One of the all-time most popular GEMS
guides, Oobleck
makes a joyful scientist out of every child. Oobleck is a green, oozy
substance (from "outer space," in this fictional account) that both
begs and eludes description as it initiates students in the nature of
inquiry and definition and sparks vigorous debate about its properties.
This New GEMS� edition is updated and expanded in
line with current scientific and educational research, to align with
state and national standards, and to take maximum advantage of the full
inquiry opportunities in these activities.
Students begin by forming small laboratory teams to examine, experiment
with, and hypothesize about Oobleck (in truth, a mixture of cornstarch,
water, and food coloring), learning and using the scientific vocabulary
needed to describe material properties. Students compare what they've
done throughout the unit to the work of NASA scientists on the Mars
Rover mission. In the second activity, the class holds a scientific
convention to discuss experimental findings. Students then turn
engineers, and design a spacecraft that can successfully land on an
ocean of Oobleck. In the final session, the methods the students used
to analyze Oobleck are compared to those of professional scientists.
Two
new optional activities deepen the learning. The first, "Microscope
Eyes," gives students a chance to delve into how the internal structure
of Oobleck might account for its properties. The second provides an
extended outline and suggested strategies for using student questions
about Oobleck as a launching pad into the "full investigations"
recommended by the National Science Education Standards.
Oobleck is not only a great hands-on experience for all
ages, it provides students authentic insight into the real work
of scientists.
Time: Four or more 20- to 45-minute sessions.
See the Oobleck: What Do Scientists Do? online
orientation video.
NSTA
Recommends Oobleck: What Do Scientists Do?
"For years, I have been using Oobleck: What Do Scientists
Do? to introduce my science students to scientific processes
at the beginning of the school year. For the rest of the year,
they are hooked on science! …The guide is well written
and makes teaching this unit easy… I found the section
on assessment strategies to be helpful, especially because a
list of student outcomes is given… This is a messy, exciting
way to teach students how real scientists go about their scientific
explorations. I highly recommend this GEMS guide to all teachers
of students in grades 4—8."
–National Science Teachers Association Recommends
