Challenge FAQ
What is the Potato Chip Challenge?
A nationwide (and maybe even worldwide) K-12 engineering challenge to design a package that will protect a potato chip while being sent through the mail so that it arrives at its destination undamaged.
When will this challenge run?
The 2009-2010 Challenge has been completed. The results are posted here.
By that time there will be a new look to our site - so check back soon!
Who Participated? Who won?
This year more than 1000 chips were sent through the mail by more than 3000 students at 55 schools across the country! Congratulations for making the pilot Potato Chip Challenge a success!
Click the image to enlarge
To see the winners, check out our results page.
How do I participate?
Sign up on this site, right now! Just follow the register link on the left. Instructions on how to do so are here.
What do I need to know about signing up?
Who can participate?
The original challenge was run with middle school students. We have expanded it to include a wider age range. Anyone K-12 is certainly welcome! Participants will compete against others from the same grade (or equivalent).
Who is running this challenge?
Wondergy - we're a science educational entertainment company. Or put another way, we're a bunch of science geeks who love to teach others what we know and get others as excited about science as we are! Check out our website for more information on assemblies, professional development, special events, and more.
Are there lesson plans to go along with the Challenge?
There will be soon. First, though, head over to this page to vote for the lesson plans you'd like to see first.
Who mails the chips? To where do they mail them?
Hey - those are two questions! The chips will be mailed by any students, groups of students, home schoolers, etc. who create a potato chip package for mailing. They will then mail that package to a partner at another school (assigned by the website). Upon receiving the chips, each student will then score their received chip based on standard criteria. (See this page for an example.)
Do I have to be part of a class or can I do this on my own?
We're planning to handle "matches" on a chip-by-chip basis, so one class may receive chips from all over the country or individuals may send out only one chip which may arrive with many others at a large class. We've had a few families inquire, and as long as everyone promises to receive and measure a chip, we're happy to include them in the challenge.
Will there be prizes?
We hope so. There will certainly be recognition for "Best Chip Package Design" (or something like that), but nothing is definite just yet.
What does this cost?
The cost to participate is zero. Well, zero plus whatever you need to spend on packaging, chips, and postage. But that's up to you. You will not have to pay anything to Wondergy. If you would like to donate to the challenge, please email .
Where do I sign up?
We answered this one before. Still, Click Here.
When will this FAQ end?
Now.