Survival of the Brainiest

In 8th grade science, students study adaptations and natural selection as evidence for Darwin's theory of evolution. It's a great unit, very well planned and executed by the 8th grade science team. At one point the students have an assignment to create a "build a beast". This is a made up creature that must have adaptations for survival in a randomly selected environment.

In the spirit of cross curriculum work, I decided to have some fun with this. At the end of a test students had the option of creating a creature specially adapted to survive in a math classroom. The following list represents some of my favorite adaptations:

big brain, for thinking

big eyes that never close

an extra set of ears for listening

calculator built in to tummy

ruler limbs and a slope intercept body

graphite tipped nails for writing

flat butt for sitting all day (HAHA)

powerful Chuck Norris roundhouse to solve fractions

a digestive system that makes it so he never goes to the bathroom (which would interrupt learning)

weak legs, taking away the temptation to do sports, leaving more time to study

a small mouth to prevent the temptation to talk

The pictures students drew were fantastic and the names of creatures where great:

Mathofunious

Mathiamania

Calcurtron

Mathicus

Sometimes teaching is just plain fun.