Bright Ideas for Senior School Pupils (age 11+)
 

1. Design Activities. Use the fluorescent fabric pieces and reflective materials to trim a dark bag, hat or scarf. Try sewing a ‘high vis scrunchy’ for girl’s hair using a piece of elastic and the materials. Create a concept board for a high vis product design... with diagram of product, images that have inspired design, material samples, colour details and so on.

2.Science. Look at the two types of reflective material – silver grey (which is made from tiny glass beads) and plastic (called encapsulated microprismatic). Read the ‘science bits’ in the catalogue. Cut a piece of the plastic tape sample open so you can see two layers. Can you see tiny ‘microprisms’? These are designed to bounce light around and straight back to the source (called ‘retroreflection’). The tape needs a white background so it can bounce the light back out.

When learning about the human eye, find out about rods and cones; the sensors that see white light or colours. When does each work best? Why can’t we easily see colours at night?

To learn about how fluorescent materials work see our Did you Know? section. An internet search on ‘fluorescent materials’ will lead you to science journals that cover this in more depth.

3. Business Studies. Design a ‘high vis’ product that will appeal to a particular group, eg children, skateboarders, commuter cyclists, clubbers, the elderly, runners. Develop a marketing plan for your product; What do you know about your target market? How will you promote your product? What image do you want it to have? How will you overcome any preconceptions your target market may have? How will you make the product appealing? What price will you charge? Where and how will you sell it?