The South Campus technology mandatory classes tackled a Department of Education program on cinema foods last term, but also challenged themselves to develop silent packaging appropriate for the quiet nature of the movie theatre.

Teacher Deborah Dawson said students not only tested a range of recipes but also designed a laminated cardboard popcorn container to sit in the existing cup-holder on the cinema seat.

“They developed similar laminated triangular packaging for choc tops so that when members of the audience undo the packets there is no noise like that from the usual plastic packaging,” she said.

“As well as this, one student, Tayla Shanks designed a drink-and-popcorn holder and printed it out in hard plastic from the school’s 3D-printer.

“This holder simply slots into the existing cup-holder on the cinema seat and allows patrons to place their drink and popcorn down, keeping their hands free and making less noise.”

Student Cherokee Elwood said her classmates had undertaken several trials to make their own choc tops, ultimately coming up with a simple recipe made from condensed milk, whipping cream and vanilla, as well as making their own waffle cones.

The class also experimented with popcorn, but after several cooking trials, decided the existing cinema popcorn could not be improved.

Miss Dawson said the students had thoroughly enjoyed the program of study and were very pleased with the packaging and recipe options they had developed.

“To celebrate the conclusion of the unit of study and also mark the end of the term we decided on a trip to the cinema to try out our inventions,” she said.

“With approval from the local Reading Cinemas we took our freshly packaged choc tops, popcorn containers and drink-and-popcorn holders to the movie ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls’ during the last week of term.