken into two fairly equal pieces
10 Points
Significantly Damaged
Chipped and/or cracked into less than 20 pieces
5 Points
Pringle Dust
Too many pieces to count (more than 20)
1 Point
Additional Scoring Option:
Two measurements must be collected by the person/team constructing and sending the package before mailing if you decide to participate in the “Additional Scoring Option.”
Overall Score:
The overall score of the package will be used to compare packages. The formula for calculate the overall score will be as follows:
Overall Score = Intactness Score
(Mass in kg x Volume in cc)
Example:
a) A perfect chip = Intactness of 100
b) Mass = 256 grams or 0.256 kg
c) Volume = 250 cc
Overall Score = (100/(.256 x 250)) = 100/64 = 1.56 (when rounded to 3 significant figures)
Additional Information and History of Pringles:
These websites can be used for any additional research and investigating that you choose to do.
http://www.foodreference.com/html/fpringles.html
http://www.bighistory.net/a-bried-history-of-pringles/
https://youtu.be/2UTNmN8hLOo
Coordinator: Jennifer Mazziotta-Walter and Deirdre Mulligan
Grades: 2-5
Description: Students will design and test a container for shipping a single Pringles potato chip via the US Postal Service. Students will exchange packages with a partner school in Warren County.
Curriculum Goals:
- To engineer a package to have the smallest volume and smallest mass that will protect the chip so that it arrives at its destination undamaged.
- Students will use 1 regular Pringles potato chip.
- No substance may be applied to the chip nor can the chip be altered in any way.
- The chip must be recoverable and edible (but don’t eat them) when received by your partner school.
- There is a 3x5x5 inch limit on the size package and a fussy postman may reject a smaller package.
- No bubble wrap or packing peanuts may be used.
- All materials used should be “recycled materials.” This means, instead of a new box, use an empty tissue box or cereal box to make a box. Instead of new paper, reuse a brown paper grocery bag. You may use new tape.
- Along with the address, you may only write “Fragile” or “Handle with Care” on the package.
- Contents of package: Flour, sugar or any other white powdery substance cannot be used to package the Pringle. Be as creative as you would like, but be considerate of the student who will be opening and analyzing your Pringle.
- Package must be clearly labeled on the outside with the sending school and group. (If special unpacking instructions are needed they should also be included).
- Each participating school will send, receive and evaluate packages.
- Each package must be clearly labeled “Pringles Challenge” and addressed to the receiving school, in care of the particular teacher.
- Students may work alone, in pairs, or in groups.
- Partner schools may set up a timeline for when projects will be mail, scored, etc.
- No pre-made Pringles containers should be used (ex. specially designed Pringles containers for lunch boxes, Pringles cans, etc)
Scoring:
Scoring will be done by the school receiving the package. Schools should report results back to the sending school through email or snail mail. Intactness score of the chip will be determined by the evaluating school, according to the chart below:
Perfectly Intact
Like it just left the factory
100 Points
Slightly Damaged
Cracked, but still in one piece
50 Points
Chipped Chip
Broken along the edges, but less than 5 pieces
10 Points
Split Chip
The chip is broken into two fairly equal pieces
10 Points
Significantly Damaged
Chipped and/or cracked into less than 20 pieces
5 Points
Pringle Dust
Too many pieces to count (more than 20)
1 Point
Additional Scoring Option:
Two measurements must be collected by the person/team constructing and sending the package before mailing if you decide to participate in the “Additional Scoring Option.”
- Because you must compute the volume of your package, it is important that you make your package a standard shape for which there is a formula available. However, you may be creative with your shapes.
- You can research platonic solids to find an interesting shape and the appropriate net for the design of your package, but be sure that you can find a formula for the volume of that shape.
- Mass – measured in Kg to at least 3 significant figures (Suggestion: measure first in grams and then convert.)
- Volume – measured in cubic centimeters to at least 3 significant figures
- Intactness score of the chip as determined by the evaluating school, according to the chart above.
Overall Score:
The overall score of the package will be used to compare packages. The formula for calculate the overall score will be as follows:
Overall Score = Intactness Score
(Mass in kg x Volume in cc)
Example:
a) A perfect chip = Intactness of 100
b) Mass = 256 grams or 0.256 kg
c) Volume = 250 cc
Overall Score = (100/(.256 x 250)) = 100/64 = 1.56 (when rounded to 3 significant figures)
Additional Information and History of Pringles:
These websites can be used for any additional research and investigating that you choose to do.
http://www.foodreference.com/html/fpringles.html
http://www.bighistory.net/a-bried-history-of-pringles/
https://youtu.be/2UTNmN8hLOo