And now, may I present, the newest mystery object....
Play-Doh!
How do you use it to teach science in your classroom?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Update and New Mystery Object
Okay... I know I was going to wait 3 weeks or some other crazy amount of time before posting a new mystery object because not too many people had checked out the site yet. But, why should I bore myself and the two other people who read this by waiting that long. So, I'm just going to reveal the next mystery object. Please feel welcome to continue to add your ideas to the earlier entry!
And now, may I present, the newest mystery object....
And now, may I present, the newest mystery object....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Earth vs. Moon
Give each group of students three containers of Play-Doh. Have the students divide all the Play-Doh into 51 balls that are approximately the same size.
Ask students try to guess how they need to divide those 51 balls so that they have a scale model of the Earth and moon (volume-wise) - have them actually lump the balls together into two larger balls.
The "answer" is that they should leave one ball of Play-Doh to represent the moon and lump the other 50 balls together to represent the Earth. That is to say that the volume of the Earth is 50 times greater than that of the moon.
I learned this lesson at a workshop presented by Christine Royce (Shippensburg University) at the 2007 NJSTA Convention.
Topographic Maps
Give each group of students a container of Play-Doh and have them construct a mountain with it. Then have the group slice the mountain horizontally every 1 cm using a piece of dental floss. The slices can be traced to create a topographic map.
The map and another can of Play-Doh are given to another group of students and are given the task of recreating the mountain using the map as their guide. The finished mountain can be compared to the original (restack the slices).
I use the following activity to explain how sometimes scientists have to form a picture in their head of what an object looks like because they can not look at it directly. I used clay but I believe this can work with Play-Doh too.
Put a small object such as a marble, a small screw or nut, a button, an eraser that gets put onto a pencil etc. in a ball of Play Doh about the size of a plum. Have students use a paper clip that is opened up as a probe. Students may use the probe straight into the Play-Doh without moving it around to try and locate and learn the size and shape of the object. They have 10 probes to do it. Then they need to draw what they think the object looks like and write what they think it is. This was not difficult to prepare, and surprising to me the students loved it and wanted to do more and more. The greater the variety of objects you can come up with the better so they are available for the students. I was observed by the administration doing this activity and it was a big hit. Have Fun!!
I use Playdough to illustrate what happens when colors are mixed...
You can use Play-Doh to investigate tool marks during a CSI unit or lesson. Give students some Play-Doh and an assortment of tools (screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, etc.) and allow time for them to make impressions. Have a set of "mystery" impressions available (made prior to the lab) and challenge students to match the tools to their impressions. Be sure to go over safety rules first - the tools are only to be used for impressions!
I use Play-Doh instead of clay to model the rock cycle- first they make tiny balls from two different colors, then mash them together to make sedimentary, fold and mash to make metamorphic, roll, and manipulate to get warm- igneous- when the second class comes in, it is fun to hear their comments, the smell of Play-Doh is very evocative of childhood memories.
Just last week I used Play Doh to help explain the different thicknesses of the layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Create 5 balls of equal size. Place one on a piece of wax paper. This is the troposphere. Place a heavy book on top. Place another ball of play-doh. This is the stratosphere. Place another heavy book on top. Continue alternating the play-doh and books until you have demonstarted the five main layers of Earth's atmosphere. As you remove the books, the play-doh will be thinner and wider.
Post a Comment