Math and Science Go Hand-in-Hand

THOUGHT

Hypothesis: If I follow a recipe for Gluten-Free Pancakes, the final product will turn out perfectly.

Problem	Solution
Pancake mix is too watery.	Add more flour.
Pancakes are too flat.	Add one egg.
Pancakes aren't cooking well.	Cook them one at a time.
Flip pancake too early.	Ruined a pancake.

Findings: With some additions to the recipe, and through experimenting with cooking time, the pancakes were a success.

Conclusion: Basic Math and experimentation are important in our daily lives.

REFLECTION #1

Would a deeper understanding of math make me a better cook? Would every mathematician (or scientist) be a world-class cook? I would say no to both.

When it comes to math - like cooking - it can be fun to experiment with amounts and try to figure things out for yourself. I think it is important in Math, and education, for students to have a sense of curiosity, which can be modeled initially by the teacher, to encourage curiosity. Still, (cooking) classes are also beneficial.

REFLECTION #2

Does the fact that one can't cook make one a hopeless case who will never be good at it? Should we just give up on someone who doesn't get it?

No! So why wouldn't we help our students until they get it? We may need to try different approaches - different ingredients - but eventually we will reach a day when the recipe (student) succeeds.

Also, it would be unfortunate if an individual decided to give up on cooking altogether because they were not successful at it the first time. We, as teachers, must keep students engaged (read: curious) in their learning, to achieve a successful result.