Joyful Biology

Family lore relates that when visiting my grandparents at the age of 8, I requested that Granny make her fabulous yeast rolls. Granny replied that she was too tired to make them that year. Ever the empathic pragmatist, I responded, "How about you take a nap, and then make them?" The recipe for these yeast rolls is a hybrid of Granny's recipe, Sharon's Stickier buns from the cookbook Butter Sugar Flour Eggs , and Deb Perelman's cheddar cheese swirl buns from Smitten Kitchen Cookbook . My recipe is published as a science experiment in my first book, Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments . As the book approaches its 4-year birthday (!), I'm finally exercising the part of my author contract that allows me to publish a bit of its contents. However, I've changed the recipe a bit - adding more flour and some ideas for how to have fun with the dough. I hope you find these rolls as delicious and cozy as I do. Tools: 2-cup heat-proof liquid measuring cup Mi...

Congratulations, class of 2022. I am so honored by your invitation to speak on this special day. I’m sure it’s not a surprise that I’m going to seize this opportunity to give you advice. Let’s begin with a poem. Poppies Mary Oliver The poppies send up their orange flares; swaying in the wind, their congregations are a levitation of bright dust, of thin and lacy leaves. There isn’t a place in this world that doesn’t sooner or later drown in the indigos of darkness, but now, for a while, the roughage shines like a miracle as it floats above everything with its yellow hair. Of course nothing stops the cold, black, curved blade from hooking forward— of course loss is the great lesson. But I also say this: that light is an invitation to happiness, and that happiness, when it’s done right, is a kind of holiness, palpable and redemptive. Inside the bright fields, touched by their rough and spongy gold, I am washed and washed in the river of earthly delight— and what are you g...

Image from Pixabay Last spring, educators received some feedback from parents: navigating distance learning was too complicated. Way too complicated. So complicated that many parents declared their families “done with distance learning” months before the school year ended. Now it’s July, and the national argument raging over whether to open public schools (which is actually silly – school is opening no matter what; the question is whether schools will provide face-to-face, hybrid, or distance instruction) is drowning out any productive conversations we might be having. Like, for example, how to respond to the aforementioned feedback. Next fall, when my 6th through 12th grade students come to school (and yes, logging in to an online class is still going to school), I want them to know exactly what to do. I want them to be able to come to school without having to stop and ask a parent, sibling, or tutor for directions. I want them to show up, eager to be back with their peers ...

If you're a teacher like me, you're already going a little bonkers from kid withdrawal. How can we nurture that connection - that spark - that makes learning and teaching so compelling and rewarding - when we're only communicating within the abstract realm of digital - or analog - correspondence? Here are a few of the prompts my colleagues and I are posting to connect with our Crews at Open World Learning Community (OWL). Reading my kids' responses has been my CPR, my Comedy Central, and my calming breath. To all my colleagues out there, be strong, be brave, and be there for your kids, in silliness and in sweetness. Share a Link : Post a link to a website, online game, or video stream that you’ve been visiting while you’re at home & say why you like it. 20 Questions : Think of an animal, plant, food, household object, job, well-known person, or famous place. Post a discussion reply saying, "I'm thinking of a..." and then say the category. F...

If you are stuck at home and want to do science, how about a nature journal? Kids of all ages can record outdoor observations, sharpening their science math, artistic, and literacy skills. I created these printable nature journals for PK-12 students . Kids can write on loose papers, or stick their journals into a notebook where they can write calculations and draw plants and animals. The youngest learners start out by circling the weather they see on their walk. For kindergarteners through second graders, there are spaces to write the temperature and to draw the sky conditions. Kids can also check a box identifying wind conditions. In third grade, students get to practice converting temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius. The formula might be too advanced for younger kids; an online calculator is linked in the journal, along with sites explaining more scientific terms for describing sky and wind conditions. Third- through fifth-graders also have space for noting signs of life –...

My new book, Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments , opens with an investigation in which kids compare two different methods for putting bubbles into lemonade. The experiment helps kids tell the difference between chemical and physical change – and at least one of the methods produces a delicious drink. I had a blast sharing this experiment at a summer teacher meeting. At first, my colleagues looked terrified of the bubbling, smoking brew – but after a few minutes, everyone dug into this delicious drink. If you want to try the experiment but aren’t sure how to find dry ice, do an Internet search for “dry ice near me.” Some CostCo stores carry it, and there’s a dry ice supplier in most metro areas.