The science teacher just sent me an email. The science teacher from last year has donated the following items for an edible plant cell activity to do on MONDAY. He wanted me to make substitutions. HELP!

Cell Wall- Graham Crackers - they only need 2 sections
Chloroplasts- Green M&M's (only 2)
Nucleus- Whopper (just 1)
Mitochondria- Black Jelly Belly (just 1)
Cell Membrane- Twizzler Pull-n-Peel (just 1 strand)
Cytoplasm- vanilla frosting (enough to cover the graham cracker)
Vacuoles- grape jelly (just 1 small blob)

On a side note the former science teacher who donated the food is the grandmother of the ring leader of the kids who threw bread on my son's lunch the first day back to school after he was diagnosed and the mother of the woman who didn't think it was any big deal that she decided to serve pizza at the end of her son's birthday party instead of the beginning (like she had told me when I called to check on when to have my son's pizza to the party). What is up with this family?!?!?!

Another option is to just keep him home until after science. I don't think it's that great of an teaching activity anyway. (But that's probably just my emotions talking.) But it is an option. He has PE then science, so all he'd miss would be PE and the activity.

HELP!!!!

I am not able to offer substiutions only another possible alternative. My son was in special education for many years (not celiac). On a number of occasions he was given or I requested an alternative project. Your son could do this in the library during science. My concern with this project is that there will be graham cracker crumbs everywhere in the classroom.

Best of luck.

I would keep him home, if all he'd miss is this activity, and go over the lesson with him so he knows what he needs to when he gets back to school..... then sit down and have a safe snack with him before returning him to school

Yes.

Perhaps you could find some other visual aid so he has the same 3D understanding of cell structure that the other kids are going to get from doing this activity. I actually think this would be an excellent learning tool if they used something other than food!

Whether or not you decide to make his teacher aware of the family history of the previous science teacher, I would make extra sure the current teacher fully understands the level of cleaning that has to be done before it is safe for your son to return to the class room. It might even be wise to look for "crumbs of sabotage" if the other kid is in the same class.

Why do schools think our kids need more junk food to learn?! Argh!

Any gluten-free cookie instead of graham cracker (maybe ginger snaps)
M&Ms should be okay, right?
Are Hershey kisses okay?
Jelly Bellys are gluten-free
no idea what to use for the licorice maybe a fruit snack type product?
Pillsbury vanilla frosting is okay
Welch's Grape Jelly is okay

Here's last year's ROCK candy list if that helps at all: http://files.meetup.com/30853/gluten-free%20Candy%2...ober%202007.pdf

Cell Wall- gluten-free graham crackers you bake at home. here is a recipe we used for gingerbread houses with my son's class. If it were me, i would volunteer to make enough for the whole class so there are no gluten crumbs, but that's just how I roll.
Chloroplasts- Green M&M's - these are gluten-free
Nucleus- Gumball - many brands are gluten-free, and can be purchased in a bag at places like Wal-Mart
Mitochondria- Black Jelly Belly - These are gluten-free
Cell Membrane- Cut a fruit roll or Fruitabu into strips or use gluten-free licorice like Candy Tree
Cytoplasm- Provide your own tub of vanilla frosting labeled withhis name. Pillsbury was gluten-free the last time I bought it, but read the label to be sure.
Vacuoles- Provide your own jar of Jelly labeled with his name. The squeeze kind would work great.

He should work in his own workspace on a placemat, and have his own implements like a knife. I really think it's doable. Any way you could volunteer to help out for the activity? I would not keep my child home if the activity could be controlled with appropriate gluten-free substitutions. Kids have to learn to navigate in the world, and most of it will not be gluten-free. I tell my son he can do whatever he wants to do, but we will make whatever modifications are necessary. Being gluten-free should not keep our kids from participating in classroom activities.

Think of the emotional part your son will face. There would be less if he stayed home. I think you should put all the ideas posted so far, together and do the project at home and then eat those gluten-free goodies. You could take pics and have your son write up something to show he did the work. I think he should be excused for the absence but still do the work. That way he won't use it over and over to get out of something in the future.

Thank you for all the great suggestions. Here's how the rest of the afternoon went...

I looked for gluten free graham crackers for the whole class. None available locally. Checked online found a couple brands and decided to try Grainless Baker - based on reviews they sounded like a good bet. Unfortunately they couldn't get them delivered here until Tuesday and that was going to cost $40 in shipping!

So I emailed the teacher with a couple choices - I'd buy gluten-free grahams for whole class, but would only pay regular shipping. OR My son could skip school that day and the room would have to be cleaned that night.

He was great! He said neither option was acceptable. He said our son was never to miss school for something like this. He said he'd always find another way. For this he said they'd use fruit roll ups instead of graham crackers. He was so fantastic. He said it might be funny for them to try to frost a fruit roll up, but they'd manage. So I offered to buy fruit roll ups for the whole class and would provide all the rest of the ingredients for my son. He had told me he was nervous about our son using any of the supplies the old teacher sent in - he said she mixed everything together and he was worried about cross contamination of the things like the M&Ms that he could have. And I'm not worried about the other kids having the other non-gluten-free items. My son won't eat them. It was just the crumbs from the graham crackers that were freaking me out. 9 year olds are not the cleaness creatures on earth and they sit in groups with all of their desks pushed together like one big table.

Anyway, it all ends well. I'm so glad his teacher is so understanding. And, I'm sure the grandma didn't even think of the implications on us. It's just a coincidence that that family has been the biggest headache we've had to deal with since diagnosis.

Thank you again for the quick responses this afternoon. I didn't have to time to reply, but I was reading them and they were helping. I love this forum and particularly the parent section. There are so many times that you really need a fellow Celiac or Celiac parent to help you through the hurdles you face. OK, better go before I get all teary eyed - for a good reason this time!!

Good to hear the teacher is understanding...and will be in the future too!

How wonderful to have an understanding teacher! I am sure that makes your son relieved as well.