Get ready to design cups that can keep Carla’s drinks hot or cold for as long as possible. Let’s dive into this cool (or should we say hot?) engineering adventure!
Temperature-Resistant Cup Challenge!
K-12 Resource: Activity
Design cups that can keep drinks hot or cold
Project Details
- Grade Level K-5
- Subject Science, Art
- Activity Type Engineering, Design
About
Learning Objectives
Materials Needed
Cups (plastic or paper)
Insulating materials such as foam, aluminum foil, cloth, and any other materials you think might help keep your drink hot or cold
Scissors (with adult supervision)
Hot water (with adult supervision) or cold water
Thermometer
Timer
Ice cubes and water (to test for cold)
Paper and pencil
Assignment
Hey there, young engineers! Watch Morning Cup of Joke to get started. List all of the cups you see in the video as Jessie explores the Getty Museum for cups.
Remember Carla, the Getty Security Guard Jessie met in the gallery? It turns out she needs a new cup to keep her coffee warm or cold. Are you ready to tackle the Temperature-Resistant Cup Challenge?
Brainstorm Insulation Ideas
Use the Temperature-Resistant Cup Challenge Worksheet to think about different materials that could help insulate your cup and keep your drink at the right temperature. Do you think foam, aluminum foil, or cloth work best? Why? Sketch out your ideas on a piece of paper to help you plan.
Start Experimenting
Now it’s time to get experimental! Use the materials provided to create different designs for your temperature-resistant cups. Try wrapping the cups with foam, aluminum foil, or cloth, or even layering different materials you think will work best.
Build Your Cups
Once you’ve decided on your designs, start building your temperature-resistant cups. Wrap the cups with your chosen insulation materials and secure them in place with tape or rubber bands. Make sure your cups are well-insulated and won't leak.
Test Your Cups and Record Results
Now, it’s time to test your cups! Pour hot water into one of the cups in each of your three design sets. Pour cold water (or add ice cubes to water) into the other cup.
Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water inside each cup after 10 minutes. Which cups keep the water hot or cold for the longest?
As you conduct your tests, make sure to record your observations and measurements on the charts on the Temperature-Resistant Cup Challenge Worksheet. Note the starting temperature of the water and how it changes over time for each cup. Which cup insulates the best? What materials were most effective?
Evaluate and Improve
After testing your cups, take a moment to evaluate your results. Answer the following questions:
- Which cup insulates the best?
- What materials were most effective?
- Did your cup design meet your expectations?
- Were there any surprises or unexpected findings?
Think about how you could improve your cup design to make it even better. Retest if needed.
Share Your Findings
Once you’ve completed your tests, share your findings with your classmates! Discuss your cup designs, test results, and any lessons learned along the way. What strategies were most effective in keeping drinks hot or cold?
Celebrate Your Success
Congratulations, temperature-resistant cup engineers! You've successfully designed and tested cups that can keep drinks hot or cold for longer periods. Give yourselves a round of applause for your hard work and ingenuity!
Keep up the fantastic work, engineers! With your newfound knowledge of insulation, you're sure to help Carla keep her drinks warm!
