How to make a potentially boring topic even more boring.
How to make a potentially boring topic more interesting.
What state is this?(more directed)• Examine with a magnifying lens.
• Exhale gently on the shaving cream.
• Rub some between your fingers.
• Carefully place a penny on top and observe.
• Leave overnight and observe again in the morning.
• Special teacher tip: Put shaving cream directly on the students’ desks. After they have observed it, they can use wet paper towels to clean their desktops.
Activity Evaluation• What will they learn about?
• What do the students do?
• Is this simple and affordable?
• Is this inquiry?
What does a cookbook lab look like?• Precise procedures.
• Assigned factual questions.
• Single correct explanation provided by teacher.
Problems with Cookbook Activities• Students don’t have to think.
• The objective becomes finishing the procedure.
• There is often little transfer from lab to theory.
Activity Requirements• Must be substantially inquiry-based.
• Does not have to be an original idea, but you must contribute significant improvements.
• Must take ~40 minute class period.
• If your activity requires a longer time frame, you must:
Describe the additional steps.
Provide examples of the end products.
Activity write-up includes:
• Title
• Rationale / student objectives
• Content background
• Materials list
• Prep instructions
• Safety instructions
Activity write-up includes:
• Procedure
• Assessment tools
• Discussion questions
• Extension activities and web links
OOBLECK: • Mix 2 parts cornstarch and 1 part water.
Pour the water into a Ziploc bag.
Add food color to water (optional).
Add cornstarch a little bit at a time.
Close bag and knead the contents as needed.
• You have Oobleck when you can squeeze as a solid and pour as a liquid.
Add a few drops of water if the Oobleck is crumbly.
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