Game #4 - Making Paper Cups - Paper Cup Challenge (Improving Processes)

Game #4 - Making Paper Cups - Paper Cup Challenge (Improving Processes)

The aim of this pack is to introduce students to one of the topics of O.R. in a fun and engaging way. Firstly, we get students folding paper up, down and across to make paper cups. Then the challenge gets technical (and competitive!) - teams are timed building paper cups, and must organise the task into sub-tasks - such as folding or designing. This leads onto thinking about efficiency and process improvement. What worked? What didn’t? Lets time it and do it again! The students have a chance to make changes to their process before comparing the means, standard deviations and variances.

Aimed at: Secondary school
 For Year 7-9 / Low ability groups: Allow 90 - 120 minutes
 For Year 10-11 / Average ability groups: Allow 60 - 90 minutes
 For Year 12-13 / High ability groups: Allow 45 – 60 minutes

The material uses: Mean, Variance, Standard Deviation, addition, subtraction

This pack includes:
 Student worksheet - short version
 Teacher notes
 Presentation
 Cover Sheet
 Case Study
 Excel data
 Additional Resource (Crown Paints)

The O.R. technique behind this is simulation and improving processes (looking at the most efficient way of doing something). This information is also available online to download.