Bias of our Choices

I haven't done much this year, but I used to include more "non-engineering" projects in my science project classes. And this project is one of them. It's all about our how our preferences and bias of our choices. 

The worksheet I created for this project has two parts. The first part is about making connections with our preferences and our biases. The second part is about using the knowledge about the colors to make marketing choices.

Before we start the project, we talk about our favorite colors and what they mean. 

• People who like RED need physical fulfillment. 
• People who like BLUE need inner peace and truth.
• People who like YELLOW need logical order in their lives.
• People who like GREEN need to belong, to love, and to be loved.
• People who like BLACK need power and control in their lives.

Then we discuss whether we believe our decisions are influenced by the colors we like. Or if our favorite colors change depending on where we are or what we're doing. 

Supplies Needed:

• Bags of M & M's, Skittles, jelly beans, etc. to get many different colors of candy.
• A plastic container in which the pieces of candy could lie flat in one layer.
• Paper
• Pencil
• Crayons
• Markers

First Project Instructions:

1. Count out an equal number of candy in different colors and put them in the plastic container.     
   
   
   
   
   
2. Put one arm behind your back. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. Pick 20 candy pieces as quickly as possible using only the thumb and the index finger. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   My daughter tried to hurry and picked multiple pieces at one time and put them down. We had to repeat the process several times. I see this in classrooms all the time.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. After picking the jelly beans, write down how many of each color you’ve picked on a piece of paper. 
   
   
   
   
   
   

Looking at the colors of candy you picked, can someone else correctly guess your favorite colors (or at least general shade of it)? 

My daughter's favorite color is turquoise, but since she couldn't pick turquoise, she picked a lot of greens (two different shades) and blue.

Second Project Instructions:

For the second part of the project, each group or table team is a marketing/packaging consulting firm. Each team must come up with three packaging schemes for three of their clients. 

• Client 1 wants a sports packaging that says - I'm #1, and I can take anybody (Nike).
• Client 2 wants a food packaging that says - I'm good for you, but I'm a good value for your money, too (Cheerios).
• Client 3 wants a luxury item packaging that says - I'm worth the money, so spend it (Apple, Tiffany, etc.).

1. Take a piece of paper and brainstorm.
2. Begin drawing designs and come up with color schemes.
3. Give a 5-minute talk about your team strategy and color schemes.

I tried this project with 2nd graders, but I think this project works best with 4th grade and up, especially for the second part of the project.

Have fun!