Eighth Grade Science Wizzes Showcase Innovation at Consumer Product Event
Olivia, Shoshi, Sabrina (l to r) asked, “Which brand of french fries offers the healthiest option to consumers?”
Which French fries are the healthiest? What marshmallow cereal tastes best – name brand or “off-brand?” Should athletes use resistance bands for “gassers” (sprint training)?
These are just a few of the questions eighth-grade physical science students at The Independence School sought to answer as part of a long- term research project involving consumer products.
The students were given the assignment in September and have been working collaboratively in teams since then – planning, hypothesizing, analyzing data, and forming conclusions. As a first step, the students had to write a proposal about their research to the “FDA” (aka science teacher, Mrs. Jessie Copeland).
On Dec. 16, the students had an opportunity to show off their work as they enthusiastically presented The Independence School 2019-20 Consumer Product Showcase. Local professional scientists and engineers from companies such as Agilent, DuPont and Dow, and a spinal implant company in King of Prussia, plus a few retired from the field, attended the showcase to give critical feedback.
The team of Shoshi, Olivia K, and Sabrina chose to compare the health of various options for french fries with a research project they called Time Fries.
“We focused on the amount of preservatives in different french fries since there is so much in the news about preservatives in food,” said Shoshi.
Which brand of respirator filters out the most particulate matter?
Based on advertising claims, they expected that Shake Shack fries would be the healthiest. Their findings showed that homemade fries – without any added preservatives – developed mold first. “We were surprised that the Shake Shack fries lasted longer than MacDonald’s without molding,” Shoshi remarked.
The team concluded that if their research is correct, Shake Shack fries might have more preservatives than other brands, but they acknowledged (as all the 8th grade researchers did) that their research could be flawed and the results not 100% accurate.
According to science teacher, Jessie Copeland, “the Consumer Product Showcase is an impactful aspect of the students’ experience since it is a sophisticated long-term project that inspires and challenges students to utilize and demonstrate their abilities in research, critical thinking, writing, design, and public speaking.”
This extensive project is extremely helpful toward building critical thinking skills for these students as they consider the world around them, using their own creative eyes. Practicing the scientific method, including the use of comprehensive data for analysis and conclusions, is a crucial component for preparing students to be independent thinkers and curious citizens.
The students were excited to conduct their own experiments, and it was very evident at the showcase that they were also very proud of their efforts.
The team of John, Louie, and Ben exhibited Bands: Good for Gassers? and found the resistance bands did not improve speed. The research team of Olivia J, Tess, and Grace presented Cereal Showdown and determined the taste of Lucky Charms was preferred to “off-brand” marshmallow cereals.
Which fertilizer, natural or commercial, helps plants grow best?
The product categories researched by this year’s students included:
- Athletic resistance bands
- Soccer balls
- Marshmallow cereals
- Stain removers
- Fertilizers
- Whitening toothpaste
- Ice cream
- Mascara
- Respirator masks
- Cell phone cases
- Old bay flavored potato chips
- Microwave popcorn
- Nail polish
- Sweeteners in ice-cream
- Dri-fit shirts
- Tennis balls
- Highlighters
- Makeup samples
- Gel pens
- French fries
- Insulated water bottles
This story is sponsored content by The Independence School
The post Eighth Grade Science Wizzes Showcase Innovation at Consumer Product Event appeared first on Town Square Delaware.