Online Extras : Past Online Extras :

Thumbs Up Experiment and Data Table
By John Cowens

The following experiment compares the importance of using our thumbs and fingers versus no thumb and only fingers.

To read John Cowens' related article "Thumbs Up for the Thumb" click here.

List of Materials:

  • Several rolls of masking tape
  • Small paper plates
  • Popcorn
  • Crayons
  • Scissors
  • Package of index cards
  • Articles of clothing that button
  • Shoes with laces
  • Pencils
  • White paper
  • Several dimes
  • Articles of clothing that have zippers
  • Eating utensils (fork, spoon, butter knife)
  • Plastic drinking cup
  • Chopsticks
  • Peanut butter jars
  • Tennis ball
  • Sewing needle and thread
  • Small paper clips
  • Carrots
  • Combs for each student
  • Balloons
  • Ziploc bags
Data Table #1
Tasks
1=very difficult
2=difficult
3=easy
4=very easy
Opposable Thumbs Unopposable Thumbs (Taped)
Ease Rating Thumb Involvement Time Ease Rating Time
1. Write your name on an index card          
2. Button and unbutton an article of clothing.          
3. Untie and tie shoe.          
4. Pick up a dime.          
5. Pick up 5 paperclips simultaneously.          
6. Pick up a drinking glass.          
7. Open and close a door using the doorknob.          
8. Use chipsticks.          
9. Turn to a certain page in a textbook.          
10. Pick up and eat several kernels of popcorn.          
11. Cut 2.5 cm wide strip off an index card with scissors.          
12. Draw a cartoon character and color it.          
13. Take a screw lid off a peanut butter jar.          
14. Pitch-and-catch with a tennis ball 10 meters apart.          
15. Thread a sewing needle.          
16. cut a raw carrot lengthwise with a fork and knife.          
17. Tear off a piece of masking tape 2.5 cm long.          
18. Comb your hair.          
19. Close a zip-loc bag.          
20. Blow up a balloon and tie a knot.          

To read John Cowens' related article "Thumbs Up for the Thumb" click here.

John Cowens teaches science at Fleming Middle School in Grants Pass, OR.

April 2004, Vol.34, No.7