Mentos and Fruit Loops

Last Wednesday was quite the eventful day in our classroom. First off, we did a fun lesson on estimation. My friend and coworker Sarah came up with this fun activity to help students with the concept of estimation. First, we read the book Counting on Frank.

I then had students answer the questions in the back of the book in their math journals. We had fun solving the problems about Frank. I also created an anchor chart of ways we use estimation and why we would use estimation in that situation.

After reading the book, I passed out a piece of paper to the students in which they traced their hand. Each student then had to make an estimate on how many fruit loops would fit in his/her hand. After making their estimates I gave them each some fruit loops and they placed them in their hand and checked the accuracy of their estimates. You could also have them do a subtraction problem to see how far the actual count was from their estimate.

We also had our janitor, "Mr. John," trace his hand print and after the students had completed their hands, I showed them Mr. John's hand and had them make an estimate. We then counted out the fruit loops together for Mr. John's hand. It took quite a few fruit loops! 

In science we spent a week studying the scientific method. On Tuesday we did a science experiment on "dancing raisins". Students made predictions on what raisins would do when placed in sprite and then we watched what happened and recorded observations. The raisins at first will sink because they are denser than the soda, but then the bubbles attach making them buoyant and they float to the top. When the bubbles pop, the raisins sink again. On Wednesday, we did the famous coke and Mentos experiment! Everyone made predictions on what would happen when the Mentos were placed in water and what would happen when they were placed in Diet Coke. Then we took all 8 third grade classes outside and we first placed the Mentos in the water and observed and then came the Diet Coke. The kids loved it!! It was a very exciting day to say the least.