Since 2001, I have hosted a project entitled “The Great Egg Roll”.
The primary objective of this project was to promote (a) measurement, (b) averaging, and (c) creativity.
Students would roll eggs for distance and then average results with entire class. There was also an add on for the “Egg Fashion Show” which really was quite fun. Lots of creative eggs!!!
However, about 2 years ago, I realized just how “wasteful” this project was to accomplish math skills. So instead of real eggs we began to use plastic eggs. But then that in itself became a nightmare due to fluctuating size options and exactly WHAT to fill the egg with and how to keep the egg shut. And we began to use rice as a filler….again, another waste??
I know you might just sigh — but honestly, a lot more goes into presenting projects than just making a cute webpage, a google form, and some usable worksheets.
But I think the rubber hit the road 8 weeks ago when my pastor came back from Haiti and passed around “mud cookies” for us to look at. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080130-AP-haiti-eatin_2.html) And sadly, here I am promoting rolling eggs to teach math?? I found something totally wrong with that picture.
If I look at “The Great Egg Roll” honestly –
We have rolled over 34,445 eggs….(some plastic, some real)
For the real eggs — that equals 2,870+ dozen eggs.
For the plastic eggs — that equals 2,486 cups of rice.
Personally, for me, there are much better ways I can promote learning without also promoting food waste.
Jen
Jen,
I applaud your response to the “mud cookies” in Haiti. It does seem quite wasteful when there are so many who go hungry every day. Maybe someone has developed a simulation game that could be used.
Jen,
Totally agree with your thinking. You put so much into every project even “second-guessing” yourself and reevaluating. Professionalism at its best!
Jen,
Thanks for being so thoughtful about what you are doing. It really does matter.
That is so sad, and a valid reason for not doing the egg roll. It is amazing what we have compared to other people.
I do understand your problem with food waste. I discovered and participated in the Great Egg Roll only last year. Right from the start I didn’t like the idea of waste. My solution – Rice in a baggie (so if the egg broke open we could easily pick up and reuse the rice). I also superglued the eggs shut – limited it to 6 eggs total for the entire class. After the egg roll, 5 eggs remained in reusable condition – I stored them for this year and we’ll do the egg roll in April. Of course I think it helps my conscience that we collect food for the poor during Lent! As always, thanks for your hard work and ideas.