Creative Dad CompanyCreative Dad Company
EngineeringHistoryMath

Planned-Obsolescence Investigation

Log in to save
Grades 9-1290-120 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Teens dissect real consumer products—old and new—to compare how repairable they are, then investigate the business incentives that push companies toward products that don't last. It's part teardown, part economics detective story.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Prep: 10 minActivity: 30 min1 session~$2/groupOne table for the Planned-Obsolescence Investigation evidence and prototypeBeginner-friendly

Setup

Print or handwrite the four Planned-Obsolescence Investigation challenge steps and place common paper supplies on one table. Prepare one small sample, dataset, scenario, or recycled-material model drawn directly from the project description; no device, paid tool, room decoration, or purchased kit is required.

Activity

  1. Read the Planned-Obsolescence Investigation challenge aloud, then compare an old and new version of the same type of product and predict which one will be harder to open and repair.
  2. Use paper, index cards, recycled objects, or facilitator-provided sample data to take both apart, photographing and scoring each on fasteners, glued parts, and replaceable components.
  3. Run one tabletop trial and find a design choice that seems to make repair deliberately harder and research whether that matches known industry practices.
  4. Finish by present a repairability report card for both products, with a recommendation for consumers and manufacturers; record the evidence that supports the decision.

Done when: The group completes a defensible Planned-Obsolescence Investigation solution, records at least one test result or comparison, changes one claim or design in response, and supports its final decision with that evidence.

Materials

precision screwdriver set, old and new versions of a simple product, notebook, camera or phone

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Compare an old and new version of the same type of product and predict which one will be harder to open and repair.
  2. Take both apart, photographing and scoring each on fasteners, glued parts, and replaceable components.
  3. Find a design choice that seems to make repair deliberately harder and research whether that matches known industry practices.
  4. Present a repairability report card for both products, with a recommendation for consumers and manufacturers.