If you can't change it, it's immutable. There are
many things in life that are immutable; these
unchangeable things include death, taxes, and
the laws of physics.
The adjective immutable has Latin roots that mean "not changeable." The Latin prefix for not
is in, but the spelling changes when the prefix is put before the consonant m. It is imbefore a
root word starting with m as in immutable. If you learn this rule, you'll know the immutable fact
that immutable begins with i-m-m.
Pronunciation: [ih-myoo-tuh-buh l]
DEFINITIONS AND USAGE EXAMPLES

not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature; unalterable
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syn: changeless, fixed, permanent, constant
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Scientists once believed that long-term memories were immutable.
Physics is an exacting science, bound by immutable laws that are true throughout our universe.
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The outer sphere of fixed stars was retained and held to be immutable.
Other Forms: Nouns: Immutability, Immutableness
Adverb: Immutably
Directions:
Discuss the meaning of the word with your students, with special emphasis on any variations or
nuances of the word specific to your discipline. Consider taking it a step further by using one or all of
the following ideas as you involve students with the new vocabulary. Remember to preview all
content you intend to share with students. Not all items on the lists provided below are
appropriate for all classes or age levels.
There are eight (7) activity ideas:
Click on the picture to link to the article.

(Social Studies/English/Art) From BBC.com, 14 April 2014
“'Haunting' Art by Jewish Children in WW2
Concentration Camp.”
Helga Weissova, who was 14 when she was liberated, painted the girls'
dorm ahead of an inspection by the Red Cross
“A collection of sketches [5 pictures included in this article] by Jewish
children who were held at a concentration camp in the former
Czechoslovakia during World War Two is going on show at a Lancashire gallery. The images offer an insight into the
experiences of the children, many of whom later died in Nazi death camps.
When art is described as ‘truly haunting’, it is usually because the artist has captured something immutable.” Discuss
with your students what the “something immutable” is that has been captured in each of these sketches.

(Science) Check out these two related articles on brain development and its
immutable, or not-so-immutable laws.
“Do Brain Workouts Work? Science Isn’t Sure”
By TARA PARKER-POPE, MARCH 10, 2014
For centuries, scientists believed that most brain development occurred in
the first few years of life — that by adulthood the brain was largely
immutable. But over the past two decades, studies on animals and humans
have found that the brain continues to form new neural connections
throughout life.
From The International New York Times, Wired Well section
Click on the picture to link to the article.
Click on the picture to link to the article.
MIND Reviews: Smarter
Books and recommendations from Scientific American, MIND
Dec 19, 2013 |By Daisy Yuhas
Psychologists have long believed that fluid intelligence, or the ability to learn
and solve problems, is essentially immutable.
“As journalist Hurley explains in Smarter, the work of Jaeggi, Buschkuehl and
others has sparked a revolution in how we think about intelligence. In recent
years evidence has mounted that certain interventions could benefit people of
average or high ability or prevent cognitive decline associated with aging and
disease.”

(Business/Computer Tech.)
From Forbes, ENTREPRENEURS 5/06/2014
“Video Is for Business: The 'Sizzle Secrets' for Video and
Webcast Success”
“The typical video presentations? You tell the audience how you’re going to
bore them. Then you bore them. Then you tell them how you bored
Click on the picture to link to the article.
them.” – Doug Jefferys (tongue in cheek)
There’s an immutable fact emerging in business communications, according to new findings by Mass.-based market
research firm Wainhouse Research: Online video rocks. In 2013, business users viewed 1.12 billion hours of live video in
online webcast events drawing 25 or more attendees.
 Includes 10 tips for helping to get more skilled and comfortable about the realities of appearing online.

Video presentation of discussion with BizVision CEO

(Music/Science)
“To Tug Hearts, Music First Must Tickle
the Neurons.”
“While there may be some consensus about what makes
music expressive, performers say it is hardly immutable.”
“…some scientists are aiming to … understand and quantify
what makes music expressive — what specific aspects make
one version of, say, a Beethoven sonata convey more emotion
than another.
The results are contributing to a greater understanding of how
the brain works and of the importance of music in human
development, communication and cognition, and even as a
potential therapeutic tool. Research is showing, for example, that
our brains understand music not only as emotional diversion, but
also as a form of motion and activity.
Click on the picture to link to the article.
Includes:
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an interactive feature: “What Makes Music Expressive?”
video: “How Musicians Communicate Emotions”
video: “A Brain on Chopin”
From The International New York Times, Science section, 18 April 2011

(Science)
“Favorite Physics Demonstrations” from Cornell University. The
immutable laws of physics in demonstrations and products
from Educational Innovations! Singing Rod! Air Zooka! Tornado
Tubes! Sound Tubes! A Hand-Cranked generator!
Several demonstrations described and videos included.
From Teachersource.com
Click on the picture to link to the article.

(Science/Ecology)
Discuss the Four Laws of Ecology:
The Four Laws of Ecology
Formulated by physicist and ecologist, Barry Commoner.
The Four Laws of Ecology
Formulated by physicist and ecologist, Barry Commoner.
1) Everything is connected to everything else - humans and other species are connected/dependant
on a number of other species.
2) Everything must go somewhere - no matter what you do, and no matter what you use, it has to go
somewhere. For example, when you burn wood, it doesn't disappear, it turns into smoke which rises
into the air, and ash, which falls back down to the earth.
3) Nature knows best - Like it says, nature knows best. As much as you think it might help a place by
repainting it, you are submitting the fumes into the air and into your lungs. Why not put siding on it?
4) There is no such thing as a free lunch - Everything you do, must have a reson behind it. For
example, a class pizza party. In order to win the party, you have to fill out a survey, and submit it back
to your teacher. This law basically means you have to do something in order to get something in return.
1) Everything is connected to everything else - humans and other species are connected/dependant on a
number of other species.
and submit it back to your teacher. This law basically means you have to do something in order to get something
in return.
Other Ideas
 discuss Immutable Classes in Java Script and/or C+
 Discuss these ideas: