EDUCATION MAKES
CENTS
The Million Penny Challenge is a fund raising activity
of the
Lawrence Township Education Foundation of New Jersey
Powers of
Observation
An
E=MC2 Activity
Submitted by
Sona E. Polakowski and Jenn Polakowski
Adapted from the FOSS kit
"Microworlds"
Objective
To improve observation skills. Teachers can
assess students' prior knowledge of magnifiers. Students learn to use hand
lenses. Students discover something new in an everyday object.
Materials Needed
- A Penny
- Magnifier
- Paper and pencil
Procedures
- Challenge students to find out how observant they already are by asking them to sketch both sides of a penny from memory. Distribute Activity Sheet. Give students about 2 minutes to sketch both sides of a penny from memory.
- After students have completed their sketches, ask them to share their ideas quickly. Accept all descriptions for now.
- Distribute the pennies and give students 1 timed minute to look at them with the unaided eye. Then have them cover up the pennies and again draw both sides in the spaces provided on the Activity Sheet. Ask for a few quick comments on what details they were able to add to their drawings after actually observing the penny.
- Demonstrate how to use a hand lens, and then distribute the hand lenses to the class. Challenge students to learn something new about the penny using the hand lens. Have students record their discoveries by making a drawing of the magnified penny in the space provided on the Activity Sheet.
Question
Which drawing was the most accurate? Why? How
can this information help you in your future observations?
