MathEngineeringTechnology

E-Commerce Fulfillment Lab

Grades 6-875-90 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Students improve a mock online-store warehouse. They pack boxes to cut shipping costs based on box size and weight, and plan how to send out orders quickly so customers stay happy. It is geometry and planning with a real money payoff.

Budget levels

Amazon prices checked Oct 9-10, 2026 and may change

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only.

$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

kitchen scaleBorrow or school hasuse what you have
meter stickBorrow or school hasuse what you have
decision matrix worksheetPrintinguse what you have

Full Experience

Required materials for the class.

$34.85 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups). Exceeds $25 per class.

Classroom cardboard or boxes can lower the cost.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

Assorted small boxes and padded mailersRequired1 x 25 boxes + 1 x 25 mailers25 boxes + 25 mailers$13.99 + $9.99Amazon Amazon
crumpled paper or bubble wrapRequired1 x 50 sheets (1.5 lb)50 sheets (1.5 lb)$8.99Amazon
crackersRequired1 x 16 oz box16 oz box$1.88Amazon

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, with every optional item included.

$34.85 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Materials

Mock orders with different item sizes (teacher-prepared); Boxes in several sizes; Ruler or tape measure; Scale; Calculator; Assorted small boxes and padded mailers; crumpled paper or bubble wrap; kitchen scale; meter stick; crackers; decision matrix worksheet

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Boxes in several sizes
Boxes in several sizes
No link
Measuring tape
Ruler or tape measure
Shop
Classroom scale
Scale
No link
Kitchen scale
kitchen scale
Shop
Basic calculator
Calculator
Shop

Steps

Look at mock orders with different item sizes and predict which box will minimize wasted space and shipping cost.
Agree on criteria and constraints: lowest billable shipping cost, fragile item survives a 1 m drop in 3 of 3 tries, under 30 g of filler, packed in under 2 minutes, and only the box sizes in stock.
For one order type, design three competing packing solutions (for example a small box with paper fill, a medium box with crumpled paper, and a padded mailer).
Test each: measure dimensions and weight, calculate dimensional weight and billable weight with the carrier divisor, drop-test three times with a cracker inside, weigh the filler, and time the packing.
Score all three in a weighted decision matrix against every criterion and constraint and choose a winner.
Find the winner's weakest score, repack to improve it, and retest that criterion.
Repeat for a second order type if time allows.

Standards mapped

NGSS · MS-ETS1-2
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.