How this Plan uses your files
The schedule retains six focused research lessons, both full design cycles, and recurring reflection; closely related or redundant lessons are omitted rather than compressing investigations beyond 45-minute periods. The 30-day study and final transfer lesson cannot be completed within four weeks while preserving ten prototype tests and the Cool Cup Convention.
- Lesson 3 — Comparing hot and cold systems and investigating lids: Its hot/cold cup-feature and lid comparisons overlap the retained feature investigation in lesson 2 and energy-transfer investigation in lesson 9; there is insufficient time for the complete additional investigation.
- Lesson 4 — Lids, mass change, and evaporation: The separate lid, evaporation, mass-change, and mean-calculation investigation cannot fit alongside the retained condensation and cup-feature investigations.
- Lesson 6 — Matter movement and limits of closed systems: The required 30-day liquid-loss comparison exceeds the four-week project window, so the complete learner task cannot be carried out.
- Lesson 7 — Energy transfer in mostly closed systems: Its model development and proposed light tests are addressed more concretely by the retained light-absorption investigation in lesson 8.
- Lesson 10 — Temperature and particle motion: The complete multi-temperature food-coloring investigation is omitted to preserve time for lesson 12’s quantitative particle and collision investigation.
- Lesson 11 — Particle speed and kinetic energy: Its particle-speed evidence and application overlap the retained particle simulation in lesson 12, and the complete set of observations, readings, and historical analysis cannot fit.
- Lesson 13 — Investigating particle collisions in different states of matter: The complete sequence of manipulatives, simulations, state-of-matter investigations, and assessment requires more time than remains after preserving the distinct cup investigations.
- Lesson 14 — Energy transfer and the Icing Injuries Assessment: The additional butter investigation and Icing Injuries assessment cannot fit without displacing the retained cup-wall investigation or prototype testing.
- Lesson 18 — Generalizing energy-transfer models and evaluating designs: The full generalization sequence, related-container applications, disaster-blanket design, and summative transfer task cannot fit after two complete five-test design cycles and should not be compressed into the exhibition period.
Launch
Launch
Students will investigate a tasting-free cold-cup phenomenon, create and revise initial system models, and identify questions that will guide the insulated-cup engineering project.
Days 1 - 2
Research & Plan
Research & Plan
Students will conduct five evidence-building investigations, use particle models and quantitative data to explain thermal energy transfer, and complete an evidence-based cup design brief with fair-test plans, alternative concepts, and a team-approved design selected through a weighted decision matrix.
Days 3 - 8
45 min over capacity (270 min available across 6 days)
Build & Test
Build & Test
Students will construct an evidence-based double-wall cup, complete a controlled five-test performance cycle plus a warm-water confirmation, and use quantitative evidence, particle models, safety analysis, and peer critique to propose revisions.
Days 9 - 13
Revise & Rehearse
Revise & Rehearse
Students will use first-round failures, peer feedback, and quantitative test evidence to redesign and retest a double-wall cup system. They will compare both design cycles, revise particle-level models and explanations, and complete a prototype and data poster for the Cool Cup Convention.
Days 14 - 18
Showcase
Showcase
Students will complete a final evidence check, improve their displays through two rounds of peer feedback, and present their insulated cup systems to invited teachers and grade-level peers. They will use temperature data, particle-level models, design trade-offs, and Progress Tracker reflections to explain how evidence shaped their revisions.
Days 19 - 20
Launch
Days 1–2
Day 1
🥤 Cold Cup Mystery Tour
Launch
45m
Adapted from source
Day 2
🧩 Cup-System Models and Questions
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Adapted from source
Research & Plan
Days 3–8
Day 3
🧪 Cup Feature Fair Tests
Project Work
45m
Adapted from source
Day 4
💧 Condensation Evidence Case
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Adapted from source
Day 5
🥤 Double-Wall Prototype Build
Project Work
45m
Adapted from source
💡 Light and Cup Surfaces
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Adapted from source
Day 6
Day 7
⚛️ Particle Collision Simulation
Research
45m
Adapted from source
🌡️ Cup-Wall Water Bath
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Adapted from source
Day 8
📐 Cup Concept Decision Review
Deliverable
45m
Adapted from source
Build & Test
Days 9–13
Day 9
🧪 Sealed Pack Energy Test
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Day 10
Day 11
🌡️ Cold Cup Performance Trials
Knowledge/Skill Building
42m
Adapted from source
Day 12
📏 Cup Trade-Off Scorecard
Knowledge/Skill Building
45m
Adapted from source
Day 13
🔄 Evidence-Based Cup Redesign
Assessment
45m
Adapted from source
Revise & Rehearse
Days 14–18
Day 14
📊 Failure Data Design Review
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Adapted from source
Day 15
🛠️ Double-Wall Cup Rebuild
Project Work
45m
Adapted from source
Day 16
🌡️ Five-Test Cup Retest
Project Work
45m
Adapted from source
Day 17
🧠 Particle Model Poster Clinic
Knowledge/Skill Building
40m
Adapted from source
Day 18
✅ Cool Cup Readiness Gate
Assessment
45m
Adapted from source
Showcase
Days 19–20
Day 19
🔎 Cup Evidence Quality Check
Deliverable
45m
Day 20
🏆 Cool Cup Convention
Assessment
45m
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
2
Day 1
Launch
🥤 Cold Cup Mystery Tour
3
Day 2
🧩 Cup-System Models and Questions
4
Day 3
Research & Plan
🧪 Cup Feature Fair Tests
5
Day 4
💧 Condensation Evidence Case
6
Day 5
🥤 Double-Wall Prototype Build
💡 Light and Cup Surfaces
9
Day 6
10
Day 7
⚛️ Particle Collision Simulation
🌡️ Cup-Wall Water Bath
11
Day 8
📐 Cup Concept Decision Review
12
Day 9
Build & Test
🧪 Sealed Pack Energy Test
13
Day 10
16
Day 11
🌡️ Cold Cup Performance Trials
17
Day 12
📏 Cup Trade-Off Scorecard
18
Day 13
🔄 Evidence-Based Cup Redesign
19
Day 14
Revise & Rehearse
📊 Failure Data Design Review
20
Day 15
🛠️ Double-Wall Cup Rebuild
23
Day 16
🌡️ Five-Test Cup Retest
24
Day 17
🧠 Particle Model Poster Clinic
25
Day 18
✅ Cool Cup Readiness Gate
26
Day 19
Showcase
🔎 Cup Evidence Quality Check
27
Day 20
🏆 Cool Cup Convention