Kind of a "Cool" Week

Week 24 is almost over - only 12 weeks left!
Tomorrow (Friday) I just have a double lab period with one of the 7th grades and a 6th grade class. I had a section of 7th grade today, so the lab is all set up. Last week they had an activity during their double lab period to find a video of the "coolest chemical reaction" (none longer than 2 minutes) and email the link to me. Monday we watched the videos and each team gave a reason why theirs was the coolest. If I was going to be doing this again I would develop that idea more. Some kind of rating system for teams that recognize the scientific "coolness" of the reaction. For instance one team argued that theirs was the coolest video because of the "cool"song by Black Eyed Peas ( a cool group) that accompanied the cool explosion of a gummy bear in potassium chlorate. Another group stretched the bounds of imagination and gullibility by sayng theirs was the coolest because they could use the reaction of potassium iodide, dishwashing liquid, and hydrogen peroxide to make toothpaste for their elephant. (Google elephant toothpaste if you don't know this reaction.)
My blogging was just interrupted by a one hour visit from a student who is not doing well and her much older brother who came to help her. I tutored them on periodic table and density. It was kind of cute how he would jump in with the answers to the questions as we prepared her for her test tomorrow.
Today I got a thank you letter from the 7th grade for coming to their sleepover. It was kind of cool. Below is the text:
"Thank you for giving us a scary night. Thank you for giving us a great night of scary stories and a great experiment. We like your humor because you are super funny. You are our best teacher in school!!!!! Science class is the best!"
Wow - that is almost encouragement enough to make me rethink retiring. Watching the 2000 mile wide front of cold weather blasting across the US certainly makes the warm Honduran climate attractive this time of year.