Ever wondered how to blend ice cream, computer science, and design into a hands-on experience for students? Through the Rutgers EIR project, Rutgers University and Roselle Park Middle School joined forces to create an exciting - and delicious - project that does just that! They share this lesson with educators from across the country at the 2025 National Conference on Science Education.
Computer science (CS) is more than just programming. It’s an essential skill that helps students understand and shape the world around them. Engaging students in CS by connecting it to their lives and other disciplines fosters interest and demonstrates its relevance, making it clear that CS is a field for everyone. Projects that merge CS with creativity and real-world applications are an important part of building this connection, especially for younger learners.
As part of the ongoing Rutgers EIR grant project, researchers at Rutgers CESP have partnered with middle school educators across the state to make targeted enhancements to their CS and related instruction to increase relevance and engagement, and deepen students understanding and knowledge of CS. Through this work, Rutgers CESP has partnered with middle school CS teachers at the Roselle Park School District. Together, they built on an existing entrepreneurship and design project to create a unique, hands-on project that explores key CS concepts like networking, web development, and data analysis!
David Amiel and Cristin Sedelmaier showcased this innovative lesson to a national audience at the 2025 National Conference on Science Education, hosted by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) in Philadelphia on March 27, 2025.
The Scoop on the Project
Students take on the challenge of planning and creating a fictional ice cream shop. Through the process, students develop entrepreneurial skills by conducting market research and designing a shop around a theme of their choice while exploring other concepts, such as:
Networking, the Internet, and websites
Internet safety and networking
Data collection, analysis, and use
The engineering design process (EDP) and 3D modeling
Students start by creating a logo for their parlor, while also learning about logos, what makes them successful, and how they use colors, shapes, and type. Then, students design other print products and merchandise (such as menus, social media posts, t-shirts, stickers, and store signage). Through this portion of the project, students learn about marketing, design, and the use of graphics programs like Canva.
Next, every great ice cream store needs a website! But... what is the internet? Why are there tubes along the ocean floor? Students learn about networking and the Internet before creating their own website using Google Sites (a structured and controlled environment) - learning about what should and should not be posted online.
A Fully Customizable Experience
There are many other components of the project to explore, like building a 3D model of the store or surveying friends and family about flavors and toppings and using that data to make decisions (but first, what is data? and how to we understand it?). From there, the possibilities are endless! Teachers can adapt this project to meet their classroom needs by focusing on concepts like branding, web design, data analysis, and 3D modeling. The project’s flexibility allows for extended learning with activities such as:
Researching how ice cream is made
Creating recipes and developing algorithms
Exploring nutrition and food safety
Modeling basic business costs and revenues
This customizable approach empowers students to take ownership of their learning and gives educators the flexibility to easily modify and differentiate the learning experience. Although the project was implemented in a 7th grade technology course, it can easily be taught in other classes, engage learners of different grade levels, and be extended/shortened to different lengths by adding/removing components.
Why Teach Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, and Design?
This project aligns with many important CS learning standards. It encourages computational thinking through website design, data analysis, and decision-making, explores real-world applications of tools in various disciplines, and promotes digital literacy with discussions on internet safety, privacy, and networking. Of course, additional learning objectives are met for science, technology, and the visual arts! I
Importantly, the project also incorporates structured collaboration through period peer feedback. It can also be easily modified to be a team effort - developing even more collaboration skills as students work together to develop their ice cream shops. The lesson also encourages students to think about entrepreneurship and technology from multiple perspectives:
Purpose – Why do businesses need branding and a digital presence?
Function – How do websites, data, and design impact business success?
Impact – How do business and technology decisions shape industries and communities?
Ready to Dig In?
The poster from the NSTA presentation is now available in the research archives on our website. The full lesson package, including supplementary materials and ready-to-use instructional guides, will be available as a resource.
If you implement the project, be sure to share your extensions, modifications, and favorite flavors with us! Reach out to us with questions, ideas, and feedback on social media using #RUCSReady or by email at david.amiel@rutgers.edu.
Explore shared resources below: