Today we played a density game. First, I got several boys up in the room and gave them different color spheres which were all the same size but different masses. I had them line up from least dense to most dense and then timed them. Next the girls went and we compared times. Each section had different results. Next I gave them cylinders with the same mass but different sizes--harder! Same rules for lining up (in both cases a mistake cost five seconds). Finally, the last challenge used five objects but I gave them no heads up--which section could go the fastest? The S section had a group go in 15 seconds, the O section in 16, and the L section in 17. Very commendable results.
Following this we worked on sig figs again. Sig figs are important when you measure and use calculations based on your measurements. The rule of thumb is that your answer can't have more sig figs than the term you use that has the least. Complicated? The students are amazing me with how well they pick this up.
Sweet justice.
