Weekly Update 3/23/12

Kraft Packaging Redesign Project

Last Thursday we presented our final packaging designs and commercials to six Kraft packaging engineers, our parents, and our Thomas teachers and administrators.  Some of us were a little nervous, but we all had fun.  The tips that the engineers provided us with were helpful and proved that they are really good professional engineers.  Plus, we all really love our Michigan State yo-yos!

Macaroni and Cheese:  We liked that we got to present to actual Kraft engineers and hear their thoughts and ideas.  It was really cool and a great experience.  We learned that a lot more goes into package engineering than we thought.  








Oreos:  We liked working with food that we recognize and eat.  We learned that there are a lot of different ways to make a package.








Swedish Fish:  We liked having free will to create whatever we wanted.  We learned a lot about primary and secondary packaging.  We also enjoyed the gift bags of food and the yo-yos!  We liked making and presenting our projects!








Teddy Grahams:  We liked how we had freedom to build what we wanted how we wanted it.  We enjoyed making the commercial.  We also enjoyed how the Kraft people listened to our ideas.








Oreo Cakesters: We enjoyed working with different packaging materials, and we learned that it takes a lot of tries to make something good.  We also liked learning life skills like presenting to an audience.








Capri Sun:  We liked making our prototype, and we like the idea that there's a chance our new packaging might actually be on shelves!  We really liked working together in our group.








Sour Patch:  We liked that we had a lot of free rein on our project.  We liked that we could design our own project with some supervision but did most of it on our own.  We had a choice to do anything for our commercials.  We made three versions and then chose the one we liked best.








Chips Ahoy:  We learned patience because it took a while to build our prototype, film our commercials, and put it all together.  We really liked putting our Garage Band music in the commercials.








Kool-Aid:  We liked that we could use all of our creativity in this project, and we learned that new packaging might be important to the future.  We liked that all of the Kraft engineers' and our parents' comments were so encouraging.

Thanks to Mr. Aho for subbing for Stephen, who was out sick during the Singing Narwal group's rhythm performance in music.  Today was our last day of music class, and we are looking forward to starting Industrial Technology after break. 

We wrapped up our music rotation with a Sigma Talent Show.  Here are some of our performances.

Sigma learns about Germany, too!  

Mrs. Lussem taught us a German dance called the "Schuhplattler" during the last few minutes of class before spring break.  

Sigma students teach!  Thanks to David P, Shane, and James for teaching the class how to create and share documents in googledocs.  This allows us to write our Yellow Death WEX responses on our laptops, share with Mrs. Ziegenfuss, and then revise after reading her comments.

 Shane and David helping Jake and Samson.

David and James teaching the group.