School Project (vent)

[Claudia1]

I would also be concerned about eating food prepared by kids at home. Does your school have rules about types of food that are allowed? I like the idea of doing it in class. The teacher can be sure that they wash their hands!

This project seems like too much right at the end of the year, IMHO. I would think that it would take more than 2 weeks for some kids/families to do it. Even with all the great ideas from the DISers, it could still be a strain for some families.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Originally posted by Antonia
It is a crazy assignment, but if you do have to do it how about ice cream sandwiches layered in a casserole dish and spread Cool Whip over the top and add some chocolate shavings. Cut in squares and serve. It is delicious, requires no cooking. You will need a knife to slice it. A woman in my church group made this and it was really good. People actually thought she had layered a chocolate crust and ice cream, etc. People didn't think it was ice cream sandwiches!!! Dream up a crazy name for it and present it.

I like this idea....seems REALLY EASY and inexpensive!!

 

[Kallison]

Maybe she is on a major PMS trip and needs her chocolate fix!

Definitely sounds like your project to do.

 

[Kallison]

Here is my idea --
roll fat pretzel rods in chocolate -- roll in jimmies
cool on wax paper
call them Magic Wonka Wands

 

[SRUAlmn]

OK, I know this is not going to be a popular opinion, but it is mine, so here goes...


First of all, I don't think this project is really that out of line. I think it's a great way for the kids to use some of the information they learned from Willy Wonka, and it's a great science application to try to combine flavors and materials to make something taste good. There really doesn't have to be any 'cooking' involved.

Second of all, as a college grad with an ed. degree, as a child of a teacher, a niece of a teacher, and a sister of another future teacher I am somewhat disheartened by some of the posts on this thread. I feel that many times teachers are overly criticized for how they run their classrooms. Teachers do not come to other people's jobs and criticize how they do their job. It seems like because teachers' salaries come from tax payer's money that people think they can tell them how to do their job. I mean, someone suggested going to the prinicpal. That is just way too extreme. Let the teachers run their classes the way they see fit. They have the education, they have the grand scheme of things in their plan, they know what they are doing, trust me

With that said, I am not saying ALL teachers are perfect, and I do agree that a definitive due date is in order. Ok, flame away I can handle it

 

[Duchie]

Wow!

I'm ummm.... well let's just say 4th grade was a "couple of years" ago (give or take... A LOT). And I don't think I could complete this assignment!

My best advice is to have DD "think outside the box". That's usually how the hardest problems are solved.

Good luck with this assignment!

 

[TSTEWARTFAN]

Originally posted by SRUAlmn
OK, I know this is not going to be a popular opinion, but it is mine, so here goes...
First of all, I don't think this project is really that out of line.

I agree with SRUAlmn. I don't think it was out of line either. My 5th grader was so proud of his candy bar! He kept talking about a company buying his "Nutty Rainbow Bar", and selling millions and making millions. Like I said in my earlier post, I was afraid it was going to be a mom project, but it was anything but! My DS even did the dishes after making his candy bars. The project got my book smart DS using his imagination. Something he rarely ever does!

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by Claudia1
I would also be concerned about eating food prepared by kids at home. Does your school have rules about types of food that are allowed? I like the idea of doing it in class. The teacher can be sure that they wash their hands!
.

If you're worried about germs etc. you should hang out in the lunchroom at lunchtime. Kids share food, drinks etc all the time. Kids share desks and pencils and sneezes and roll around outside on the none too clean grass.

There should be a parent in the kitchen monitoring the cleaniness of the cooking. If not, I'm sure they are not going to come in contact with anything that they wouldn't in school.

 

[SRUAlmn]

That was part of my point. When studying education we learn that there are many different types of learners. Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. As teachers we need to make sure that we are using a variety of learning methods in our classrooms so that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn. In your case, I think it is so great that your son, who is normally 'book smart,' was able to learn in a new way and really enjoy it! Good for him!!

 

[Tuffcookie]

I would have gladly traded that project for the one DS came home with in 5th grade. They had to make a model of a 4 room house and wire it, so that lights would come on. DS and I didn't have a clue how to do it so he ended up calling his dad (who happens to be an electrician by trade). Just what I needed, the ex over at my house working on DS's project!

TC

 

[Karel]

I think it sounds like fun...but then again my kids cook all the time with me. I think part of the project is to model the right attitude for your child. We all have 'jobs' that we like or don't like, according to our experiences or personalities. We have a math fair in 5 and 6th grade that our children have to come up with games. I HATE math but I'm planning ahead for next year because I know this will be a challenge for me.

Part of doing school projects with your child is knowing their strengths and weakness and knowing when you need to step into help and when they can work on things in their own way. My daughter's fourth grade ' Invention ' was so low tech compared to her oldest brothers but that her. Keep things simple and listen to her ideas. Maybe she's been talking about it with her friends?
By fourth grade, s/he should know her/his way around the kitchen and should be able to at least come up with ideas on what s/he wants to do.

Inventions are a big part of fourth grade science. (My daughter just went through it) Brainstorm about what she likes in her desserts... peanut butter, marshmellows, nuts. Does she want to go to something weird like potato chips or other food you don't associate with chocolate? There's a Mexican chicken dish with chocolate in it.

Take it one step at a time and be positive. Who knows what projects you'll end up with next year. There may not be definate due date because the teacher may only assign two or three kids a day to bring their dessert in. Chances are there won't be enough time in one science class to get everyone in.

 

[Nutsy]

Way too over the top if you ask me. I can understand a high school child doing it, but a year 4 no way.

 

[disykat]

I don't have a huge problem with it, but wish that actually cooking it was an extra credit option only. My son (5th grade) will be cooking something as part of his state project, but he was given a list of possible activities with point values assigned and he can pick which ones he will do.

My big problem is with all the suggestions on the board of what she could do. Although ideas are nice, the whole idea is for her to come up with something herself! I'd say let her come up with the ideas and then help her determine whether they are realistic.

That said, I would probably be in the classroom with my child that day or my peanut allergic child would be staying home. Chocolate is risky for him. I assume your dd's class doesn't have children with special dietary needs or the assignment would be pretty thoughtless.

 

[Mouse Man]

Originally posted by SRUAlmn
As teachers we need to make sure that we are using a variety of learning methods in our classrooms so that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn.

While I agree with that statement, the key words for me are "in our classrooms". If a teacher gives out these big projects, they should allow lots of time in the classroom. That way, the teacher could actually see who is doing the work.

 

[Cruise04]

I just have to say it doesn't end with parent help. My dd is in 8th grade and she had 3 separate projects this year and each one I had to help somehow - history fair I had to drive her to the place she was doing her project on so she could do research (1 1/2 hours away); science fair I ended up helping her type because she was running so far behind; invention I had to stay up until midnight one night to make sure she got it finished after the teacher had messed up and didn't give some of the kids pieces to do the invention and they would have had all spring break to work on it, instead dd had 1 night.

I agree that this is a little ridiculous giving this out with a week left for school but it could be very simple like some others have mentioned. You could come up with a "trail mix" and add things that someone wouldn't think to add - chocolate chips or m&m pieces; pretzels; raisins; some type of cereal; celery; carrots (something like that - you get the idea). It's unusual and generally will not bother people's allergies. And would take a trip to the store and 10 minutes mixing the stuff together.

 

[Pete's Mom]

Originally posted by AuroraluvsPhillip
My DD, 14 has had a project in Spanish at least one every month. Her current project: Videotape a commercial for a product of your choice in Spanish. Fine, except that our videocamera broke last spring, my brother's camera is broken, I was really afraid I was gonna have to run out and buy a videocamera last minute...thank God my BIL had one to borrow.

OK, here is where I would vent! What about families that don't have a video camera or can't afford to buy one?

I can feel the OP's pain. Pete is in 1st grade and every month he has a creative project to turn in. It is obvious that parents are expected to help or do most of the work since most involve scissors, hot glue guns, etc and let's just say I am no Martha Stewart. I really wish they would assign age appropriate projects.

Also, we have some low income families at our school and I feel bad for them that they have to buy a lot of expensive supplies for these projects or their child gets a failing grade.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by phillybeth
How is anyone going to know if it is a new recipe or not? There are millions of recipes out there- pick one, change one ingredient slightly, and voila, a 'new' recipe. Then just come up with a clever name and a backstory to expain the invention. You could even dress DD up as a 'mad scientist' for the presentation.

I was thinking the same thing. Make some some chocolate chip cookies, add something, and let that be the end of it. It doesn't need to be a huge deal.

 

[CookieGVB]

Right. Make some chocolate chip cookies, toss in some marshmallows or something, and call it a day.

 

[HappyMommy2]

As several others have said, I'm willing to bet the teacher had something very simple in mind. I remember I had a similar Charlie and the Chocolate Factory "invent a recipe" project do do in 4th or 5th grade. I poured chocolate syrup over mini fruit-flavored marshmallows on little plates and put them in the freezer. Worked out great and my mom didn't even have to help, except with the write-up.

I doubt the teacher means for each kid to come up with some fabulous new souffle (although I imagine that a kid or two who had LOTS of parental help may show up with something like that--never fails!).

On the other hand I think this large project should have been assigned earlier in the year, not right at the last minute before school ends.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Hey I'm just happy that I've almost made it through an entire school year without being asked to create one single diarama!
yea me!

This weekend was science fair for child #1 and million dollar scrapbook for child #2. My Wal Mart bill was $132.