Assign students a specific topic to cover in a research paper or allow them to come up with their own research proposals. For example, you might ask them why hair shafts are important and what would happen if people did not have them. You could also ask them to research hair shaft diseases, such as trichorrhexis nodosa, pili annulati and monilethrix. Require them to use both the Internet and library books to perform research for the project.
Students can go into the lab and work on some hair shaft experiments. For example, they can find out how strong a piece of hair is by taping a piece of hair to a pencil and then taping pennies to it. They can determine the strength by seeing how many pennies the piece of hair can hold. They should weigh the pennies to determine their weight. They will find that hair can hold about 20 pennies. For a forensics twist, have students analyze hair samples with a microscope to figure out which person each strand belongs to.
Ask students to create a model of the hair shaft, which includes three parts: the cuticle (outer most part), cortex (middle part) and the medulla (inner most part). Assign them a specific method of building or allow them to have creative freedom. They could construct a model out of clay, use a computer design program or draw a picture on a large piece of poster board. After all of the creations are complete, have the students present their models to the rest of the class.
Have students conduct interviews with specialists working at a local hair salon. Tell students that they need to ask these individuals which methods of hair care are best for protecting the hair shaft. For example, students can inquire about different brands of shampoo and conditioner, as well as how often hair should be trimmed and/or cut. Ask them to make a list of the best products and tips that the specialists recommend.