finishing out the school year

School has been out for over a week now (seems like more!) but I wanted to share the projects I worked on in my Science classes in May.  They turned out so cool.

My 7th graders studied thermal energy for about the third time since I've had them in 4th grade.  The reason I taught it again was because they were still having trouble grasping some major concepts, like the relationship between thermal energy and changes in state.  To show this, we made homemade ice cream.  It was like my third time doing the activity so I finally had it down to a "T."

Since each student custom-flavored their cream, many of them let me taste all the different kinds.  They were delicious!

Tips for Teachers:
I always show this quick Steve Spangler video before the lab - it gives a nice (non-verbal) overview.  Then we go over all the materials involved - it's quite a few steps and can get overwhelming and messy very quickly.  This time around I had each student bring in $2 to cover the cost of all the supplies - it's pretty expensive.  I had 41 students and the cost was somewhere around $72; that didn't include the items I brought from home, like sprinkles and vanilla.

Here's the recipe I used per student:

(yields a cup of ice cream, which is a lot)

1 c. half and half

4 T. sugar

1 t. vanilla (or any flavor of extract)

3 c. ice

1/4 c. rock salt (or any coarse grained salt)
food coloring (optional)

1 gallon sized plastic bag

1 quart sized plastic bag

winter gloves

In quart sized plastic bag, combine half and half, sugar and vanilla (as well as any food coloring).  Seal.  In gallon sized plastic bag, combine ice and salt - mix it up.  Place small bag into large bag and seal.  Put on your winter gloves and shake, shake, shake!  It took my students about ten minutes for it to get to the consistency they wanted.  It melts quick so scoop it into a cone, top it with sprinkles and enjoy thermal energy at work!


~~

My Biology students were thrilled to get to do a dissection this year, even though it wasn't nearly as cool as last year's pregnant white rats (!!).  Because of money and time constraints, these kids had to do frogs - to me, it was completely boring and more appropriate for a junior high science class.  Oh well, they didn't have anything to compare it to and most of them were jumping for joy about using the lab coats, goggles and tools.  

If you're looking to do a frog dissection, its perfect for introducing some anatomy and students will be able to find all the major organs easily.

there's always one student who is a perfect "dissector."
she was it.

there's always one who gags the entire time and makes their
partner do the cutting.

and there's always the super stoked males who help me
remember why i love teaching.

~~

One of my most favorite projects I've ever done has got to be this one with my 6th graders.  I had to teach energy transformation and alternative energy sources, so what could be more perfect than to study wind energy?  They had so much fun making these wind turbines I cannot even describe.  The whole premise of the project was to persuade a local farmer (i.e. my dad and my husband) to invest in a windmill for their farm.  It would ideally produce all the electricity needed to run everything from fuel tanks to air compressors to the farm house refrigerator.

They made commercials using iMovie that included wind energy "pros," slogans and songs.  I had my dad actually watch the videos and choose the windmill that he thought would "work" best for his farm.  Those kids got Chipotle as a prize.  Not too shabby, eh?

Next year I am going to have the windmills actually generate electricity by installing mini generators to light a lightbulb.  We just didn't have time this year.

How amazing are they?!

~~

And once again I was honored to have a seat in the faculty section at the 2014 Graduation Ceremony for my school.  We had another gorgeous day right on Lake Erie - perfect for the kids graduates to throw their caps into the air.  I love that part.

// last year's graduation

So that's a wrap!  Goodbye 2013-2014 school year.

In our end of the year one-on-one conference, my boss asked me how my year went.  The only word that came to my mind was "rushed."  It was a constant onslaught of copies, lesson planning, grading - all done way too fast so I could get to the boys quicker.  That's not the way I like working, but a newborn will do that to you.

It doesn't matter anymore, though.  Helllllooooo, summer!