STEM Design for Learning

A WebQuest for Real World Project-Based Learning

Sunnyvale Middle School 2014

Designing School Supplies

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You will work with other students in a group pretending to be a school supply company. Each member of the group will become an expert on one type of school supply, in order create a new and improved design.

Here is an outline of your tasks:1. Form a company and choose a school supply as your design project.2. Gather thoughts and form questions about the chosen school supply.3. Research and learn about your school supply to share with the rest of your

company. 4. Communicate what you learned with your company and brainstorm new designs5. Use information and group discussion to design two improvements to this school

tool. 6. Share your designs with your company, trying to sell each design. As a company,

choose one design from each member. 7. Create an ad page for the chosen design. Meet to receive feedback and make

final design decisions. 8. Complete ads and place them into a company catalog.

*Bonus: Place catalogs out for display in the school or on a class website. Students vote which school tool they would buy from the catalogues. Numbers are tallied to determine which products are most successful.

Task

Back to Main Menu

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Company MeetingMeet with your group and choose a company name. Discuss the pros and cons of the various school supplies. Decide who will be an expert on which tool. Once you decide, begin individual research and thinking by following the the school supply learning path. If viewing digitally, click on the school supply to begin.

PencilStapler Scissors

Paperclips

Process: Step 1

CrayonsErasers

Back to Main Menu

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Estimate when you think the pencil was first invented: ________________

What did the pencil replace—what was mostly used for writing before the pencil came into use?_______________________________________________________________________________What do you think the differences might be from the first pencils to those used to today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What changes occurred because of this invention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What questions do you have about the pencil?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pencil DesignerProcess Step 2: Prior Learning

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Pencil DesignerProcess Step 3: Research• Use your own questions and some of the following to guide your research. • Use at least two resources to gather information about pencils.• Take notes and be sure to include the number of the resource next to each note.• Search for additional sources of information as needed. • Summarize your findings to prepare to share at your next company meeting.You want to use evidence from your research to support the importance of the pencilIn the company store catalog.

Pencil Resource Web Links

Musgrave Pencil Facts http://www.pencils.net/facts.cfm

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3Tennessee History for Kids: Musgrave Pencil Company http://www.tnhistoryforkids.org/places/musgrave_pencil

Faber Castell Pencil Facts http://bit.ly/19HV2eX

The Economist: The Future of the Pencil http://www.economist.com/node/17043890

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6 Pencil History http://www.pencils.com/blog/pencil-history/

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Science Discovery Video— How it’s Made?... Pencils http://bit.ly/13MLkHp

Green Your—Pencils http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/school-career/pencil

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Take turns sharing your research about each school supply. Discuss why this is an important tool for school. Discuss why this school tool should be included in the company catalog.

Brainstorm possible improvements based on current use and needs. Each company member will take notes and ask for ideas during each supply focus time. These ideas will be used for the design phase of the project, so be sure to get as much help as possible from your company.

Process: Step 4Company Meeting

Questions to Guide New Design IdeasHow well does this school supply work now? What are some of its flaws?How could it work better?How fun is this school supply to use?How can this school supply be designed so it is more fun to use?How long does the school supply last?How could it last longer?How sustainable is the school supply? How can it be made to be less harmful to the environment?

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Design 1

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Design 2

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Process Step 5: Design Worksheet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Process Step 6: Company Meeting: Choosing Designs

In this meeting your company chooses one of the two designs created for each school supply.

Take turns sharing your designs with the other members of your company. Show your drawing details and support your ideas with reasons why each design improves the school supply. Provide time for questions to explain any part of the design that isn’t understood. Discuss which design is thought to be a better “sell”.

As a company, choose one design from each member.

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Create a catalog ad page for your chosen school supply design. Include the best features of your school supply design to sell the product. What is special about your design? Be sure to make it clear to customers.

Hold a company meeting for final ideas and feedback on catalog pages. Add any changes or finishing touches to your final ad.

Process Step 7: Catalog Page

Process Step 8: Company CatalogCombine ads with the rest of the company and place into a company catalog. Be sure to create a cover for your catalog that includes your company name. Display the catalog in paper form or digitally online.

*As a bonus activity have students “buy” products by voting on what school supplies they would most likely want to use. This can be completed as an online poll or paper/pencil checklist.

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Estimate when you think the stapler was first invented: ________________

What did the stapler replace—what was mostly used for fastening papers before the stapler came into use?_______________________________________________________________________________What do you think the differences might be from the first staplers to those used to today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What changes occurred because of this invention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What questions do you have about the stapler?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Stapler DesignerProcess Step 2: Prior Learning

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Stapler DesignerProcess Step 3: Research

• Use your own questions and some of the following to guide your research. • Use at least two resources to gather information about staplers.• Take notes and be sure to include the number of the resource next to each note.• Search for additional sources of information as needed. • Summarize your findings to prepare to share at your next company meeting.You want to use evidence from your research to support the importance of the staplerIn the company store catalog.

DIAO http://www.stapler.cn/history.asp

ReUseIt Staple Free Stapler http://bit.ly/14GtIzx (Includes video demo)

Stapler Resource Web Links

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Made How: How Staplers Are Made?http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Stapler.html

The Office Museumhttp://www.officemuseum.com/staplers.htm

New York Times- The Attachment that’s Still Making Noisehttp://nyti.ms/13mkyr4

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Take turns sharing your research about each school supply. Discuss why this is an important tool for school. Discuss why this school tool should be included in the company catalog.

Brainstorm possible improvements based on current use and needs. Each company member will take notes and ask for ideas during each supply focus time. These ideas will be used for the design phase of the project, so be sure to get as much help as possible from your company.

Process: Step 4Company Meeting

Questions to Guide New Design IdeasHow well does this school supply work now? What are some of its flaws?How could it work better?How fun is this school supply to use?How can this school supply be designed so it is more fun to use?How long does the school supply last?How could it last longer?How sustainable is the school supply? How can it be made to be less harmful to the environment?

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Design 1

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Design 2

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Process Step 5: Design Worksheet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Process Step 6: Company Meeting: Choosing Designs

In this meeting your company chooses one of the two designs created for each school supply.

Take turns sharing your designs with the other members of your company. Show your drawing details and support your ideas with reasons why each design improves the school supply. Provide time for questions to explain any part of the design that isn’t understood. Discuss which design is thought to be a better “sell”.

As a company, choose one design from each member.

15

Create a catalog ad page for your chosen school supply design. Include the best features of your school supply design to sell the product. What is special about your design? Be sure to make it clear to customers.

Hold a company meeting for final ideas and feedback on catalog pages. Add any changes or finishing touches to your final ad.

Process Step 7: Catalog Page

Process Step 8: Company CatalogCombine ads with the rest of the company and place into a company catalog. Be sure to create a cover for your catalog that includes your company name. Display the catalog in paper form or digitally online.

*As a bonus activity have students “buy” products by voting on what school supplies they would most likely want to use. This can be completed as an online poll or paper/pencil checklist.

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Estimate when you think the crayons were first invented: ________________

What did crayons replace—what was mostly used for coloring before crayons came into use?_______________________________________________________________________________What do you think the differences might be from the first crayons to those used to today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What changes occurred because of this invention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What questions do you have about crayons?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Crayon DesignerProcess Step 2: Prior Learning

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Crayon DesignerProcess Step 3: Research

• Use your own questions and some of the following to guide your research. • Use at least two resources to gather information about crayons.• Take notes and be sure to include the number of the resource next to each note.• Search for additional sources of information as needed. • Summarize your findings to prepare to share at your next company meeting.You want to use evidence from your research to support the importance of crayons In the company store catalog.

Crayon Resource Web Links

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Inventor Hall of Fame: Edwin Binny http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/424.html

Fact Monster: Crayola Crayon Colors http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0872797.html

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6 Crayola Green Initiatives http://www.crayola.com/about-us/green-initiatives.aspx

Everyday Chemistry: How Crayons Made Their Debuthttp://humantouchofchemistry.com/know-how-crayons-made-their-debut.htm

The Life of the American Crayon http://bit.ly/NQUTgJ

How Stuff Works: How Crayons and Markers are Madehttp://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/question563.htm

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Take turns sharing your research about each school supply. Discuss why this is an important tool for school. Discuss why this school tool should be included in the company catalog.

Brainstorm possible improvements based on current use and needs. Each company member will take notes and ask for ideas during each supply focus time. These ideas will be used for the design phase of the project, so be sure to get as much help as possible from your company.

Process: Step 4Company Meeting

Questions to Guide New Design IdeasHow well does this school supply work now? What are some of its flaws?How could it work better?How fun is this school supply to use?How can this school supply be designed so it is more fun to use?How long does the school supply last?How could it last longer?How sustainable is the school supply? How can it be made to be less harmful to the environment?

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Design 1

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Design 2

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Process Step 5: Design Worksheet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Process Step 6: Company Meeting: Choosing Designs

In this meeting your company chooses one of the two designs created for each school supply.

Take turns sharing your designs with the other members of your company. Show your drawing details and support your ideas with reasons why each design improves the school supply. Provide time for questions to explain any part of the design that isn’t understood. Discuss which design is thought to be a better “sell”.

As a company, choose one design from each member.

21

Create a catalog ad page for your chosen school supply design. Include the best features of your school supply design to sell the product. What is special about your design? Be sure to make it clear to customers.

Hold a company meeting for final ideas and feedback on catalog pages. Add any changes or finishing touches to your final ad.

Process Step 7: Catalog Page

Process Step 8: Company CatalogCombine ads with the rest of the company and place into a company catalog. Be sure to create a cover for your catalog that includes your company name. Display the catalog in paper form or digitally online.

*As a bonus activity have students “buy” products by voting on what school supplies they would most likely want to use. This can be completed as an online poll or paper/pencil checklist.

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Estimate when you think the scissors was first invented: ________________

What did the scissors replace—what was mostly used for cutting before the scissors came into use?_______________________________________________________________________________What do you think the differences might be from the first scissors to those used to today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What changes occurred because of this invention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What questions do you have about scissors?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scissors DesignerProcess Step 2: Prior Learning

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Scissors DesignerProcess Step 3: Research

• Use your own questions and some of the following to guide your research. • Use at least two resources to gather information about scissors.• Take notes and be sure to include the number of the resource next to each note.• Search for additional sources of information as needed. • Summarize your findings to prepare to share at your next company meeting.You want to use evidence from your research to support the importance of scissorsIn the company store catalog.

Scissors Resource Web Links

Klemscott Design—Scissors http://www.kelmscottdesigns.com/scissors.htm

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Westcott Scissors http://www.westcottbrand.com/About/History/History/37

Wired Magazine: Shear Genius http://bit.ly/13a7enT

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6BBC: The Scissor Maker That has Cut Through Chinese Historyhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22160739 7

OVGuide—Scissors Video Clip http://bit.ly/1d8iP9H

New Technology Gives Fiskars Scissors a Whole New Look http://bit.ly/18XnHdN

How Products are Made: Scissors http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Scissors.html

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Take turns sharing your research about each school supply. Discuss why this is an important tool for school. Discuss why this school tool should be included in the company catalog.

Brainstorm possible improvements based on current use and needs. Each company member will take notes and ask for ideas during each supply focus time. These ideas will be used for the design phase of the project, so be sure to get as much help as possible from your company.

Process: Step 4Company Meeting

Questions to Guide New Design IdeasHow well does this school supply work now? What are some of its flaws?How could it work better?How fun is this school supply to use?How can this school supply be designed so it is more fun to use?How long does the school supply last?How could it last longer?How sustainable is the school supply? How can it be made to be less harmful to the environment?

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Design 1

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Design 2

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Process Step 5: Design Worksheet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26

Process Step 6: Company Meeting: Choosing Designs

In this meeting your company chooses one of the two designs created for each school supply.

Take turns sharing your designs with the other members of your company. Show your drawing details and support your ideas with reasons why each design improves the school supply. Provide time for questions to explain any part of the design that isn’t understood. Discuss which design is thought to be a better “sell”.

As a company, choose one design from each member.

27

Create a catalog ad page for your chosen school supply design. Include the best features of your school supply design to sell the product. What is special about your design? Be sure to make it clear to customers.

Hold a company meeting for final ideas and feedback on catalog pages. Add any changes or finishing touches to your final ad.

Process Step 7: Catalog Page

Process Step 8: Company CatalogCombine ads with the rest of the company and place into a company catalog. Be sure to create a cover for your catalog that includes your company name. Display the catalog in paper form or digitally online.

*As a bonus activity have students “buy” products by voting on what school supplies they would most likely want to use. This can be completed as an online poll or paper/pencil checklist.

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Estimate when you think paperclips were first invented: ________________

What did paperclips replace—what was mostly used for fastening papers before paperclips came into use?_______________________________________________________________________________What do you think the differences might be from the first paperclips to those used to today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What changes occurred because of this invention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What questions do you have about paperclips?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paperclip DesignerProcess Step 2: Prior Learning

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Paperclip DesignerProcess Step 3: Research

• Use your own questions and some of the following to guide your research. • Use at least two resources to gather information about paperclips.• Take notes and be sure to include the number of the resource next to each note.• Search for additional sources of information as needed. • Summarize your findings to prepare to share at your next company meeting.You want to use evidence from your research to support the importance of paperclips In the company store catalog.

Paperclip Resource Web Links

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Early Office Museum http://www.officemuseum.com/paper_clips.htm

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6 Slate: The Perfection of the Paperclip http://slate.me/Kj0lGy

How is it Made? Paperclips (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKLY5fjyf38

Princeton Edu: Papercliphttp://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Paper_clip.html

History Channel: Paperclip Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bENYFXjr9W0

Treehugger: Recycled Paperclips http://bit.ly/15nmwH9

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Take turns sharing your research about each school supply. Discuss why this is an important tool for school. Discuss why this school tool should be included in the company catalog.

Brainstorm possible improvements based on current use and needs. Each company member will take notes and ask for ideas during each supply focus time. These ideas will be used for the design phase of the project, so be sure to get as much help as possible from your company.

Process: Step 4Company Meeting

Questions to Guide New Design IdeasHow well does this school supply work now? What are some of its flaws?How could it work better?How fun is this school supply to use?How can this school supply be designed so it is more fun to use?How long does the school supply last?How could it last longer?How sustainable is the school supply? How can it be made to be less harmful to the environment?

31

Design 1

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Design 2

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Process Step 5: Design Worksheet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

32

Process Step 6: Company Meeting: Choosing Designs

In this meeting your company chooses one of the two designs created for each school supply.

Take turns sharing your designs with the other members of your company. Show your drawing details and support your ideas with reasons why each design improves the school supply. Provide time for questions to explain any part of the design that isn’t understood. Discuss which design is thought to be a better “sell”.

As a company, choose one design from each member.

33

Create a catalog ad page for your chosen school supply design. Include the best features of your school supply design to sell the product. What is special about your design? Be sure to make it clear to customers.

Hold a company meeting for final ideas and feedback on catalog pages. Add any changes or finishing touches to your final ad.

Process Step 7: Catalog Page

Process Step 8: Company CatalogCombine ads with the rest of the company and place into a company catalog. Be sure to create a cover for your catalog that includes your company name. Display the catalog in paper form or digitally online.

*As a bonus activity have students “buy” products by voting on what school supplies they would most likely want to use. This can be completed as an online poll or paper/pencil checklist.

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Estimate when you think the erasers were first invented: ________________

What did erasers replace—what was mostly used for taking away written marks before erasers came into use?_______________________________________________________________________________What do you think the differences might be from the first erasers to those used to today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What changes occurred because of this invention?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What questions do you have about erasers?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Eraser DesignerProcess Step 2: Prior Learning

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Your Name: ________________________Company Name: ______________________________

Eraser DesignerProcess Step 3: Research

• Use your own questions and some of the following to guide your research. • Use at least two resources to gather information about erasers.• Take notes and be sure to include the number of the resource next to each note.• Search for additional sources of information as needed. • Summarize your findings to prepare to share at your next company meeting.You want to use evidence from your research to support the importance of erasers In the company store catalog.

Eraser Resource Web Links

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3How Stuff Works-Erasershttp://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/erasers-erase.htm

History of Erasers http://www.jetpens.com/articles/Article:_History_of_Erasers

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6 The New Yorker- All About Erasershttp://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/08/history-of-erasers.html

Innovate Us-Erasers http://www.innovateus.net/content/eraser

JetPens: A Look at Different Eraser Styles http://bit.ly/1bakX2x

Everyday Chemistry: The History Behind Your Eraserhttp://humantouchofchemistry.com/the-history-behind-your-eraser.htm

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Take turns sharing your research about each school supply. Discuss why this is an important tool for school. Discuss why this school tool should be included in the company catalog.

Brainstorm possible improvements based on current use and needs. Each company member will take notes and ask for ideas during each supply focus time. These ideas will be used for the design phase of the project, so be sure to get as much help as possible from your company.

Process: Step 4Company Meeting

Questions to Guide New Design IdeasHow well does this school supply work now? What are some of its flaws?How could it work better?How fun is this school supply to use?How can this school supply be designed so it is more fun to use?How long does the school supply last?How could it last longer?How sustainable is the school supply? How can it be made to be less harmful to the environment?

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Design 1

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Design 2

Improvement Description:

Reason for changes:

Process Step 5: Design Worksheet

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

38

Process Step 6: Company Meeting: Choosing Designs

In this meeting your company chooses one of the two designs created for each school supply.

Take turns sharing your designs with the other members of your company. Show your drawing details and support your ideas with reasons why each design improves the school supply. Provide time for questions to explain any part of the design that isn’t understood. Discuss which design is thought to be a better “sell”.

As a company, choose one design from each member.

39

Create a catalog ad page for your chosen school supply design. Include the best features of your school supply design to sell the product. What is special about your design? Be sure to make it clear to customers.

Hold a company meeting for final ideas and feedback on catalog pages. Add any changes or finishing touches to your final ad.

Process Step 7: Catalog Page

Process Step 8: Company CatalogCombine ads with the rest of the company and place into a company catalog. Be sure to create a cover for your catalog that includes your company name. Display the catalog in paper form or digitally online.

*As a bonus activity have students “buy” products by voting on what school supplies they would most likely want to use. This can be completed as an online poll or paper/pencil checklist.