Scientific Art

"After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form.  The greatest scientists are always artists as well." 

----Albert Einstein

Quotes lead the way to education extensions (hidden message for...Click on the quote to see a great website!)

Walking into class 30 minutes late, after sitting in traffic for an hour and a half tends to cultivate a feeling of stress as opposed to a sense of wonder, relaxation, and curiosity.  However, I walked into my science class drawing replicas of their chosen flowers they brought into class using oil pastels and my mood acclimated to that of my classmates quickly.  Being able to integrate art and science allows students to connect, explore, and express themselves in multiple avenues.  After we drew our flowers, we were given time to dissect them and utilize the labels that were listed on the board to investigate the components of the flowers.  What an engaging and effective teaching/learning strategy!

WARNING!!! CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION in progress

Since Criminal Minds and Law Order compose about 70% of my DVR recording list, you can imagine my excitement when I heard that we were going to have a guest Lieutenant speak to us about Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Sciences in regards to Fingerprinting.  The Lieutenant taught us how fingerprints are the oldest accurate form of identification and different characteristics and types of fingerprints:

Types of Fingerprints

Patent- readily visible (liquid)

Plastic- to mold or to form (putty, clay, wax, soap)

Latent- hidden or concealed (must be developed or enhanced)

Fingerprint Patterns

Circular

Loop

Arch

Characteristics

Enclosure, Dot, Ridge Ending, Bifarcation

We also learned about DNA (simple DNA kit includes distilled water and cotton swabs!) and the CODIS system (COmbined DNA Index System).  I am very excited to incorporate some type of Crime Scene Investigation theme into my classroom with this new information!  Block 3 even gave a great presentation that modeled one creative way to incorporate CSI and civic responsibility into the classroom with a pollution investigation.

After the presentation, we split up into our Blocks again and were able to participate in different experiments ranging from honing in on our investigation skills with clay to utilizing ProScope technology to investigate our clothing and hair particles.  We had a great time investigating and experimenting with salt, sugar, baking powder, and iodine while surrounded by our RainForest Mural we created, along with multiple other blocks. My contribution to the mural was a leaf cutter ant.

THE RAINFOREST

My Leaf Cutter Ant and My Friend Celeste's Cheetah!