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Studying how diapers are made turns an everyday product into a powerful design and technology case study for middle and high school STEM. A focused reading passage with questions supports students to learn about nonwoven production, absorbent core formation with fluff pulp and superabsorbent polymer, elastic cuffs, lamination, ultrasonic sealing, and packaging. Learners could connect materials science, chemistry, and engineering by examining capillarity, absorption capacity, rewet, breathability, and fit, then link design choices to user needs and safety. Prompts can help build the design cycle and data skills with mass gain and leak tests, tolerance checks, cost trade offs, and sustainability topics like biodegradables, waste, and life cycle impacts. This ready to use classroom reading grows technical vocabulary, quality control awareness, and evidence based product decisions for quick lessons, cover work, or mini projects. Most parents use diapers and this large and global market is one it is worth learning about.

This How is it made? article provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can supplement lessons. It is an article with questions to check comprehension and inspire design and production thinking. I am very proud of this series of how is it made? articles and they are rich with information and wonder at the majesty of design, production and the manufacturing process.

Each how is it made? article includes a fun fact(s) to add to the knowledge gained from this article. Formatted in an easy to read and digest manner, each paragraph is numbered to help with referencing and each question answer has a paragraph reference number to point to the specific information (where applicable). Two images also to inspire students and get them interested in the subject topic.

WHY / WHEN TO USE:

• Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
• To enhance design / product thinking / STEM education
• To extend students
• To increase technical literacy in your class
• A weekly reading task
• Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
• To inspire students on a particular topic
• Give a selection of these articles for students to choose from

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• 3 page Word doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
• 2 page Word doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 3 page PDF teacher version with answers
• 2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
• 3 page Google doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
• 2 page Google doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill answers (text boxes)

Please note: That the Doc versions are images with editable text boxes overlayed on top and this is the most effective way to keep the article sleek and well-designed and also that students cannot change things significantly.