We had a fun time at school today. The kids are studying simple machines, so I took enough kitchen utensils for all 44 of them to select one each. What they didn't know was that they then had to butter a slice of bread and put jam on it for a sandwich! We were trying to get the message through to them that simple machines are designed for a specific purpose. We had lots of laughs as they tried to manipulate the butter onto the bread using a funnel, spatula, clothes peg, egg beater, pastry brush or potato masher.
This would have been such an enjoyable learning experience even if some machines would definitely have caused some frustrations but lots of laughs I imagine.
What a great idea. I used to do a lesson with a banana. Take the banana out of the skin and cut it up any way you want. The only thing is you can not eat the banana. Once that is done put the banana back together. It shows them that if they hurt/bully someone repeatedly no matter how you try you cant fix it.
What a fun classroom lesson!! Someone was telling me recently that at summer camp they would have a container full of utensils and everyone would have to pick one and eat spaghetti and sauce with it (but they didn't know they'd have to eat it when they chose their utensil!).
A good idea for children to think logically! Frankly I butter my bread slices with a chainsaw!