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Last year at precisely this time, I ventured into the world of team building fun. Blindly optimistic, and with my usual enthusiasm for hands-on interactive learning, I set out to create a fabulous adventure for our students. My first steps began with research of catapults to create an instructional Power Point on these devices. Next, the students were issued a challenge...here is a bag of supplies (popsicle sticks, pencils, rubber bands, straws, plastic spoon, coffee stirrers, a dixie cup) build your own catapult to shoot a marshmallow further than your peers. The students gathered in groups to begin the building phase. What great conversations, critical thinking and problem solving! What could be better - such great learning fun for the end of the year! Ahhh...but this is a horror story, remember? What could go wrong you ask?
The students planned and built and tested their catapults. It takes awhile but they begin to see results. Still sounding pretty good, huh? Next is the shooting contest. We set up a starting line, let students come to the line and shoot their marshmallow three times. We have students assigned to do the measuring, and recording. Students average the three scores. So much math! Still sounding good, right? The students are enjoying themselves, and don't even notice how much math they are doing! Everyone is involved and behavior is not a problem. So, what could go wrong?
At the end of the activity we still have time to spare....uh oh! "Can we please have a marshmallow fight with our catapults?" "No one will get hurt!" Do you see where this is going? Why not? So we take the rest of the marshmallows and let the students have at it. So much fun! Marshmallows are flying, kids are racing around and giggling, and catapults are working! No problems, everything is great until suddenly the floor is covered with sticky marshmallows! It happened just that fast! Students were picking up marshmallows and reshooting them, and then suddenly (seconds) every marshmallow was a sticky mess stuck to the bottoms of their shoes, their hands, their clothes, and the multipurpose room floor! It was like the evil marshmallow fairy waved his wand and turned every white cloudy puff into a gooey mess! I have never seen such a mess, and even with our best efforts the district had to send in extra janitor support!
So heed my words....
NEVER, EVER, EVER HAVE A MARSHMALLOW FIGHT WITH YOUR STUDENTS!!!
