Cupcake Challenge

Problem Solving/ Design Process

You are hosting a Halloween party for your friends, and you have to make
cupcakes.

Use the problem solving approach (PSA) to come up with a suitable design for
your cupcakes!

We will be making them next week!

Problem Solving Approach!
1. Identify the problem/ need
2. Pick possible solutions
3. Pick a solution
4. Make a plan
5. Carry out the plan
6. Evaluate (Reflect)
1. Identify the problem/ need
We have to make…
 2. Pick possible solutions
Describe 3 possible ideas and add a picture (explain why you will choose/ will not
choose each on):

1.
2.
3.
 3. Pick a solution
Write a short paragraph explaining what type of cupcake you picked and why:

Things to think about:

What recipe could you use?
What skills have you?
Do you have the right equipment in the kitchen? (you can look around the kitchen to see)
How much time do you have? (We will be making the cupcakes in the first class and decorating them in the second class, check the
dates and how long the classes are)
Is there anything you need to do the day we make our cupcakes to help with the design class?

We picked the chocolate cupcakes because we love the taste and it is not much more different than the vanilla
cupcakes. We have all the equipment in the kitchen for the cupcakes but we need to buy our own icing decorations.
We have two full classes to make these cupcakes, both are 75 minutes. The day we make our cupcakes, I need to find
the reference pictures and make sure we know what designs we are making.
Make a collage of your chosen idea:
4. Make a plan:
How much time do you need? 150min (both classes)

What ingredients do you need? (See next slide)

What equipment do you need? (See next slide)

Why will your chosen solution work with regards ingredients, equipment and time?

I know Bella and I are efficient, so I think we can do everything we planned within
the time frame
Time:

Block D Plan

Tuesday Oct 25: Intro to cupcake assignment, cupcake demo and workblock

Thursday Oct 26: Make cupcakes

Monday Oct 30: Decorate cupcakes

Make a list of the ingredients you have in school:
Ingredients in school: Ingredients you need to bring in:

Vanilla Icing Halloween Sprinkles

Food Dye Candy Eyes

Different Piping Tips Marshmallows

Strawberry Sauce
Any special equipment you need?
No.
5. Carry out the plan

Class 1: Making the Cupcakes.

Take pictures of each step and add them to this slide with a sentence describing
what is happening in the picture.

The photos are posted on Helena’s canvas

Class 2: Decorating the cupcakes.
To decorate the cupcakes, what ingredients will you have at your unit?

Icing sugar, milk, food colouring

The photos are posted on Helena’s canvas

6. Evaluate (Reflect)
Picture of complete Halloween cupcakes:

The photos are posted on Helena’s canvas

What went well?

Helena: What went well was that we made our cupcake batter in time, even if there were only two people making two batches of
cupcakes. We had enough time to bake them and even put them back for extra time when they were cooked enough.

Even better if?

Helena: For decorating, the consistency of the icing was a little too thick, we should've added more milk. Pushing the icing out of the
piping bag was then harder and when I tried to pipe lines, it came out patchy.
Standard 1: Safety. Apply safe food handling, storage, and preparation methods and execute
food preparation practices in consideration of food and kitchen safety.

Standard 2: Planning. Demonstrate kitchen organization and collaboration in partner and

group work, including integration of planning skills.

Standard 3: Techniques. Demonstrate competence when using a variety of kitchen tools and
equipment for preparing foods.

Standard 4: Skills. Demonstrate the skills needed in food preparation and create products of a
high standard.

Standard 5: Choices. Demonstrate an understanding of various factors that influence food

choices and eating practices.