School Project (vent)

[mt2]

At least you get to eat this project. I have two DD in the 3rd grade. We have been studying inventions/inventors. We have to come up with an invention or improvement on an existing one. Planning, prototype, patent, marketing strategy, and pricing. We are only supposed to GUIDE them. OH PLEASE!!! We also get out of school in two week. Why could they not have done any of this stuff at the beginning of the year? I was in a school frame of mind then.

Good luck on the chololate project.

Happy Thoughts to all,

mt2

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My first thought was food allergies too. I agree that the parents are going to help. I too wouldnt let my ds near the stove by himself and I watch him near the microwave too. I am also thinking if it would be a financial hardship to any families. Really teachers today dont think things out too well. My ds 6th grade had to make a game from a book, guess what his book was also Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He definetely had some "supervision" from me. He gave out nerds to everyone in the class after they played the game. I wish teachers would realize how much time/thought/effort has to go into these projects not to mention your other kids and responsibilities with work/home etc. I know if it is something really over the top, then the moms get on the phone to each other first etc. Then the notes go to the teacher. Good Luck. Sure hope the teacher eats a great BIG sample of all the students creations. And no running to the bathroom when he/she is done either.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think it sounds like a fun project.

This late in the year I really wouldn't go crazy trying to come up with something special. I'd just provide a bunch of items that could be used in a trail mix. Let your daughter pick a few of the items. A cup of this, a cup of that, a dash of love, 2 teaspoons of smiles, mix well. That's it.

As far as a name for the treat, I'd pick one of the problem kids from the story and say the treat was an anadote for that problem.

Bossy Brat Be Gone or something silly like that.

Let your daughter have fun with it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

That's ridiculous. When DS was in 2nd grade, they had to show the process of doing something. He took everything he needed to make a pbj sandwich. But what your child has is ridiculous!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

 

[MeanLaureen]

dump a bag of chocolate chips in a bowl and call them "Mini Kisses"

 

[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.

 

[OhMari]

These Parent Projects used to drive me crazy too.

I have an idea for you.

Melt chocolate and let your daughter put the chocolate over pretzels. If it is her first time cooking, it is a invention that she came up with.

Another one is put 1 teaspoon of peanut butter on a Keebler cracker. Melt choclate and cover the cracker in chocolate.

Sometimes these things are overwhelming, but it is better to turn in something you have fun doing with your child.

Food allergies, I have 2 children that are allergic to peanut butter and chocolate and they just learned they cannot eat it and they don't even crave chocolate like their mother.

 

[poohtown]

I'll trade you for my daughters 3rd grade project:

Her project: A seven step report on a folk tale. Parents were already told we could not help. Here's what she has to do:

1. Setting - Students have to create a Venn Diagram comparing the folk tale setting with their home setting.

2. Character Description - students have to describe a main character using the 'attributes of a descriptive paragraph'.

3. Promblem - students will draw a picture of the main problem in the story and give it a caption.

4. Summary - Students should summarize their tale using the five parts. (ok this one's easy)

5. Opinion - write your opinion on the story. Include favorite parts and things you would change.

6. Creative Project - Create a project (asside from everything else) to express a creative way associated with the story. Ex. comprehension/critical thinking questions, haiku poem, etc.

7. Class Presentation - Present your total project to class. Students should be an 'expert' on the story and be able to answer any questions presented.

You have 2 weeks - of course on top of regular homework

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Why don't you call the principal and mention that you really don't like the idea of your child eating strange recipes from the homes of all those children. I know it's mean but you really don't have any idea what the cleanliness level is, who has a runny nose, etc.

This assignment was obviously given as something for the kids to have fun with and use a little imagination but what about any kid whose family might be financially disadvantaged? It might be very difficult for them to keep inventing recipes when there isn't enough food to start with.

I'm one of those parents that just wishes teaching would go back to the three R's. All this creativity is not turning out any geniuses -- just a bunch of kids that can't function in the real world.

(And you thought you were venting!!!)

 

[poohtown]

oh I forgot she also has to do illustations to at least three parts, include headings and put the entire project together in an eye pleasing way.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by calypso*a*go-go

I'm one of those parents that just wishes teaching would go back to the three R's. All this creativity is not turning out any geniuses -- just a bunch of kids that can't function in the real world.

You would rather your child sit and do worksheets and boring seat work all day?

I don't find this project out of line. There doesn't necessarily have to be any cooking or even a lot of time involved. Make a trifle out of instant pudding and cool whip or something.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

I think Dave Barry has it right..he says that school projects are the teachers' way of getting back at the parents for having to deal with our kids all day!

Some of these projects are so obviously done by the parents or at least 80% of them.

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. But imagine...she's also had to build a house and a robot and label everything in Spanish. She had to build a 3-D cell in Biology, research a famous mathematician in Algebra, not to mention the usual research papers in History and English....

I'm sure you all go through the same thing but it seems like they require so many more of these projects, I spend a ton at the craft stores buying styrofoam, felt, gluesticks, paint, etc..

I will be so glad when this year is over...Then I can start filling out FAFSA forms for my son.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Bojangles
You would rather your child sit and do worksheets and boring seat work all day?

I don't find this project out of line. There doesn't necessarily have to be any cooking or even a lot of time involved. Make a trifle out of instant pudding and cool whip or something.

I have to agree as well. It really could be very simple! You could use a recipe and change it so slightly.... (1/2 teaspoon of vanilla versus a /4 teaspoon), and you are done.

Really, its nothing.

A trail mix, candy mix, or a box cake (add some choc chips, and you have it made). You could do dirt (choc pudding dessert)

 

[clh2]

You may want to check out the Kraft Foods website...(I usually do a google I search) and check out ideas on the pudding section. This may be a nice "jumping off" point for inventing a recipe.

Another thing they could do is a "drop cookie" sort of thing. Melt some chocolat chips, add in their favorite "mix-ins", i.e. coconut, nuts, pretzal pieces, marshmallows, just about any cereal etc. And then drop it onto wax paper until it cools.

Of course - my all time favorite way to get some fruits into my DD: Take some Hershey syrup, make "squiggle" lines on a plate and place some banana slices on top. Apple slice work too, but bananas would be easier to slice up for a class sample.

Why on earth would a teacher want to load her kids up with sugar?????Maybe you as the parent -you will have the last laugh. Maybe the teacher should have suggested that the kids invent a healthy snack instead of something with chocolate.

I would definitely discuss this one with the principal too.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by Tinkbell
I'm against giving Science grades for cooking. It's so obvious that the parents are going to be the ones doing all of the work here. I wouldn't mind having the children create a recipe, but make the cooking and serving part optional!

Why? All cooking is is practical science. My kids were helping and cooking in the kitchen starting as preschoolers. By 4th grade they could have come up with a new creation without problems and cooked it themself with my supervison. Cooking teaches measurement, chemistry, physics and more. I wouldn't have them cook it for all 27 but maybe enough for 5 or 10 and then everyone can trade around and try what they want. Or portions can be cut so each serving is tiny and all try each thing. All recipes must be labeled as to ingredients in case of allergies. A nice touch if all the recipes are done on the same sized paper is to put on a cover and bind them as a class cookbook.
Btw my friend has her 2 yo helping in the kitchen already. He washes the veggies like carrots and celery in a small pan. He also washes and dries his plastic plates.

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
Why? All cooking is is practical science. My kids were helping and cooking in the kitchen starting as preschoolers. By 4th grade they could have come up with a new creation without problems and cooked it themself with my supervison. Cooking teaches measurement, chemistry, physics and more.

Well, I don't like to cook! I wouldn't make someone else cook for a grade at home. Not everyone is as skilled in the kitchen as you and your children, TH. I'm a teacher. I'm all for creativity, but I would not ask my students to cook at home. I don't even find this project very creative. The teacher should have them cook in school if it is so important. I know that, for the majority, all the measuring, chemistry and physics will be done by a parent. But then again, most of the elaborate school projects are.

Oh, for the record, I have cooked with my class. I had my 1st graders measure ingredients with me together in class. I supplied everything we needed. It's the only guarantee I have of knowing they understand the concept.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by clh2

I would definitely discuss this one with the principal too.

No offense, but please pick your battles at school. Even if you don't like the assignment, alienating your child's teacher and involving administration over something as trivial as this makes it less likely that you will be taken seriously when you have a real concern or issue.

Like others posted, you can buy some sort of no-bake mix from the grocery. Part of the EOG tests and standard course of study here is following directions and reading a recipe. It sounds like the teacher is trying to give the kids some hands on practice.

 

[Mouse Man]

Originally posted by Tinkbell
I know that, for the majority, all the measuring, chemistry and physics will be done by a parent. But then again, most of the elaborate school projects are.

Aint that the truth! I'll never forget when one of my sons was in 2nd grade and he had a project of changing the ending to a story. He had to write it, and illustrate it. Sounds reasonable to me. We made sure that DS did this himself. We went to Open House and these "student" projects were on display. One student had a tv and vcr set up with computer animation displaying his ending! It looked like the kid worked for Pixar. We still laugh about that one 3 years later.

Most others were obviously illustrated by an adult. The parents even admitted it. The kids who did their own work, like my son, weren't getting the praises I thought they deserved. In short, school projects done at home STINK!

 

[TSTEWARTFAN]

For my DS 5th grade gifted and talented class, he had a similar assignment. He had to 'invent' a new candy, bring one for each kid in the class (and the teacher - thankfully there were only 7 total examples needed!) submit a recipe, design a wrapper (presented in poster size), and do a 1 minute commercial. The commercial was either to be video taped, audio taped or presented live.

DS came up with a new candy bar, did everything himself (I helped with the first 'trial' bar but stayed in the livingroom when DS made the final candy bars). Any cooking was done in the microwave oven. Much safer than the stove While the cost of the ingredients and the pan was somewhat more than I would like to have spent, DS had such a good time making his candybar that it was worth the money spent. DS came up with the idea for the commercial. DH filmed the commercial, which starred DS & DH and did all of the special effects DS wanted. The outcome was fantastic

I understand it seems like alot, but you would be surprised what the kids will be able to do. I was afraid it was going to be a Mom project, but thankfully it did not turn out that way!