As part of my update on the chicken mummy, I’m going to show how I went about teaching the kids about following procedures. A very important lesson for homeschool science lesson, and one my kids have learned over and over again.
Following procedures: Make observations
We got the chicken out of its bag of salt and such to check on it and make sure it was progressing properly. I had them make observations as we did this. Here’s what they told me:
1. It’s rubbery. I’ve noticed this is their new catchphrase for describing stuff, so I’m trying to work on them describing more.
2. It doesn’t smell. Which to me, says we must be doing this somewhat right. At this point, it’s been sitting out on our kitchen counter for a little over a week. So, if it doesn’t smell that means we’ve done something right, because it should seriously stink by now.
Following procedures: Why is it important?
1. The importance of following directions. They had to wash their hands between each step, and at one point Princess had wandered off to get candy she wanted to eat. I made her throw it away because it now had “chicken germs” because chickens that aren’t cooked have germs we could get sick from.
2. I actually do have a reason for my rules. Since they were not doing too good at being careful there was a lot of salt on the floor, and they got to spend a good long time cleaning that up.
Following procedures: Clean up afterwards
3. That you can’t just do an experiment and leave. You have to follow through and clean up the big huge mess you left. So, they mopped and mopped that floor.
4. The importance of washing hands well. I don’t have a picture but I showed them how to wash it like a doctor. Soap all the way up to their elbows, and make sure to really scrub and then use as hot a water as you can stand.
And since I could only find two mops Princess got away with not mopping that day. Lucky dog. But, then right now cleaning seems to be my primary mode of excercise……..
Oh, and to answer your question Jeff. There are no canopic jars because the cornish game hen did not come with the organs in it, so no canopic jars.
So, how about you? Do you ever find yourself going back and redoing experiments or observations? I know we’ve done it lots before, and I’m sure we’ll continue to do it more often with other things.
Future Ticia here, as a matter of fact, when the kids got into upper elementary we went into more detail on following procedures, and the scientific method, but this was a good start for preschool and kindergarten.
Up next: The Chicken Mummy
More on Egypt:
We’ve studied Egypt three times over the years, so I’ve got a few posts on the country, in particular Ancient Egypt.
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