Seventh Graders Carve Out Lessons in Science
The pumpkins are back and more creative than ever. A sarcophagus, a snail and a nighttime forest were part of the ghoulish lineup during the second annual Life Science pumpkin decorating contest, held the week of October 25.
Science Department Chair Dana McNamee tasked her seventh grade students with designing pumpkins that showcased a lesson from their Life Science course. “I left this open-ended, as I wanted to see how the students interpret life science in their world,” she said.
McNamee was impressed with how the students took “concepts from class and presented them creatively in this context. From cells to characteristics of life, they covered quite a bit.” She said students were excited to make one-of-a-kind jack-o’-lanterns and devoted hours to completing their masterpieces.
“Plant Cell” by Katherine Anderson ’27 was “a flower in a mini jail cell.” Instead of recreating a plant’s actual cell, she “carved bars to make a jail cell for the ‘criminal’ plant.” Anderson created her display by “cutting bars out all around the pumpkin and putting a faux flower and leaf in a cup” which she painted to look like a prison uniform. Anderson concluded: “Life science can be creative and not just serious.”
Sam Barek ’27 took a more traditional, Halloween-inspired route with his aptly named “Classical Pumpkin.” He adorned the winter squash with triangle eyes, a nose and a smile. “I learned about the different layers of the pumpkin while I was dissecting it: the skin, the fleshy inside, the seeds, and the other things inside the somewhat hollow center,” he explained.
Members of the Masters community voted for pumpkins in the following categories: most creative, most funny, most spooky, most life science-themed and best in show. Winners will be announced next week.
“Plant Cell” by Katherine Anderson ’27 was “a flower in a mini jail cell.” Instead of recreating a plant’s actual cell, she “carved bars to make a jail cell for the ‘criminal’ plant.” Anderson created her display by “cutting bars out all around the pumpkin and putting a faux flower and leaf in a cup” which she painted to look like a prison uniform. Anderson concluded: “Life science can be creative and not just serious.”
Sam Barek ’27 took a more traditional, Halloween-inspired route with his aptly named “Classical Pumpkin.” He adorned the winter squash with triangle eyes, a nose and a smile. “I learned about the different layers of the pumpkin while I was dissecting it: the skin, the fleshy inside, the seeds, and the other things inside the somewhat hollow center,” he explained.
Members of the Masters community voted for pumpkins in the following categories: most creative, most funny, most spooky, most life science-themed and best in show. Winners will be announced next week.
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