Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

MIMAROPA Region

Schools Division of Palawan

Roxas National Comprehensive High School

Brgy. New Barbacan, Roxas, Palawan

FOUR O’CLOCK (Mirabili jalapa) SEEDS

as an

ALTERNATIVE CHALK

Researcher:

JESIEL MAE T. BORRES

Research Consultant:

Ms. JERLIE R. HERRERA

 Introduction

Using chalk is very important because at the particular level, it’s much cheaper

than whiteboard markers, and most classrooms already have chalkboards. Chalk is also

preferred by some educators, because they believe writing with chalk slows down the

pace, allowing students to better follow the lesson and more easily take notes.

According to Brown (2018) using chalkboards in teaching improves teaching

effectiveness, classroom management and student academic success. Writing on a

chalkboard makes it easier to control the pace of a lecture because it encourages

making students understand the lessons better. Teaching with chalk is especially an

advantage for teachers of students with mixed learning abilities.

According to a University of Michigan study on note taking, student’s note are

often incomplete and / or inadequate, providing note on a chalkboard increases the

chances of students taking correct notes. Students may also take turns writing and

answering questions, physically identifying areas of confusion or presenting alternative

perspectives on the chalkboard that may help their fears.

(West 2012) chalk has been used from very early on and the natural chalk

rock was used to create some of the earliest cave drawings that we know. However,

today we do not use as much natural chalk to write with, but chalk sticks that we are

made from calcium sulfate in; dehydrate from gypsum. A chalk were originally made

from the sedimentary rock of the same name; a form of soft limestone. Today, chalk and

chalkboard chalk are made from gypsum, as it’s more common and easier to work with

(Sheridan 2012).
 In the rest of the country, Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) is considered an

annual. It begins to bloom in early summer and will continue until the frost in higher

zones, but it can bloom longer in warmer areas. The large and black seeds that

resemble miniature grenades are easy to spot because Four O’clock don’t develop a

seed pod. Four O’clock flourishes in a full-to-full-sun area and is best planted where you

can enjoy the heady fragrance. Four O’clock has many benefits, especially for medical

uses, such as being used to cure inflammation, wounds, gonorrhea, dysentery,

diarrhea, muscular pain, abdominal colic, itching skin infections, liver infections,

diabetes, colds, and flu (Sylvia 2019).

Based on Nidavani et, al. (2014) this plant contains several compound, some of

which has been isolated from its parts, such as alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates,

flavonoids, phytosterols (beta-sitostel and stigmasterol), ursolic acid, olenolic acid,

brassicasterol, trigonelline, and others. And its seeds have nuerotoxic chemicals. This

plant has a poisonous effect on the body and should not be ingested at any cost.

The objectives of this study are: (1) To determine the effectiveness of using Four

O’clock seeds as alternative chalk. (2) To determine if it has negative effect for persons

with asthma and allergy. (3) To determine if Four O’clock seeds as chalk leaves stain

and dust.

The researcher came up with this study to create an environmental friendly chalk

using Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds and may help teachers, students and to

people who uses chalks. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Four

O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds as an alternative chalk product.

 More certainly, this research seeks to answer the following questions:

1. How effective is the Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds chalk in terms of writing

it on chalkboards?

2. Is their any negative effect that may acquired in using chalk for persons with

asthma and allergy?

3. Does Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seed chalk leaves stain and dust after using?

The researcher also formulated a null hypothesis that there is no significant

relationship between the effectiveness of writing Four O’clock seeds as chalk on

chalkboards. There is no significant relationship between the negative effects of using

Four O’clock seeds as chalk for people with asthma and allergies. There is no

significant relationship between Four O’clock chalk leaving stain and dust after using.

This study focused on the effectiveness and effects of using Four O’clock

(Mirabilis jalapa) seeds as substitute chalk. Conducted to determine how effective, what

are the negative effect to people with asthma and allergies and if this alternative chalk

leaves stain and dust after using.

The respondents are students of Roxas National Comprehensive High School

who are enrolled in SY 2022-2023.

 The research was conducted as a direct verbal interaction between the

researcher and respondents, who were requested to fill out the questionnaire.

This research study was conducted at Borres Residence in Barangy 1 Roxas,

Palawan, from May to June 2023.

Methodology

This page will cover the preparations and methods used in this study,

which include the creation of the chalk and the preparation of the materials and

ingredients and the location of the experiment. The process will be demonstrated by

elaborating on the steps taken to form the chalk.

The following materials and equipments were used throughout the study:

Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds, cornstarch, water, pliers, a strainer, foil, a

tablespoon, a bowl, and a mortar and pestle. To make the Four O’clock seeds

(Mirabilis jalapa) into chalk, all of the said materials were gathered.

Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds as the main ingredient were from Brgy. 3

Roxas, Palawan.

And the rest of the materials and ingredients are from Borres Residence at Brgy.

1 Roxas, Palawan.
 The beginning of forming a chalk starts by collecting the seeds of Four O’clock

(Mirabilis jalapa) at Brgy. 1 Roxas, Palawan. Using pliers, cracked the seed to remove

the shell which is the outer layer of the seed, pulverized the Four O’clock seeds until

they became fine powder, and set them aside in a container. Then, mix the pulverized

powder with one tablespoon of cornstarch and add one table spoon of water and stir

until it becomes casually consistency and at the right ratio to the quantity of the mixture.

After mold the mixture into the molder to the desired size, finally place it outside, but not

in direct sunlight, and wait until it dries up. Then it is ready to be used. The study took

place at Borres Residence in Brgy. 1 Roxas, Palawan on May 27, 2023.

The sampling used in this study was Simple random sampling, which is a

randomly selected subset of a population. In this sapling method, each member of the

population has exactly equal chance of being selected. The aim of simple random

sampling is to reduce the potential for human bias in the selection of cases to be

included in the sample (Thomas 2020).

Data Collection

The researcher’s survey method that was involved in the collection of data was

direct verbal interaction between the researcher and the respondents. The respondents

were requested to fill out the questionnaire that contains the researcher-formulated

questions. The statistical tool used in this study is Likert scale. A Likert scale (typically)

provides five possible answers to a statement or question that allows respondents to

indicate their positive or negative strength of agreement or strength of feeling regarding

the question or statement (Mcleod 2023).

 Results and Discussion

This chapter presents the result, analysis and interpretation of data which

provide the basis for the researcher’s conclusion and recommendation.

Table 1: Effectivity of Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds in terms of writing it on

chalkboards.

Four O’clock

Respondents (Mirabilis jalapa) Normal Chalk

Scale Interpretation
seeds chalk
1 Not Effective
1 3 4
2 Less Effective
2 5 5
Moderately
3 4 4 3 Effective
4 3 3
Slightly Effective
5 5 3 4

TOTAL 20 19 5 Very Effective

AVERAGE 4 3.8

The table above shows that respondent 1 and respondent 4 rated 3 as

moderately effective, respondent 2 and 5 rated 5 as very effective, and respondent 3

rated 4 as slightly effective for Four O’clock seed chalk. In total, the sum of Four O’clock

seed chalk is 20 by all respondents, with an average of 4, which is interpreted as slightly

effective. And for normal chalk, respondents 1 and 3 rated 4 as slightly effective,
respondent 2 rated 5 as very effective, respondent 4 and respondent 5 rated 5 as

moderately effective, and in total normal chalk has a rating of 19, and has an average of

3.8 which is interpreted as moderately effective.

Table 2: Negative effects of using Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds for people

with asthma and allergies

Respondents Asthma Allergy

(One Chalk) (One Chalk)

1 2 3

2 3 2 LEGEND

3 2 3 1 Has Effect

2 Has Moderately
4 2 3
Effect

5 2 3 3 No Effect

TOTAL 11 14

AVERAGE 2.2 2.8

Based on the table above, respondents 1, 3, 4, and 5 rated 2 moderately has

effect and respondent 2 rated 3 as no effect with people that have asthma using one

chalk of Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds, which has a total of 11 and has an

average of 2.2, which is interpreted as no effect for people with asthma. And respondent

1, 3, 4 and 5 rated 3 as no effect, and respondent 2 rated 2 as has moderately effect on

people that have allergies while using one chalk of Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds
with a total of 14 and has an average of 2.8 falls under being interpreted as having no

effect on people that have allergies.

Table 3: Testing of Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds as chalk leaving stain

and dust.

Table 3.1: Stain

Respondents Stain

1 2
LEGEND
2 3

3 3 1 Leaves Stain

4 3 2 Moderately leaving stain

5 3 3 No Stain

TOTAL 14

AVERAGE 2.8

Based on the table above, respondent 1 rated 2 as moderately leaving stains,

and respondent 2, 3, 4, and 5 rated 3 as no satin, and it got a total of 14 and has 2.8 n

average and interpreted as moderately leaves stain when using Four O’clock (Mirabilis

jalapa) chalk.
 Table 3.2: Dust

Respondents Dust

1 3
LEGEND
2 2
1 Dusty
3 3 2 Neutral
4 2 3 Dustless
5 3

TOTAL 12

AVERAGE 2.4

The table above shows that respondent 2 and 5 rated 2 as neutral and 1,

3, and 5 as dustless, and in total it got 12 and has an average of 2.4 which is interpreted

as neutral having dust while writing or using.

 Conclusion

Recommendation
 Based on the results of experiments done with the chalk made using Four

O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa) seeds, the researcher wishes to recommend the product to the

following:

To teachers, who uses chalk during lessons and students who enjoy using chalk

for calligraphy, drawings and more.

For local community, and other who use chalks, to researchers and manufacturer

findings for this study will give them more idea about Four O’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)

seeds as an alternative chalk. This study can be used as a atarting point for further

research.

Acknowledgement

The researcher would like to thank our almighty God for giving me the knowledge

wisdom, strength, and guidance while fulfilling this research study and to everyday life.

To the researchers beloved family who were there for her to support, assist, and

take care of throughout this journey, for financial help and for being an inspiration, and

who also served to be her strength in her weakest points.

 To the researcher’s consultant Ms. Jerlie R. Herrera for invaluable supervision,

support, suggestions, patience, and active presence during the course of the research

study.

The researcher would also like to thank her friends especially to crammers and to

the past group on Science Investigatory Project, to the researcher’s classmates, to Ms.

Irene G. Bungalso for giving brilliant ideas and comments.

For all the people who help, including the authors that is considered and has

been the sources of ideas and serves foundation for this study, Thank you.

References