Project Description

For grades 5-9, though our target grade is 5^th

                  Our GEMS guide has students testing the absorbency and wet strength of four different paper towel brands.  Through these tests, students will also create their own experiments and learn about fairness and bias within these experiments.  First, students take the paper towels (blindly labeled A, B, C, D) and test either the absorbency or the wet strength.  They award points to each towel on a scale from 1 being the worst to 4 being the best.    Then, the teacher and students discuss results for each test and any conclusions that were found.  Next, the students create their own experiment to test absorbency or wet strength, whatever they have not already tested.  Again, students award points and determine which brand shows the strongest absorbency and the greatest wet strength.  Afterward, students incorporate math by finding the cost per sheet to determine which brand is the most cost-effective.  By dividing the cost per roll with the sheets per roll, and comparing it to earlier results, students really find the best paper towel for their money.  Finally, students are encouraged to think of follow up experiments to extend their knowledge.