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Chalk Messages Measurement Lab

What do you do when a chunk of your physical science class is away at the state softball tournament, it’s Friday, and you just finished a chapter but don’t want to start the new chapter until Monday?

chalk messages lab

 You decide to give your students a piece of sidewalk chalk and a chalk messages measurement lab to keep them busy.  Measurement was the last skill in the previous chapter, so it made sense.

Sidewalk chalk for chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

Here’s the recording sheet I came up with for our chalk messages measurement lab.

Sidewalk chalk for chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

We began by making our predictions of how much chalk it would take to write our first and last names.  When some students were making crazy predictions, a student reminded the class that a paper clip has a mass of approximately 1 gram.  This helped make a bit more accurate of predictions.

chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

Next, we took the triple beam balances outside.  It was a windy day, and we quickly realized this was a BAD idea.

chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

Some students opted to use a triple beam balance in the classroom.

chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

Others chose to move their triple beam balances into the hall to work.

chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

Here are some pictures of my students in action:

chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science
chalk messages measurement lab in physical science

If I were to do this again, I’d edit it to have students calculate error before calculating percent error.  Other than that, it turned out to be a good activity to keep students busy on an off-day.

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2 Comments

  1. Love the simplicity of the idea! Sometimes, we forget that simple things make the best activities. Although I am not teaching science, I can see where students would enjoy this. Who doesn't like a chance to leave the classroom and write on the sidewalks with chalk?

    It would not work in Vietnam, because we don't have concrete sidewalks. Our walkways are made of interlocking bricks (which are green and yellow). Plus, it is currently the rainy season, so it rains daily!

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