Shell Container
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Approach:  Independent
Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Generating and evaluating design
Resources:
4 shells (same type and size), 4 rulers, 4 answer sheets
frame 6.3Mb
Questions/instructions:  


shellShow students a shell.
In this activity you are going to design a container for one of these shells. The container should be a good size for the shell, and it should be able to be opened and closed. Start by making two quick drawings or sketches of your ideas. Then choose one of your ideas for making a detailed plan for your container. Draw your plan so that if someone else used the plan, they would know exactly how the container is to be made. You will be working on your own. Try to do your very best without getting help from the others in the group, and follow the instructions on your answer sheet.

Give each student an answer sheet, ruler and shell. Ensure students work independently.

Student work sheet:

1. Make two quick drawings of your ideas for the container.
2. Draw a detailed plan for one of your ideas.
3. The container should be a good size for the shell.
It should be able to be opened and closed.
4. The plan needs enough information to show someone exactly
how it is to be made.

Which idea do you like best? Circle your answer: First Second
Now draw a plan for your best idea. Your plan needs to be clear so that someone else would know how to make the shell container.
Your plan should show:

• The size and measurements of the container.
• What the container is made of.
• How the container is held together.
• How it opens and closes.

Put labels on your plan.

 
% responses
2008 ('04)
y4
y8
Concept:
included one or more conceptual
drawings in addition to final plan
99 (99)
100 (99)
Plan included:
3D drawing and net
0 (1)
5 (11)
3D drawing
48 (44)
69 (59)
net
5 (6)
8 (20)
Shape of the container:
special shape linked to shell shape
21 (26)
33 (42)
rectangular prism/shape
61 (57)
62 (53)
Is it possible to make a container from
the plan? (ignoring dimensions at this point)
yes, appropriate overlapping joins/tabs/seam allowance
1 (3)
9 (21)
yes, but with butt joins
28 (33)
61 (52)
Measurements included: (including units)
sufficient to make container to size
3 (7)
31 (40)
some, but not sufficient
48 (63)
51 (42)
Measurements appropriate to size of shell:
(base 7.5cm, height 7cm, sloping sizes about 9cm;
can allow up to 2.5cm more for packing space.)
all
2 (2)
16 (22)
some
21 (33)
43 (44)
none
76 (65)
41 (34)
Provided information on:
material(s) for container
64 (86)
78 (82)
how container is held together
42 (57)
57 (71)
Clear where container opens and closes:

yes, with details
8 (13)
28 (33)
yes, but without details
51 (51)
52 (53)
plan included a transparent “window” so the shell can be seen when the box is closed (optional)
7 (8)
11 (6)
Overall judgement of clarity and detail of
plan for another person to make container:
very good
0 (0)
5 (7)
quite good
2 (1)
22 (29)
key details missing or unclear
29 (51)
52 (45)
seriously inadequate
69 (49)
21 (19)

Total score:
10–12
2 (4)
26 (38)
8–9
8 (16)
22 (24)
6–7
19 (28)
27 (19)
4–5
29 (29)
16 (13)
0–3
43 (24)
8 (7)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
Strong growth from year 4 to year 8 was seen in this task involving generating and evaluating a design for a container. Year 4 students had particular difficulty in coming up with a thorough plan with good measurements of the dimensions. Pakeha, Mäori and Pasifika students performed similarly at year 4; at year 8, Pakeha students performed better than Mäori students.

SHELL CONTAINER EXEMPLARS [click on pictures to enlarge] –
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High Range:
Year 4
Year 4
Year 4
Year 8 Year 8 Year 8
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Mid Range:
shell
shell
shell
Year 4
Year 4
Year 4
Year 8
Year 8
Year 8
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