Granny Applebee's Cookie Factory

Problem Solving for Grades 4 - 6

This is an award winning piece of software

Students who accept the challenge of managing Granny"s cookie factory will be met with many decisions to make. Which cookie order should be filled first? Are all the necessary ingredients in stock? Where and when should supplies be bought? How is the thermal fiddlywink repaired? How much should you advertise to try increasing cookie sales? Should bills be paid now?

As with any business, good organizational skills help lead to success. Neglected problems tend to lead to more severe problems. Understanding cause and effect relationshiops will help children deduce several logical actions. If they want more customers, they must advertise. If machines are not maintained, they will break down more frequently. If cookie prices are higher, orders will be lower. As students gain the confidence to make decisions, they will enjoy determining on their own the problems to which to direct their attention. Granny Applebee can provide hours of fun at work for young managers.

Builds confidence in decision making Promotes careful organization Develops independent work skills

Granny Apple bee's Cookie Factory is an award winning program designed to develop critical thinking skills. The main goal of the program is to provide practice in decision making.

Some decisions allow for individual preferences. It won't matter if a child's first decision is to check supplies or check orders. It won't matter if bills are paid a week early or right on time. Advertising can be effective whether newspaper ads or television ads are chosen. There is no right or wrong move in deciding to bake chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies first. There are manyh ways to run Granny's factory productively. The important things are for children to feel comfortable exploring the program, to see choices, and to develop confidence in making the choics they feel are logical.

Some decisions call for specific answers. There is only one way to fix the diddlywink, replace the woozle cam, or seal the doughstributor cap. Players must read carefully and follow directions when making repairs. Also, when following recipes, students must mix proper amounts of the right ingredients and bake at the correct temperature, or cookie sales will drop off.

Some decisions depend on careful organizational skills. Students will need to be aware of the supplies they have. One can't bake 400 dozen of Granny's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with only ten dozen eggs. Students will benefit by cleaning and repairing machines regularly. Neglected problems will tend to lead to more severe problems. A well-organized manager also will advertise on a regular basis.

Making these decisions will build students' critical thinking and problem solving skills. Developing awareness of cause and effect relationships will help lead to logical solutions. If Granny wants more customers, she must advertise. If machines are not maintained, they break down more frequently. If cookie prices are higher, orders may decline.

Making these decisions will help children become confident, independent learners. At first, many children will raise their hands looking for specific directions to guide their actions. Have them work with a partner and encourage them to explore Granny's factory without worrying about being wrong. Once students understand the basic program operation, they will be ready to manage this challenge on their own.

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