Wk 8 - Day 34

classification is something i think is fun to learn in science...what student doesn't want to learn about animals. this week i had a different spin on classification to finish it out before starting on viruses. the students had to classify/key out gum. i had students donating gum throughout the week and brought some in myself. the hardest part of the activity was the prep time...not because it took a long time to divide out the gum...it was the smell. i think i drooled a little. the students were paired up and given a plastic baggie of gum. the bag had about 22 pieces in it. the students were to create a key with the gum. most students started out their key with sugar free versus full flavor or mint versus non-mint. i did have a few that were more creative; circular versus rectangular.

what gave me warm fuzzies was when ms. b complimented me on the lab. she was hesitant to do this lab thinking it was just a day for free gum and not doing any work. when she saw how much of a challenge it was and how into the activity the students were...she said the lab was a great idea. i had an example key of how i keyed out potato chips and had a master gum list for everyone. the students got right to work immediately. i had some questions from the students who seemed a little confused, but after helping them figure out their questions on their own...i don't like to give them the answer...they were good to go. i had kept all the empties after dumping/dividing the gum so that the students could take up the piece of gum in question and try to figure out what it was that they were holding by looking at the packaging instead of just a printed list. this lab was only meant to be a one day activity and ended up being a two day activity. both cooperating teachers stated that they would use this lab again next year...warm fuzzies.