Science?

Hi,

Sue, I tried your resource room and didn’t find anything for science. My son has an extra credit assignment (in fifth grade) to build a model of a molecule. The only information that came home in his planner was “molecule.” He tells me it’s extra credit, and he has to build a model. I think, “No problem, we’ve got styrofoam balls, straws, toothpicks, and paint - what else do you need?”

So, we’ve worked on a home project (remodeling our son’s bathroom) all weekend, and at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday I tell him we need to get his model done. He says it can’t be a sugar molecule - which is the only one identified in his science textbook.

I search on the net using “molecule model elementary school project.” The first thing that comes up is “they are too young - don’t teach that until late middle school or high school.” The next site has a 45 chain molecule - don’t remember what it was. I looked at a couple of others, and they were equally inappropriate.

Now, I feel like an idiot, because it was written in his planner - and now he can’t contribute to the project. I should have asked more questions, or had him ask more questions. Of course, three weeks ago, I wrote the teacher a not too nice letter about not sending home a rubric for projects.

Any ideas as to how we can get this done? I’ll still talk to the teacher - but life just shoudn’t have to be this hard. (Yes, I’m whining.)

Thanks,
Lil