Devotional: Ancient Wisdom
Remember the days of old; consider the years of past generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will teach you.
Deuteronomy 32:7
We are blessed to be living in the Age of Information, in which almost any knowledge we seek seems to be just a click away on the internet. In these times, it can be easy to feel a sense of intellectual superiority over those of generations past, who did not have the benefit of scientific breakthroughs that came only later.
However, those who came before us were not as devoid of scientific knowledge as we assume. In fact, since they were lacking in such modern distractions as screen time, office work, and extracurriculars, they were often more in tune with natural phenomena than we are today, despite not having studied them in the classroom. We see confirmation of this in the Bible, which shows that ancient people knew about such things as the Earth floating in space (Job 26:7) and the water cycle (Job 36:27–28).
Moreover, those who came before us have something those of us alive today are still developing: the knowledge that only comes from experience. Rather than assuming we know so much more today, we would do well to remember that much of our knowledge today was passed down from those who came before us, and we still have much to learn from them.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for gifting so many wise ones with knowledge that has been passed down to make our lives easier today. Amen.
When in Science?
When did our biggest breakthroughs in science occur? The answers may be earlier or later than you think! Download our free printable game “When In Science” to find out.
Instructions
- Print the game front and back on card stock.
- Cut the cards apart (there are 8 cards per page) and mix them together, taking care to keep the side of the cards with the dates facing the bottom.
- Read each event and try to place them in order of occurrence from the beginning of the world to modern day.
- Flip the cards over and see how close you were!
Old Timey Plastic
Question
Does plastic come from nature?
Research
Most plastics used today are made from synthetic polymers (manmade molecules) that are not found in nature, but one of the first plastics used in the early 1900s was made from milk! In fact, this “milk plastic” was once used to make jewelry for Queen Mary of England.
Hypothesis
What do you think will happen when you add vinegar (an acid) to milk?
Experiment
Materials
- An adult helper
- One cup milk
- Small pot
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Food coloring (optional)
- 4 teaspoons white vinegar
- Strainer
- Candy mold (optional)
Procedure
With an adult’s help, heat the milk in a small pot on the stove until it is steaming, but not boiling. Pour the milk into the mixing bowl and stir in the food coloring, if desired. Add the vinegar and stir until clumps form, then strain off the liquid. Allow the remaining clumps to cool enough to handle, then press into mold or use your hands to shape it. Leave to harden for a few days.
Analysis
To make this a true experiment, try varying the recipe. Does this process work on other milks (low-fat or soy)? Does it work with different acids (lemon juice or orange juice)?
Conclusion
The vinegar mixed with the whey (the liquid) in the milk, but not the casein (the protein). The casein is the clumps that were left behind after pouring off the liquid and is usually used to make cheese. When left unprocessed and allowed to dry, it becomes a hard, plastic-like substance.
