Tomorrow, the teens in my Co-op Biology class are doing the Catalase Enzyme Lab—finally. Usually, the kids prepare the yeast-sodium alginate spheres. Not this class. The kids and my husband want everything organized as much as possible. I prepped everything into kits. (I like to show reality in my photos. We really do these labs!) Yes, we’ll go over directions AND watch a video with instructions. There will still be one or more confused teen. The kids are smart; they are just at an age when they need very clear directions.
Science Classes
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Measure the Speed of Light
My husband, Rob, teaches Physics. I don’t. But I do save random labs for him. Did you know you can measure the speed of light with marshmallows, Peeps, chocolate bars, or Frixion pens? Neither did I! There was a post a Chemistry group trying to trouble-shoot the lab. So, I did a little research. Here is a marshmallow lab with clear instructions. The video below and these instructions explain how to use a chocolate bar. Lastly, here is a video and written post about using Frixion or thermochromic ink pens. BTW Rob is pretty excited about this little discovery.
Monday, November 4, 2024
Family Science: Incubate Eggs!
Every year, I have students who are interested in chickens. Many of my friends keep chickens. Do you incubate eggs? Here is a 4H article about selecting an incubator. See if you can borrow one. Check with the local, Extension Office first and ask them for advice. Read Incubating guides carefully: the temperature and humidity are critical factors. Here is a teacher’s guide. This type of family project involves a tremendous amount of science. Take photos and keep detailed records. Be sure to add this project to your digital portfolio.
Slice and Dice!
Our Co-op relies on Apologia’s Exploring Creation in Biology textbooks; all three editions are good. Apologia is the foundation for instruction because I trust the content. I love to supplement! However, I have to examine every single resource. I want to avoid politics which can seep even into labs or activities. Let’s not have a lecture on Climate Change when I’m trying to teach the concept of a food web. Let’s skip the politics surrounding vaccines and focus on viral transmission at the cellular level. Every time I use a lab or an activity, I’m trying to sort through the dreck and find objective material. Slice and dice material! Adopt useful material and avoid dreck.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Family Science: Over-winter Plants
Our breakfast room is currently a jungle. We just brought in the plants. Some plants sold as annuals are really ‘tender’ perennials. You can over-winter these plants indoors: Begonias, Petunias, and Purple Heart. Geraniums, while annuals, can over-winter indoors as house plants, too. Next spring, we’ll buy a few more plants and give away some of the Purple Heart plants. For the next four months, we have lush greenery indoors. Make this a project. Have your family do a little research. Which plants can over-winter indoors? Would they be happier outside under a bed a mulch? We followed these instructions for our Canna bulbs and lost all of them. Instead, they are happier in our zone under a bed of mulch. Make this a project. Keep records. Take photos. Yes, this is science!
Friday, November 1, 2024
A bit more about thermometers…
I mentioned using digital thermometers the other day. The TI 84 graphing calculators have Vernier EasyData software preloaded on the calculators. Here is the download information from Texas Instruments (TI). Vernier produces scientific sensors and interfaces for college and school labs. Vernier sells EasyTemp which connects directly to the TI 84 calculator. (There is an USB adaptor, EasyLink, which allows older probes or sensors from Vernier to collect data. Here is a list of compatible data collection sensors.). EasyTemp, EasyLink and Vernier sensors are available used on eBay. I do have two EasyLinks; however, I bought several EasyTemp sensors just for the graphing calculators. I have several types of sensors; I use the temperature and pH most often. BTW, you can buy used TI 84 calculators for less than $30 used at Good Will online. I only bid on tested models with reasonable shipping.
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Enzyme Lab #1
I did some desperately needed direct instruction about cells, cell theory, etc. (I still need to do cell transport.) We did do an introduction to enzymes with The Need for Speed—A Look at Enzyme Activity. This is our first discussion about enzymes. This activity took the class about 45 minutes; they didn’t finish the questions. The hand is the enzyme and the pennies are the substrate.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Thermometers
Thermometers can be expensive. I like to have a set of plastic or metal backed thermometers to Science Camp or Outreach events. If you have a TI 84 graphing calculator, you can use Easy Temp and make a digital thermometer. The Go!Temp thermometers plug into the USB connector on any laptop or Chromebook. Do you want to use your laptop near a lab experiment? Below are a variety of prices for a wide range of thermometers, all useful for lab.
Family Science Halloween Candy Labs
Tomorrow is Halloween. I love candy labs! Everyone is engaged! The mini-bags are terrific for samples. Be sure to call dibs on some of your kids’ Halloween candy for labs: Skittles Percent Composition lab, Floating Letters, Dancing Raisins, Candy Corn Science, Reece Pieces, M&M Experiments, M&M Math, Candy Sink or Float, Candy Pumpkin Catapult, Exploding Peep Geysers, Mechanics with Candy, Growing Gummy Bears, Invisible Licorice, Test Halloween Candy for Glucose, and Testing Candy Strength. Yes, the Algebra I class is doing the M&M lab tomorrow. Fun, right?
Monday, October 28, 2024
Physical Science: Introduction to Sound
I’ve taught Physical Science many times. Sound is one of those units that seems daunting. Start with simple labs. Start here. These lab stations are just a series of simple, sound activities, such as playing a tune with glasses of water. Here is an elementary level intro using a tuning fork. This tuning fork lab suggests putting a little food dye in the water, which helps. Now, try Sound, a series of ‘Snacks’ from the Exploratorium, such as Bee Hummer, which the kids did at Science Camp. Try Organ Pipe; the apparatus can be used to measure The Speed of Sound, which is really more of a Physic lab. One more tip. Sometimes, when you’re plowing through an unfamiliar topic in Physical Science, you, your husband, or your kid might not get the concept entirely. Fall back on some of the simpler labs and concepts. For example, you might understand that a siren is an example of the Doppler effect and struggle to define it. Try a few more hands-on labs and then move on! Things may become clearer when you teach the next kid.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Catalase Lab with Sodium Alginate Beads
Update: I won’t get to this lab until next week. I have to do some direst instruction, show kids how to graph data in a spreadsheet, and check up on lingering assignments.
I have a larger Co-op class with younger kids: four older teens and ten eighth or ninth graders. Consequently, I’m doing more prep for lab. Thursday I want to do a Catalase Lab with hydrogen peroxide to demonstrate enzyme activity. Usually, the kids enjoy making Gel Beads or sodium alginate spheres. This group is easily confused. So, I had to research whether or not the spheres can be prepared in advance. This page recommends taking out prepared spheres and string them in tap water in the fridge for two days before class. It recommends against storing beads in the calcium acetate (or calcium lactate) solution—which was my original plan. I’m hedging my bet. I’ll make up extra solutions of both sodium alginate (and yeast) and calcium lactate to use in class if the beads dissolve. I’ll let you know how things work out on Thursday.
Catalase Enzyme Lab
Tomorrow, the teens in my Co-op Biology class are doing the Catalase Enzyme Lab —finally. Usually, the kids prepare the yeast-sodium alg...
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One common anatomy lab is Urinalysis. When I was an undergrad, the students were instructed to avoid caffeine for 48 hours before the Uri...
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The Co-op is reviewing for a series of cell quizzes and beginning with paper plate cell cycle models and mitosis with yarn. The first t...