| | Snack Background
Ever since the Exploratorium opened in 1969, teachers from around the world have asked, "How can I bring these exhibits home to my classroom?" This was a challenge the Exploratorium couldn't ignore. The Exploratorium had already created three volumes of the Exploratorium Cookbook: A Construction Manual for Exploratorium Exhibits. These were written to help other institutions create duplicates of the Exploratorium exhibits. However, the Cookbook instructions where complex and demanding, and relied on materials and skills beyond the average teacher. The Teacher Institute helped a group of teachers write the book they wanted: a book telling how to build simple, inexpensive, classroom-sized versions of Exploratorium exhibits. These became known as Snacks.
What's in a Snack
Snacks are divided into easy-to-follow sections that include instructions, advice, and helpful hints. - Each snack begins with a photograph of the finished exhibit.
- There's a list of materials needed.
- Assembly Instructions
- To do and notice instructions on how to use the experiments
- What's going On? - Scientific explanations
- Going Further sections to learn more.
(taken from Square Wheels by Don Rathjen and Paul Doherty. One of many book publications by the Exploratorium Teacher Institute)
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| | Sample of one of my Teacher Professional Workshops with Snack Examples
Fossils and Castastrophes
May 6th, 2006, 8:30am to 12:30pm
Learn about Earth's catastrophic past through the eyes of a paleontologist. Explore the difference between rocks and fossils and discover how fossils shape our understanding of Earth's past. Through a series of hands-on activities, you will use materials found at RAFT to create a collection of tools your students can use to experience the processes by which we uncover the mysteries of the past. |  |
