Hair Cell Model Activity

Pipe Cleaner Advice
The first instinct anyone has when handed a pipe cleaner is to make something out of it. For this reason, it is critical to manage the distribution and use of the pipe cleaners carefully so that building the hair cell model activity will go smoothly.

Classroom Distribution
First, explain that you are going to be passing out pipe-cleaners, and instruct the students to leave them on their desk or table and not touch them. Identify a helper and pass out 4-5 pipe cleaners to each student as efficiently as possible. Try to be equal in numbers, so that one student doesn’t have more than another. Some instructors prepare in advance and stack the pipe cleaners in opposite directions, in groups of 4-5 to eliminate the need to count them in the classroom.

Pickup
Once the hair cell model activity is over, collect all the used pipe cleaners. Often teachers will want to reuse them for crafts within the class or give them to the art teacher. Other options are to donate used pipe cleaners to nursing homes for craft projects.