Rube Goldberg

I'm trying to gear my kids up for the big state physics test next week, and I am totally baffled by their lack of urgency in getting anything done.  Maybe my memory is failing me, but last year I remember kids getting more serious about completing review activities.  I am afraid that blowing off the review is going to make a lot of kids fail.  Or score lower than they really could score.  But I am at a loss for how to motivate them better.

I introduced our post-test final project, which will be to build a Rube Goldberg machine, and my kids are so eager to work on that, some are even coming in after school to start early.  There is really nothing more fun than sending marbles down ramps and hitting domino chains.

I am toying with the idea of teaching an elective where all we'd do all year is build the biggest, most awesome Rube Goldberg machine ever.  If I was staying at my school for next year, I'd seriously think about proposing it.

John Travoltage

Things are not so great at school lately, but there are bright spots.  The librarian told me recently that some of the freshmen come to the library regularly at lunchtime to play with the PHET simulations on the computers.  I find that to be adorable, especially since I had no idea they were doing it.  The librarian, and the students, are fond of John Travoltage.  So am I, to be honest.

This circuit is not fooling around.

From T's project paragraph: "My project is a serious circuit connecting all components and getting the same current everywhere."