Mole Day (Observered)

I suppose that most of the academic world celebrated Mole Day on Friday since last week was National Chemistry Week.  Friday was busy for us, so Hubby's classes are celebrating Mole Day today.  If you have no idea what Mole Day is, you're in good company.  Probably 99.9% of the population has never heard of it, but you can read more about it in my post from last year here.

In coming years, Hubby may do more to celebrate National Chemistry Week and Mole Day, but for now the main way he celebrates with them is by bringing in Periodic Table Cookies/Graham Crackers.  Mostly it's a way to do something fun with his science classes and hopefully help them think class is that much more interesting.  (Hubby has his PhD in chemistry and I have a B.A. in chemistry education, so we are definitely a house of chemistry nerds...we have to let it show sometimes.)

We made cookies last year, but opted for graham crackers this year.  I'm sure the cookies tasted a little better...but when you're making that many, it sure it easier to use graham crackers.

Hubby opted to set them up as a full periodic table with the lanthanide and actinide series in their proper places, rather than as a footnote at the bottom of the table.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, don't worry...it basically just means it's more stretched out.

It's quite possible that no one reading this has a chemistry class or any reason why you would ever make a full periodic table out of graham crackers...but in case you do here are a few tips.

• One batch of frosting was plenty
• Buy plenty of extra graham crackers because there are sure to be some that crack or break in a shape other than square.
• Don't make the tip too big or it gets hard to fit everything on.  (I just piped the frosting with a ziploc bag with a hole snipped in the corner, but I'll probably use a piping bag next year for more consistency.)
• Be sure to have something ready to display them on.  We used 3 tri-fold display boards covered with aluminum foil.
• Drive REALLY slowly dropping them off to the school.

And for those who suggested that perhaps periodic table cookies are not enough to commemorate such an important day, here are a few other options...

Hubby went off to school today in style wearing a tie bar with Avogadro's number (you can order them here from Boutique Academia).  He got this for his birthday present...too bad I forgot to get a picture of him wearing it before he went out the door.

 Or the American Chemical Society has some fun things.  You might want to pick up a Meg A. Mole Doll...

...or buy a box of Nano-Moles to give to all your friends.

If your kid is into the silly band crazy, they might like these chemistry themed silly bands...