Chapter One
I
called this chapter “Science Woes” because it deals with my subject
matter. These are
collections of either questions, or answers to my questions, that I just
had to share. This entire
chapter is available on-line as a free excerpt.
Just click on the ordering link to the right and it will take you
to it. Enjoy!
Chapter Two
I
titled this chapter “Trivia Questions” because they were non-science
questions I would ask the kids for various reasons.
When time would allow, I would have them answer questions to get
to use the restroom. Other
days, say after a test, I would occupy the last few minutes of the
period with a little trivia challenge.
I was even challenged by other teachers to pit our classes
against each other in a trivia contest.
(Complete with buzzers and everything).
Allow me to give a small taste.
I
asked Nick, “What is the smallest warm-blooded animal in the world?”
He claimed it was “dirt.”
And I always thought dirt was cold blooded.
By the way, it is a species of humming bird from
South America.
In an Anatomy class, I asked Matt “What is the small
opening in the eye that light passes through?”
Matt answered, “The rectum.”
I hope he never looks at me.
Umm, the country of Louisiana?
Chapter Three
This is my favorite chapter.
I called this one “Plain Ole’ Lack of Common Knowledge.”
These entries came from just having regular conversations with
the kids. I would sometimes
tell them things about me as a person, not the teacher, and the
questions they would pose were pure gold!
Other times they would come in to tell me something they had seen
or done and leave me with another priceless gem.
I really enjoy the discussions and story swapping we would do.
I think in today’s world many of them don’t get to sit down and
talk to adults much, and that’s why I view this chapter as the best.
No science jargon, just good ole’ conversation, that sometimes
takes a crazy turn. Let me
give you a few examples.
Steve once confessed to me, “I don’t know the alphabet
all the way to one hundred.”
Come to think of it, I don’t either.
While watching a National Geographic video on the Great
White Shark, Brian was astonished to find out that a Great White’s
vision is most effective at picking up movement.
He then asked, “So if we see a shark, we should sit still just
like if you see a Tyrannosaurs Rex?”
Where does this kid live that he needs to know what to
do if he sees a T-Rex? Does
he know something about the wildlife of southwestern Ohio that I don’t?
I remember overhearing a student compliment Erin on her
eyeglasses. She then said,
“Thanks I got them from the obstetrician.”
That statement caused Erica to start laughing.
At that point I thought to myself, “Good, Erica will
set her straight and allow me to avoid a possibly embarrassing
situation.”
Right up until Erica looked at me and asked, “Mr.
Grippa, isn’t an obstetrician a foot doctor?”
So much for avoiding a sticky situation.
I then gave a brief and delicate lecture on the difference
between an Optometrists, Podiatrists, and Obstetricians.
My mistake was using the abbreviation OB/GYN, because I had to
explain what a gynecologist was.
Mike then looked at me and asked, “So is a gynecologist then,
only for women?”
Ah, a job well done.