Harmless Holder

Students learn product and process design as they create a beverage can holder that won’t harm wildlife or pollute but that is sturdy and easy to carry.

Time

1 to 2 Hours

Careers

Grade

6-8
9-12

Topic

Leader Notes Student Instruction Challenge Video

Materials

Cardboard
Paper
Duct tape
String
4 long wooden pieces, like paint stirrers, rulers, chop sticks or wooden dowels
6 rubber bands
Cans or bottles to test your holder. They don’t have to be beverages like soda or seltzer – they could be soup, bean or other types of cans.

Instructions

Identify the Problem
- One of the biggest problems with the traditional plastic can holder is that it is dangerous to wildlife. How can you design and build a harmless holder
- Here are the Your holder must be:
  - Sturdy
  - Easy to carry
  - Harmless to wildlife
  - It must have no – or low – impact on the environment.
Brainstorm Designs
- Think about why people might need a holder. Are they carrying a lot of different cans or bottles?
- Do you have to make a carrier that holds 6 cans – maybe you want to design yours to hold more…or to hold less?
- What are some different ways you can arrange the cans in your holder?
Build Your Holder
- As you build, play with different materials to keep your cans in place.
- How can you design a holder that keeps your cans or bottles together and lets you easily remove one can at a time?
- Your holder needs to be easy to carry too. What handle will work best with your design?
Test, Improve and Redesign
- When you’re done building your holder, it’s time test it out! Lift your carrier carefully, just a few inches above your table or desk. Ask yourself:
  - Do the cans stay in place when you pick it up and move it?
  - If your holder is bending or twisting, how can you reinforce your design?
- Think about what impact your carrier would have on wildlife.
  - Are some of your materials better for the environment than others?
  - If you could choose different materials, what would you pick?
- Make changes and try again!
Share Your Results with a teacher, parent/guardian, or DiscoverE
- Share photos or a video of your Harmless Holder!
- Send to DiscoverE at social@DiscoverE.org or post on Instagram/Twitter using the hashtag #DiscoverEChallenge

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Challenge created by:

This activity was developed through the support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

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DiscoverE helps create activities like this around Design Challenge, Green & Climate for children in Middle School and High School to help prepare them for STEM careers in fields like Environmental or Industrial & Manufacturing or Mechanical.

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