Secondary 3 – Maths: Designing the Most Efficient Product
After learning the concepts and practicing problems on volume and total surface area of prisms, pyramids, and cylinders, Secondary 3 students applied their knowledge and skills through an engaging design project.
In this project, students stepped into the role of product designers. They were challenged to design either a water tank or a juice packaging with a specific required volume. The main goal was to create the most efficient design; considering production cost, safety, functionality, and visual appeal.
To achieve this, students explored and compared two or more different design ideas. Some experimented by adjusting the dimensions of the same shape, while others went further by changing the shape of the container entirely. Through this process, they analyzed how different designs affected the total surface area which relates to production cost while maintaining the required volume.
Students then built mock-up prototypes of their products to visualize their designs. The project concluded with a presentation session where students pitched their designs to the teacher, who acted as an investor. During the session, they also responded to questions from rival designers, defending why their design was the most feasible and suitable to be selected for production.
Through this project, students developed not only their mathematical understanding of volume and surface area, but also critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, and presentation skills experiencing how mathematics can be applied in real-world design and decision-making.
