One Out of Two Homes in America

Project Information
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Project Author: Allison Watkinson <watkinsona@k12tn.net>

Project Title: One Out of Two Homes in America

Project Begin & End Dates: 3/01/02 to 5/15/02

Project Summary:
Sears claims that one out of two homes in America has a Kenmore appliance. Students will conduct a survey to gather data to test this claim.
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Project Details
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Project Level: Basic

Curriculum Area: Community Interest, Mathematics, Technology

Technologies Used: Email

Project Sponsor: None

Full Project Description:
According to 2001 data, there are about one hundred seven million, ten thousand (107,010,000) occupied households in America. Each of these households probably has at least one appliance. If Kenmore’s claim is true, 53,505,00 homes in 2001 had at least one Kenmore appliance.

In 1927, Sears Roebuck and Company created its first Kenmore appliance. By 1936, Sears had sold one million laundry appliances. When Kenmore celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1977, it had sold 50 million appliances. 

Kenmore makes washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, wall ovens, ranges, cooktops, range hoods, dishwashers, grills, compactors, disposals, air conditioners, air cleaners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, hot water dispensers, water filters, water softeners, vacuums, and sewing machines.

Through this on-line collaboration project, classrooms across America will participate in gathering data to test Sears' claim that One Out of Two Homes in America has a Kenmore appliance. The questionnaire will be printed from the web site. Each student in the classroom will be asked to survey one household to gather data. The data will be submitted via the project's web site. A database of the results will be updated at least one time per week. Students across the country will be able to analyze the data as it is updated.

Students will first be asked to predict if they think Kenmore's claim is valid. In addition, they will be asked if economic or regional factors might affect the purchase of a Kenmore appliance.

An activities page will encourage students to role play Sears management and to analyze the data to make decisions regarding manufacturing and marketing issues. Other activities that require a critical look at the data will also be suggested.

Resources for other product claims will be made available at the project web site for additional classroom investigations. 

Objectives:
Students will analyze data to determine if an advertised claim is true.
Students will make decisions and present recommendations based on data.
Students will colloborate with other students across the country via the Internet and email.
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Project Registration Information
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Project Email Address: watkinsona@k12tn.net

Registration Acceptance Dates: 3/01/02 to 5/15/02

Number of Classrooms: 20

Age Range: 6 to 19 years

Target Audience: National (US)

Project URL: http://web.utk.edu/~awatkin3/appliances/

Registration Instructions:
Please register at 
http://web.utk.edu/~awatkin3/appliances/register.html
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Project Contact Information
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Allison Watkinson - mailto:watkinsona@k12tn.net
Technology Coach - Sarah Moore Greene MTA
Knoxville, Tennessee US

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