The assignment was simple enough in theory.
“Create a human neuron out of household items.”
It’s enough to make a parent scratch his head in response to the quizzical looks from his 7th grader.
Neurons, yay! Cells, boo.
I do have to admit it wasn’t as bad as making the three dimensional cell out of food items that we tackled a few years ago.
That was pure hell…and the rotting 3/4’s of a cantaloupe that came home on the bus wasn’t too popular either.
Why didn’t it just get dumped in the trash? I asked the same question and in return only received that look that silently communicates…‘Oh, yeah…I didn’t think of that.’
It’s assignments like this that get me a little bothered beforehand, but calmly gratified afterward. A little bothered because although the educational benefit of such a project is positive, the stress it induces on both the student and the parent isn’t. Calmly gratified because the resulting look of pride in LE’s eyes and the sight of him walking on to the school grounds holding something he’s proud of is always worth the effort.
Neuronal Elements at a Store Near You
- 1 foam rubber ball – cut in half –> cell bodies
- 4 Twizzlers – red licorice ropes –> axons
- 1/4″ nails partially driven into ball halves –> dendrites
- 1 thumb tack in each foam ball half –> cell nucleus
All of this formed a three-dimensional neuron project. That was a month ago and still nothing has come of it. Even my online grade checks have proven fruitless.
One thing I’m sure of – At least it won’t be rotting in a forgotten corner. However chances are excellent that the axons have disappeared already. 
