Germs, Potatoes, Chemical and Physical Changes = FUN in SCIENCE!

We have started our first science unit of the year.  We have recently talked about matter and types of matter. (Solids, Liquids and Gasses)  Mrs. Malrick (5th grade teacher) and I decided to pair up and do a science lesson together.  She introduced a top secret lesson...about...POTATOES! 


She started out with a great brainstorming session where students each passed around one pealed potato and stated one fact or observation about the potato.  

They all created an amazing list of observations.  She then put the passed around potato in a sealed bag, and an untouched by human hands pealed potato in another.

The touched potato was brown and DISGUSTING by the time all 60 + hands passed it around.  

We then returned to our classroom to make some predictions about what will happen to the potatoes.  

When we returned to school on Monday we discussed chemical and physical changes.   We then took a journey down to 5th grade to see (observe) what took place with the potato. 

Gross...

The touched potato was brown, juicy and had lots and lots of "growth" on it, while the untouched potato had just browned slightly.

A great combined lesson on the importance of washing your hands, as well as chemical and physical changes.  

So now when your kiddo does not want to wash their hands for dinner, just ask them if they would want to eat the potato from Mrs. Malrick's class. I bet they will run right to that sink!