Week 12 - day 55

yeast...i think it's a fun word to say...yeast...yeeeeassst...don't mind me. today was the fermentation lab. the students were given a beaker, yeast, warm water, and honey. the students were introduced to fermentation. the lab itself took only 10-15 minutes. they learned how carbon dioxide is released by the yeast "eating" the honey and that the matter left over was alcohol. they got a kick off of the yeast falling and then later rising. i told the students that the yeast were bloated with gas and swam to the surface to fart...releasing carbon dioxide. mrs. s and i taught the lab a little differently...she had the students gently stir the yeast so that it dissolved. the students were able to see the bubbling of the carbon dioxide being released with the stirring method. i had my students leave the yeast alone...letting it float on the surface, gradually falling and rising back again to the surface. i thought the students would be more fascinated watching the yeast...and they were...they thought it was cool watching the cycle and seeing the bubbles.

the classes were a little shorter today because the 8th graders had two more days of testing...the 7th graders only had two days of it. so, the rest of the class period the students spent working on their lab report, finishing the questions, organizing their binders, and turning the report in before leaving for the day. i thought the lab was a great one for short days. i hope i don't ever stop getting a kick off of their faces when something surprises them.