The BP HAND-MADE SOAP CHALLENGE

Task

With the active participation of all members of your team, your task is to produce a set of 3 soaps. The soaps must each weigh between 100-125 grams, be individually wrapped and labeled and attractively boxed in cardboard as a set.

The wrappers should feature your own graphics, the name of your product, and the ingredients in your product. The exact weight of each soap should be stated on the wrapper in grams. The 3 soaps should fit neatly into an attractive cardboard package, bearing the product name, ingredients and graphics.

You may make dies to shape your soaps and press imprints for patterns or designs. You should make available a separate piece of the same product for judging, to avoid having your presentations pack used.

Materials

All materials are to be sourced locally with the assistance of team members.

Production

There are many ways of making soap. Talk to a pharmacist, scientist or science teacher about making soap.

Useful Internet sites include:

www.candleandsoap.about.com •
www.waltonfeed.com
www.teachsoap.com
www.colebrothers.com

Each entry on the day is to be accompanied by a printed portfolio containing the following:

Team members names and their assigned tasks in the Hand Made Soap project.
Soap’s ingredients by volume and a detailed and illustrated outline of the production process: use of graphs, diagrams and photographs would be appropriate.
A copy of the wrapper prototype
A scale copy of the packaging design
An A4 size advertising poster advertising your product
Your portfolio needs to be attractively presented and finished to a high standard.

Judging

Soaps will be judged on the following criteria:

  1. The consistent weight and uniformity of the soaps by shape and design.
  2. Their colour, aroma and texture will be assessed.
  3. The ability of the soap to lather in warm water.
  4. Packaging, wrapping and overall presentation of the product.
  5. Marketability.


Marks

  1. Portfolio (25%)
  2. Wrapping, packaging and presentations (25%)
  3. Weight, colour, aroma, texture, ability to lather (50%)

SAFETY ISSUES FOR TEACHERS TO CONSIDER

Be aware that students will need to wear safety glasses and rubber gloves when handling substances such as caustic soda/sodium
hydroxide/lye used in soap making. If the student intends to test their soap on other people or themselves then human ethical approval must be sought first. Please go to the website: www.rsnz.org/education/science_fairs/humanethicscode.php