Math Tastes Like Chocolate Milk!

In order to solidify their understanding of ratios and proportions, 6th grade students participated in a chocolate milk making activity. The goal was to use equivalent ratios to create different mixtures of chocolate powder and milk to reach certain goals for the “chocolateness” of their mixtures. Students recorded data after taste testing each mixture, always comparing it to “Grandma’s recipe” which was given to them.

After creating as many as 8 different mixtures, students reflected on the taste of each concoction. They compared the actual taste to what they expected mathematically.

 

The 6th graders really enjoyed a creative and fun way to learn about ratios! Of course, sampling the chocolate milk was a crowd pleaser as well! Here is some feedback from students:

“I learned how to find the right proportion of liquid and mix. I need to multiply or divide the original recipe.” Natalie Miller

“Math can be fun. I liked chugging the milk!” Hayden Schneider

“I enjoyed drinking chocolate milk and having a good group.” Madelyn Alt

“Math is used everyday in various ways” Lauren Hekman

“Measurements matter… a lot!” Isla Kemp

“Too much chocolate mix is awful for the tastebuds.” Elise Wuorinen

“I enjoyed watching peoples’ reactions when they had milk that tasted bad!” Alyssa Stamps

Halloween in Middle School

Middle School students eagerly awaited their “Hocus Pocus” Halloween Lab this year! It’s been a bit of a tradition to stop working on Science curriculum for one day and participate in a handful of fun science experiments.

Working in groups, students rotated through five different lab stations. Each student received a “Spells and Potions” booklet to help them complete the lab.

Students completed stations called Bubbling Cauldrons, Frankenworms, Witch Blood, Tie-Dyed Brains, and Grow a Ghost.

Each station used household materials like vinegar and baking soda, yeast and hydrogen peroxide, milk and soap, cooking oil and alka seltzer tablets, and cabbage juice and lemon juice/vinegar/baking soda/ammonia for students to perform different chemical reactions with.