An innovative lesson at St. Raphael School, Hamilton, on the concepts of physical change and chemical change was born from a single misheard word.
Seventh grade science teacher Jessie Stafford introduced the topics of physical and chemical change, instructing her students that physical change can be easily reversed, such as ice cream melting and refreezing, while a chemical change creates a new substance which cannot, such as a raw piece of meat cooked over a flame. Telling her students she planned to illustrate the principle using baking soda and vinegar, one student’s eyes lit up, Stafford recalled.
“He thought I said ‘bacon and soda,’ not baking soda,” the teacher said with a chuckle. Other children grew enthusiastic about the idea, and the other seventh grade class decided they’d like to experiment with ice cream and pickles. Stafford was not fazed, and a lesson plan took shape.
With the assistance of the class parents, the Sept. 27 science classroom was stocked with bacon, soda, ice cream and pickles. Others brought in maple cupcakes, slap bracelets with “I (Heart) Bacon” imprinted on them, cherries and ice cream toppings for a deliciously interactive lesson.
The concepts of physical and chemical changes were deliciously illustrated that day, Stafford states, and added, “It was fabulous. This is a student-led classroom. I take them wherever they want to go.”