Learning Is Fun

What are we working on in class these days? I'm glad you asked that. I'll tell you. In freshman science, we've been talking about molecules and chemical reactions recently--so we made rock candy (crystals) in connection with our study. This student's came out better than any one that I've ever seen--it probably weighed about a half-pound. Mmm, sugar.

In addition, since chemical reactions also include oxidization (i.e. fire), we're watching a fascinating NOVA video about a serial arsonist. You can read more about the bizarre case of fireman John Orr here--truth really is stranger than fiction.

Breath Mints

On Thursday, my juniors were taking a math test. They were just starting, so it was getting pretty quiet when the following conversation ensued:
STUDENT: "Mr. Elwell, are we allowed to have breath mints in here?"
ME: "Yeah, that's fine, I don't care."
STUDENT: "OK."
[then a pause]
"Does anyone have any breath mints?"

Well, I thought it was funny, anyway. For another funny (but unrelated) video of some of our students, click here. It's yet another advertisement for the school's "Senior Store".

9.8

As a teacher, I make a continuous effort not to "[Take] Fun And Excitement Out of Science", as an article in The Onion once put it. So last week, in our quest to calculate an experimental value for gravity, we dropped stuff off the roof. Some of the students used Nalgene bottles, which, as you may know, are nearly unbreakable and have a lifetime warranty. I say nearly because one of the bottles didn't survive the fall. You can check out a picture of that mishap here.