Lollipop straws / Pop Sticks

link to my poster below. link

Vintage_07-05-2020_15h17m43s

powerpoint below link

lollipop straws

Overall:  How Do You Feel About What You’re learning?  

We have been learning about the Industrial Revolution and that technical progress doesn’t happen automatically. It is the result from “hard work, and critical and creative thinking.” In learning about the Industrial Revolution, I was able to propose an invention and actually create it. My invention that I created is an improvement and I was able to actually create it and I even have the option to sell it. I love that I was able to put what I learned into a product that I recreated. It was interesting and fun to do research on something I was interested in; It didn’t feel like a typical draining school project. I also loved presenting my information in a power point brochure.  

Communication: Did you make use of any new digital media (programs apps)? 

I used several digital media to recreate this Invention Project: Vintage logo, Power Point, One Note. The new one that I’ve never used is Vintage Logo. This app allowed me to make my logo for my product. I liked it because there were many options to choose from. It was quick and easy to use. I like this app and I could probably use this app again when I need to make a logo, such as my album cover or merchandise for my tour. I didn’t want to spend too much time on my logo because I wanted to spend most of my time doing the research for my product or the actual making of my product. 

Critical Thinking: What have you learned about your ability to think critically to assess sources of information and arrive at a conclusion? 

I believe I was able to think critically because there are many problems associated with straws. The first problem was plastic. This material has not been environmentally friendly. I came up with lollipop straws because they can be eaten or can be biodegradable. Another problem is silicone straws are expensive and not always readily available. To solve this, lollipop straws can be made very inexpensively. Paper straws are flimsy when they are soaked in liquid for a long period of time. Lollipop straws can last in liquid for a longer time than paper straws. Cardboard straws have a funky smell and a horrible after taste. My lollipop straws can have flavors or no flavor at all. Another problem are sizes, tall, medium or short. No problem, my lollipop straws can be all sizes. Lastly, straws come in different forms, such as slurpee spoon straws or large boba tea straws. Not a problem for my lollipop straws because they can be easily formed or rolled. The sweetness of lollipop straws could become a problem for teeth/cavities. With this in mind, we created sugar free lollipops! My lollipop straws can also come in all sorts of colors that are very attractive for people to choose from. I was able to create a straw that was firm, biodegradable, environmentally safe, pretty, inexpensive, various styles and sizes. It was reassuring to solve all of the possible problems associated with my product. 

Creative Thinking: Did you come up with a new idea, invention, piece of art, or another creative artifact? 

I have created a unique and original idea. I haven’t seen anything like it! I created lollipop straws. A few years ago, my brother and sister and I saw an image of a turtle with a straw stuck inside its nostril. I’ve never been able to erase that image. The ocean has been polluted by plastics and our ocean life is suffering. As a result of this we started using silicone straws. The idea is good but not everyone uses it because it’s expensive. Some people may have it but may not use it all the time because they don’t always carry it with them. So I thought, this lollipop straw needs to be made in an inexpensive way. Nowadays, the paper straw or cardboard straw is used at restaurants and shops everywhere. The problem is the smell and aftertaste and flimsiness of the paper or cardboard. That’s why lollipop straws can solve this problem. There are different kinds of straws and my lollipop straws can come in all sorts of sizes and in a variety of styles because the lollipop can be molded easily before it hardens. I was able to create a straw that was firm, biodegradable, environmentally safe, pretty, inexpensive, various styles and sizes. It was reassuring to solve all of the possible problems associated with my product. 

Positive Personal and Cultural Identity: How does this change your view of yourself and the world? 

This changes my view of the world a lot because I didn’t know how toxic and bad plastic can be. Plastic is not biodegradable; plastic can make people very sick like have cancer. People keep on using plastic without knowing what they are using and even though people see it on the news that plastic is bad I don’t think they will listen but if they did their research like I did then I think they would be more careful when working with plastic in an everyday life. When I started learning more about how plastic is bad for our environment, I started telling my friends and family to not use it and I told them why and they were amazed. If I used this product around the world, I believe my business would turn successful. I believe that if I sold this around the world people would feel like they’re making a difference because even though there are some people who don’t believe in plastic pollution there are more people who do so if we sell my lollipop straws to that group of people then I would be even more successful. If we can stop this soon more animals will survive and our come to our environment is more safe. 

Personal Awareness and Responsibility: Did you learn new ways to set goals or organize your life? Explain. 

Yes! I was learning about Industrial Revolution and I was able to recreate the plastic straw into lollipop straws. I was able to set goals for myself by creating a timeline of when I wanted to finish my product and research and presentation. I felt more organized and accomplished because I created daily and weekly goals that were short and attainable. I loved talking about my ideas with my family and I realized that my family has a lot of good questions and ideas, no matter how old they are. I thought my younger brother and sister were young and probably wouldn’t understand my product but they brought up good questions that I had to answer and solve. The next time I need to figure out a project or a problem in my life, I’m going to create a timeline, with short attainable goals and I will seek out help from my family. 

Social Responsibility: Describe how you contributed to the wellbeing of your family, community, society or environment. 

I’ve reduced my use and my family’s use of plastic and this has been able contribute to the well being of my family and community. I’ve informed them of the impact of our overuse and misuse of plastic, especially, one time use plastic, such as straws. Now, my family has shared this information with their extended family and friends and hopefully, they’ve been able to inspire others to reduce their use of plastic. A small number of people can trickle to a large group of people. Environmentally, we are reducing our use of plastic which has helped save our animals. As a society, I have partnered up with Oceanwise. Oceanwise Gala has invited me to perform and share my talent of singing to help bring awareness in preserving our animal life.