Evolution

We're finishing up our evolution unit in class this week. I have one student who regularly complains and says that "Jesus is the answer." ::sigh:: We just keep moving forward. I don't require them to believe it, but they do need to understand the science behind it.

On a happier note though, evolution conversations always bring up crazy ideas. Today, for instance, a child asked what the chances were of humans evolving into kangaroos. I had to inform him that one was a placental mammal and one was a marsupial. He was crushed. "But I wanted to be a kangaroo! Wait, if kangaroos hop, and rabbits hop, are they related?" Again, we had to talk about placental vs marsupial, but to look at his crushed face was both heartbreaking and hilarious.

Fascinating

We're doing an activity on the history of DNA. It is a scavenger hunt on the timeline of DNA's discovery. One of the questions asks about the first test tube baby, and the kids asked if test tube babies existed anymore. They were shocked when I told them that we just called it fertility treatments now. Kind of fun!

They then proceeded to tell me what the envisioned test tube babies being.

On pictured them like sea monkies:


Another thought it really was like this:

Back in the saddle again

School started this week. After almost two weeks of 12-hour days of JUST meetings, we finally had the first day of school yesterday. How are my classes you ask? I have no idea. We do three and a half days of integrated studies before we actualy start classes. Monday we have a super short schedule (20 minute classes,) and I want to find demos to do in my classes so the kids can get excited about science again. Anyone have any extra Phenolphthalein I can borrow? Invisible ink would be fun, but I guess they used up the solution at the end of last year and haven't ordered more. Sad.

Any other great ideas for "science is fun" type demos? Anything you remember from when you were a kid?

Quote of the Day

I'm reading Brain Rules by, John Medina as part of my professional development for school in the fall. Today, I read the best quote ever.

"To your body, saber-toothed tigers and orgasms and turkey gravy look remarkably similar."

There's a thought for a Monday.