Science Tools

To start the year off in science I did a simple activity with the students.  I had them close their eyes and imagine what a penny looks like.  They opened their eyes and recorded what they had envisioned in their notebook.  Next, I gave each student a real penny and asked them to draw it. We had a brief discussion as they compared their two illustrations.  Lastly, I gave them a tool scientists often use when they need to examine an object, a magnifying lens.  Using the lens, students drew their 3rd penny.  Wow, the details they were able to add to their 3rd penny confirmed the importance of the tool as well as how important detailed illustrations are when recording their observations.