Friday, November 18, 2011

School Thanksgiving, and Heather's Science Fair experiment

Heather's New science fair experiment:

Hi!

This year for the science fair I am doing an experiment about reading visualization. I’m curious to see how differently different people visualize the same words.

I’m collecting data with the attached worksheets. I’ve included a few extra copies and am hoping that you can pass them out to some people you know, I want to get lots of data!

Don’t peek at what other people draw until after you fill your sheet out! (front and back). Thank you so much for helping me with my science experiment!

Sincerely,

Heather

What is it?

What we read/hear vs. what we visualize.

Communication with words.

What you see, and what I see

Background

In class we did a visualization exercise with James and the Giant Peach where each of us drew a picture after reading part of the book. I wondered how different people drew different things, even though everyone heard the same words. I want to do an experiment to see what is different and what is the same when people try to visualize words. We use words to communicate. This experiment will help me understand how effective communication is with words.

Question:

When we read, do we all visualize it in the same way?

Hypothesis:

I think some will be almost the same, but that most will be totally different.

Experiment:

Read the following description to a bunch of people. Ask them to draw a picture of what the words mean to them, and to explain why they drew what they drew. Collect and compare the pictures. Take data on what is the same in all the pictures, and what is different.

Visualization Description:

It is strong, kind, and sings. It is full of energy and likes to jump around and play games. It has a huge appetite, and is not a picky eater. It would rather make artwork than solve math problems. It is loud, happy, smart, and fun.

Directions:

Draw a picture of what you see in your mind.

Write one sentence explaining why you drew what you drew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

2011-2012 Science Fair Experiment___ ____Date: ____________

Visualization Description : It is strong, kind, and sings. It is full of energy and likes to jump around and play games. It has a huge appetite, and is not a picky eater. It would rather make artwork than solve math problems. It is loud, happy, smart, and fun.

Directions:

Draw a picture of what you see in your mind after reading the above description.

1. Write one sentence explaining what you drew.


1. How old are you? _________

3. Are you a boy or girl? _________

4. What is your job? _________

5. Where were you born? ____________


Part 2:

Word association: write down the first word that pops into your mind:

1. Scary _____________

2. Fun ________________

3. Small ________________

4. Hard ________________

5. Big _________________

6. Gooie _______________

7. Honorable ______________

8. Fast _______________

9. Tall __________________

10. Smart _________________

11. Kind __________________

12. Strong _______________

13. Best ________________

14. Dead _____________

15. Slow _____________

16. Glowing _____________

17. Inspirational _______________

18. Exciting _________________

19. Boring ____________________

20. Strange _________________

21. Sharp _________________

22. Easy ____________________



James and Heather won 1st (Heather) and 2nd (James) prizes in the reflections contest this year for the drawings, Very exciting!!!

Turkey stuff at the school - James made his turnkey ski in Colorado, he's really looking forward to Christmas!




James little school thing - had lunch with James and Heather in the cafeteria this day.




now we're ready for a week long vacation!!!