Work on your own to answer the following questions. Record your answers in your technology notebook.
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What was similar about your tests for the paper towels and for the cereal? What was different?
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How did this Elaborate activity provide you with evidence about breakfast cereals? How could you use this evidence to help you make a decision?
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How do you think engineers decide on the criteria they should use when designing a product?
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In this activity, you practiced the teamwork skill of seeing other people’s points of view. Give at least one example of how you practiced the skill during this Elaborate activity.
Answers to Reflect and Connect
Students should work individually to complete the questions. Once they have written down their answers, you may wish to give them time to discuss their ideas with their teammates or as a class.
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What was similar about your tests for the paper towels and for the cereal? What was different?
Students will likely find more differences between the tests than similarities. Use this as an opportunity to point out that students cannot use one set of criteria for all products and that each product needs to be considered individually.
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How did this Elaborate activity provide you with evidence about breakfast cereals? How could you use this evidence to help you make a decision?
Evidence is an important part of investigations. Students’ answers will vary depending on the type of tests they conducted. For example, a team that tested how quickly the cereal became soggy might have actual times to show how quickly the cereal broke down.
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How do you think engineers decide on the criteria they should use when designing a product?
Some criteria, such as safety, are very important for engineers to address. They must make sure that their product is safe for consumers. Engineers must also consider what they think consumers want. It is important for engineers to brainstorm all the possibilities, and then narrow down the actual criteria that will go into the design.
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In this activity, you practiced the teamwork skill of seeing other people’s points of view. Give at least one example of how you practiced the skill during this Elaborate activity.
Students will have different responses. They may say that they took turns giving ideas or that they made sure each person in the group had an opportunity to speak.