Interactive Gumball Machine

Student Worksheet:
Interactive Gumball Machine Design Challenge

 Scenario
A local toy shop needs to attract more customers so they asked your class to help them by creating a special display that will be set up in the center of the store and will be fun for kids- an interactive gumball machine!

 Design Challenge
Design and build a fun interactive gumball machine that will draw customers into the toy store.  

 Criteria 
All designs must:
•	keep the gumball on the track,
•	have one interactive element,
•	have a minimum of 1 loop,
•	be self-supporting (stand on its own), and
•	be as creative as possible.

 Constraints 
•	You must use only the materials provided.

Interactive Gumball Machine

Student Worksheet (continued):

Team members:_____________________________________________

Interactive Gumball Machine Name:  __________________________________________

  Planning Stage
Meet as a team and discuss the problem you need to solve. Then develop and agree on a design for your gumball machine. You'll need to determine what materials you want to use.  Draw your design in the box below, and be sure to indicate the description and number of parts you plan to use. 

Brainstorm designs for your gumball slide:

Choose your best design and sketch it here:

Interactive Gumball Machine

Student Worksheet (continued):

 Construction Phase
Build your gumball machine. During construction you may decide you need additional materials or that your design needs to change. This is ok – just make a new sketch and revise your materials list.

 Testing Phase
Each team will test their gumball machine.  If your design was not successful redesign and test again, until you are happy with it.  Be sure to watch the tests of the other teams and observe how their different designs worked.

Sketch your Final Design

  Evaluation Phase
Evaluate your teams' results, complete the evaluation worksheet, and present your findings to the class.
Interactive Gumball Machine

Student Worksheet (continued):

Use this worksheet to evaluate your team's results in the Interactive Gumball Machine Lesson:

1.	What went well? 

2.	What didn’t go well? 

3.	What is your favorite element of your interactive gumball machine? 

4.	If you had time to redesign again, what changes would you make?