I used to think that I was a creative teacher… and I probably was/am… but the resources on VIPEr have opened my eyes to what true creativity can be…especially when you’re not afraid to let your students have a little fun with the science.

We are in the midst of symmetry and group theory in my sophomore level inorganic course right now.  As part of the last homework assignment, I modified Lori Watson’s Symmetry Scavenger Hunt  (https://www.ionicviper.org/class-activity/symmetry-scavenger-hunt) to make it part of a written assignment.  I don’t feel that I have enough time to let the students leave class for half a period to search for symmetry examples.  But it is a fun low pressure exercise to ask them to do it as a part of a homework assignment.  The availability of digital cameras and camera phones makes it even easier.  I require my students to snap a picture of their example objects and paste them into a word doc, which they then submit electronically via our CMS system.  I don’t allow student s to “make” objects or to find them on the computer; they must be found objects.  I’ve had some fun submissions, both correct and incorrect.