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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
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
🥤 Cold Cup Mystery Tour
Launch 45m
Adapted from source
🧩 Cup-System Models and Questions
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Adapted from source

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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)
🧪 Cup Feature Fair Tests
Project Work 45m
Adapted from source
💧 Condensation Evidence Case
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Adapted from source
🥤 Double-Wall Prototype Build
Project Work 45m
Adapted from source
💡 Light and Cup Surfaces
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Adapted from source
⚛️ Particle Collision Simulation
Research 45m
Adapted from source
🌡️ Cup-Wall Water Bath
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Adapted from source
📐 Cup Concept Decision Review
Deliverable 45m
Adapted from source

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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
🧪 Sealed Pack Energy Test
Knowledge/Skill Building 40m
🌡️ Cold Cup Performance Trials
Knowledge/Skill Building 42m
Adapted from source
📏 Cup Trade-Off Scorecard
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Adapted from source
🔄 Evidence-Based Cup Redesign
Assessment 45m
Adapted from source

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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
📊 Failure Data Design Review
Knowledge/Skill Building 40m
Adapted from source
🛠️ Double-Wall Cup Rebuild
Project Work 45m
Adapted from source
🌡️ Five-Test Cup Retest
Project Work 45m
Adapted from source
🧠 Particle Model Poster Clinic
Knowledge/Skill Building 40m
Adapted from source
✅ Cool Cup Readiness Gate
Assessment 45m
Adapted from source

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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
🔎 Cup Evidence Quality Check
Deliverable 45m
🏆 Cool Cup Convention
Assessment 45m

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