Isaac’s Ice Cream Truck Shelf

1. Isaac’s Ice Cream Truck Shelf Energy Conservation and Transfer PBL

2. What’s the problem? • Isaac the Ice Cream Man is hoping to make more money this summer by having better customer service. He has noticed that it takes some customers a long time to count out their money, and some even drop their money or their ice cream. Isaac has decided to permanently install a narrow shelf on the outside of his service window so that customers can set their money and ice cream down while they are counting the correct amount. Isaac knows that ice cream can melt quickly, so he doesn’t want the shelf to cause any melting.

3. What’s the problem? cont. • Your job is to create a shelf for Isaac that stays cooler after ten minutes than any one else’s shelf. The builder of the best shelf gets the job and an ice cream treat from Isaac.

4. Groups Think and Discuss What do you already know? What do you need to know?

5. Work with your group to: • Determine the best material to use for your shelf. (Don’t forget to consider safety.) • Design your shelf on paper. • Prepare your actual shelf for testing by Isaac.

6. Now that the best shelf has been chosen: • Isaac has decided to paint his shelf, but he is worried that he might choose a color that causes ice cream set on his shelf to melt faster than others. • Your job is to determine what color to paint the shelf. The group whose painted shelf stays the coolest after ten minutes will win the job and a treat from Isaac.

7. Group Think and Discuss What do you already know? What do you need to know?

8. Work with your group to: • Determine what color to paint the shelf. • Prepare your sample shelf for testing.