Worthwhile Science

I follow several science web sites: Flinn Scientific, TOPS Science, Fisher Scientific, and Steve Spangler Science.  I like their posts on Facebook.  Sometimes, they have timely labs, interesting science news, or funny safety posters.  (I like to scroll through on Facebook because I hate having my gmail inbox cluttered.)  This is one way to get more science ideas quickly.  Yes, I could occaisionally visit their web sites.  But frequent posts tend to prod me into action.  For example, today's post from Steve Spangler shared a link from The Quartz about the physics of Olympic athlete, Simone Biles.  It's also  a great way to get freebies!

Science Museum of Virginia Review

My husband, Rob, our favorite six year old, Paul, and I went to Richmond for a day trip.  We spent the morning at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, had lunch, and visited the Science Museum of Virginia, a few miles from the Gardens. We arrived just in time for rat basketball.  I think it was my favorite event all day.  (I love rats and had kept them as class pets until one of the staff asked me to breed them for his rat.  We had cages filled with rats, over 40 at one point.  After, we shipped a huge batch to the pet store, I swore off rats.  I couldn't take hearing one more teen tell me yet another rat had had yet another litter, with eight, or ten, or even fourteen pups.) I know you're asking where the science comes in with rats playing basketball; they're trained using operant conditioning.  The first floor has an exhibit, Speed.  Paul loved racing other children over and over on a track recording their speeds.  The first floor Speed exhibit is arguably the best in the museum. The Boost Lab was fun downstairs.  There was an interactive water filtering activity for kids.  The second floor labs were okay; some of the equipment in the Life exhibit on that floor was broken, which was disappointing.  The museum has a 'green roof', which is cool.  Rob and Paul like engineering and Physics best; this museum suits them well.  The only caveat is the price; at $13 for kids and $14 for adults, it's a pricey outing.

                               The museum is going to create a bottle lid mosaic.

Rat basketball.

                                              Green roof...

                                        Speed Exhibit...

Ball throw...

                                             Slow Motion...

Play the robot...

Richmond Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Review

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond have a Lego event on-going through September.  My husband, Rob, and our favorite six year old, Paul, went on a visit.  Paul is a Lego fan; we explained that this wasn't Brick fair.  There were many families, loads of grandparent and grandchildren.  We equipped Paul with a digital camera and were off.  Rob and I enjoy touring gardens; our favorites are Space For Life (Montreal Botanical Gardens) and Longwood Gardens.  The home-school group had sent along the link to promote a field trip to the gardens and the Lego event.  I checked the website and decided it might be interesting.  The gardens are lush and ideal for children.  There's an excellent butterfly room complete with magnifying glasses, crystalis, docents, and loads of butterflies--a number of species.  The grounds are immaculate; a legion of staff and volunteers manage the gardens.  The Lego sculptures were scattered through the grounds, including a frog on Lego lily pads.  In the educational center, there were tables set up with Legos for children to make mosaics and display their work on the wall.  We sat and sucked up the air conditioning for a half hour building with bricks.  The children's gardens are extensive with a treehouse, splash pad, climbing tree, garden shed, sand box, and playhouse.  If it hadn't been so hot, we might have stayed longer to play.  Paul took photos of everything. We all want to return another time it's not as hot. (The bottom two photos Paul took.)

Apologia Chemistry: It's not too early to plan for Mole Day!

October 23rd is Mole Day!  Yes, this is a real organization and a genuine celebration, requiring cookies, home-made moles, balloons, and temporary tattoos.  Look at this gallery of moles!  My Mole Day celebrations were fairly modest with hand-made mole competition, fun from this idea booklet, ideally, a mole cake or cookie, guacamole, chips, a whack-a-mole game, and awful jokes.

Apologia Chemistry: It's not too early to plan for Mole Day!

October 23rd is Mole Day!  Yes, this is a real organization and a genuine celebration, requiring cookies, home-made moles, balloons, and temporary tattoos.  Look at this gallery of moles!  My Mole Day celebrations were fairly modest with hand-made mole competition, fun from this idea booklet, ideally, a mole cake or cookie, guacamole, chips, a whack-a-mole game, and awful jokes.

Apologia Chemistry: It's not too early to plan for Mole Day!

October 23rd is Mole Day!  Yes, this is a real organization and a genuine celebration, requiring cookies, home-made moles, balloons, and temporary tattoos.  Look at this gallery of moles!  My Mole Day celebrations were fairly modest with hand-made mole competition, fun from this idea booklet, ideally, a mole cake or cookie, guacamole, chips, a whack-a-mole game, and awful jokes.

Apologia Chemistry: It's not too early to plan for Mole Day!

October 23rd is Mole Day!  Yes, this is a real organization and a genuine celebration, requiring cookies, home-made moles, balloons, and temporary tattoos.  Look at this gallery of moles!  My Mole Day celebrations were fairly modest with hand-made mole competition, fun from this idea booklet, ideally, a mole cake or cookie, guacamole, chips, a whack-a-mole game, and awful jokes.

Roller Coaster Physics

We were driving along the highway and passed an amusement park.  Have you heard of Amusement Park Physics?  Many parks offer either Physics or Science Days, often with special discounts: Six Flags Physics Day, Carowinds's Education Days, Kings Dominion Education Days, Hershey Park's School Trips, and Busch Gardens Launch into Physics.  NASA has an amusement park manual. I've taken groups to Kings Dominion to Science Days several times.  This park has teacher orientation programs in early spring.  I took part one year to learn how to use the horizontal and vertical accelerometers on rides.  The parks have science and even math manuals.  Caroline's and Kings Dominion host roller coaster model competition.  One year, one of the math teacher's at the school where I was teaching participated.  Home-school students who are avid in science should take a look at the manuals offered through the parks.  I have bought Amusement Park Physics kits for a class to construct their own accelerometers to bring and use at the park.  The only caveat is the cost; the Parks offer discounted tickets.  At $35 each, they aren't cheap!  When I taught in private schools, the administration promoted these types of field trips and had a budget set aside.  My husband and I are teaching a Co-op Physics class.  If we bring lunch, car pool, and Build DIY accelerometers, rather than buy a kit, we may be able to swing it next spring.  (Science Buddies has one type with plans. A protractor can be used for one type of accelerometer.). If we go, I want to enter the roller-coaster competition!d

Apologia Chemistry: Why so many posts?

Why so many recent posts?  This fall, I'm helping my husband teach Physics for a Co-op.  I know I'll be busy blogging Physics.  I like Chemistry and wanted to provide some of my favorite topics before fall and I get swamped coping with Physics.

Apologia Chemistry: Hydrates

Epsom salts, driveway salt, and blue stone are hydrates.  (Copper sulfate is anhydrous--no water and copper sulfate pentahydrate is a hydrate and has water in its formula.).   Calcium chloride dihydrate is one type of sidewalk deicer and Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, three of the chemicals we've been using for other experiments.  Let's save money!  How are these hydrates named?  Chem team explains.  Miami-Dade has a lab manual with a hydrate lab on pp.61-63.  Repeat these instructions for the other two hydrates.  I chose this version because it uses beakers and hot plates, tools which are more accessible for home-schoolers.  (I've used Pyrex test tubes and alcohol burners, too in my garage.). Buy Pyrex beakers!  They're heat tempered.  You'll need a digital balance.  Use cupcake papers or coffee filters to hold the chemicals when you weigh them.  Don't forget to zero the scale.  This subtracts the mass of the filter paper from the sample.

This lab illustrates percent composition and percent error.  Here is another, similar lab with an answer key, which is useful as a reference.  Here is how to calculate the percent of water in a hydrate.

Apologia Chemistry: Hydrates

Epsom salts, driveway salt, and blue stone are hydrates.  (Copper sulfate is anhydrous--no water and copper sulfate pentahydrate is a hydrate and has water in its formula.).   Calcium chloride dihydrate is one type of sidewalk deicer and Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, three of the chemicals we've been using for other experiments.  Let's save money!  How are these hydrates named?  Chem team explains.  Miami-Dade has a lab manual with a hydrate lab on pp.61-63.  Repeat these instructions for the other two hydrates.  I chose this version because it uses beakers and hot plates, tools which are more accessible for home-schoolers.  (I've used Pyrex test tubes and alcohol burners, too in my garage.). Buy Pyrex beakers!  They're heat tempered.  You'll need a digital balance.  Use cupcake papers or coffee filters to hold the chemicals when you weigh them.  Don't forget to zero the scale.  This subtracts the mass of the filter paper from the sample.

This lab illustrates percent composition and percent error.  Here is another, similar lab with an answer key, which is useful as a reference.  Here is how to calculate the percent of water in a hydrate.

Apologia Chemistry: Molar Mass

Before we can do the next lab, hydrates, we need to review molar mass.  Open the text and locate the periodic table; each element has a different atomic weight or atomic mass.  Carbon, C, has an atomic mass of 12.01. To calculate the molar mass of a compound, you add its atomic masses.  H2O, water has two hydrogen sulfide, H, each 1.01 and one oxygen, O, 16 each, for a total molar mass of 18.02 grams per mole. (I'll get to moles in another post.  It's better to learn how to do the calculations first and why last.). Practice! Of course there's a key to check your work!

Apologia Chemistry: Do you use the textbook?

I bet you're asking whether I use the textbook at all.  I have the kids read their modules.  Then, I use any number of resources I've accumulated to instruct the topic.  Then, I have the kids complete their modules and ask questions.  Often, the teens are better off waiting for instruction before working through the modules.  Chemistry is tough!  So, think about these posts as enhancements for the modules.  Yes, the kids do many of the labs in the text, along with scores of additional experiments.

Apologia Chemistry: Types of Chemical Reactions Continued

Now, that the kids have experienced a few types of chemical reactions, let's have them work through this activity from POGIL about types of chemical reactions. (Here's the answer key.). POGIL is an inquiry method that uses a limited amount of information to guides kids as they work through a concept.  Teachers love POGIL (Here are a few sample sample exercises.). I use them occasionally with students.  Now we return to Cavalcade for some worksheets with keys to practice identifying the types of chemical reactions correctly.  (Some teachers use five types of chemical reactions and others use six types.  An acid-base neutralization can be classified as a type of double replacement reaction. Also, some use displacement instead of replacement, and metathesis for double replacement, because you weren't confused enough.).

Apologia Chemistry: Types of Chemical Reactions

There are basic types of chemical reactions: single replacement, double replacement, synthesis, decomposition, combustion, acid-base neutralization.  Before any instructions in how to balance an equation, I think kids should see these types of chemical reactions.  Now, our goal is to locate simple, safe, inexpensive reactions.  This reaction types lab lays out the procedures. Flinn Sci's Reaction in a Bag uses calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and one new chemical, phenol red pH indicator solution.  (Plan ahead to order a few of these chemicals from Home Training Tools to save on shipping.  I always check Amazon, too.  Few other companies ship to homes or church sites.  Amazon and Home Training Tools will. Flinn's Reaction in a Bag requires 10 mL for each trial.  Scale back the amounts to stretch the Phenol red solution.). Neutralizing Acids and Bases is from the ACS Middle School series I've mentioned in several recent posts and uses citric acid and sodium carbonate (washing soda--not baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate), household chemicals useful for many of these labs.  This single replacement lab requires, steel wool, nails, and copper sulfate (or bluestone and can be purchased at some hardware stores or Home Training Tools.). Let the nail sit in the solution and note the color changes over a three day period.  The 'rust' coating the nail is pure copper.  Here's an explanation of this reaction.

Apologia Chemistry: Chemical Change

Chemical change is typically indicated by a change in color, or temperature, bubbles, or formation of a precipitate.  This Middle School lesson, Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions is quite extensive, has loads of demonstrations videos, and several activities.  The activity hand-out is six pages long.  The lab activities use many of the same household chemicals mentioned in previous posts: Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), washing soda ( sodium carbonate), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and driveway heat or deicer (calcium chloride--check the container to see if it's CaCl2 or NaCl).  Look in the detergent aisle for washing soda; like borax, one box should last all year.  Yes, like Dr. Wile in Apologia, I'm looking for labs which use household chemicals, but branching away from vinegar and baking soda a bit.

Apologia Chemistry: Equations

Another fundamental in Chemistry is equations.  If you're learning or teaching this material independently, I know from experience it isn't easy.  ACS has great introductory lessons with hands-on activities.  Color and cut out the atoms on this student sheet before you begin.  These lessons were written for Middle School teachers who don't have a background in science.  Mom, there's even a script!  The next lesson in this series requires vinegar, baking soda, Alka-Seltzer, and detergent, with a complete explanation, easy to understand activity sheet, and another script!  This Middle School Chemistry Series has over forty lessons, all safe and effective.

Apologia Chemistry: Chemical Reactions

The Apologia Chemistry textbook uses vinegar and baking soda for many of the experiements in the textbook.  That's all fine and well; teens want more.  Don't invest in expensive kits.  Instead, use household chemicals for reactions.  Start with a list of the names of household chemicals and their formulas.  Many household compounds won't be as pure as those purchased from a chemical supplier.  I've used them for labs successfully because they're so much cheaper.  Some items are only available seasonally, such as citric acid, for canning.  (Citric acid and baking soda are the key ingredients in Alka-Seltzer--check out these labs and substitute baking soda and citric acid. Their respective amounts are on the package.)  Avoid muriatic acid (hydrochloride acid) and lye or Draino (sodium hydroxide).  These chemicals are much too dangerous.  Do I use them?  Yes, once  I've safely diluted them to 0.1M concentrations from materials I purchased from Home Training Tools.  Unless you   have a strong background in Chemistry, stick with Middle School labs from ACS.  The labs are written for less experienced teachers and younger students.  Typically, the labs use household chemicals and have been vetted by professionals.  BTW, I use these labs, too!  Simple isn't stupid!  Let me close with one more lab: White Powder Lab.  These instructions include the following reagents and reactants: baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, water, iodine, and vinegar.  Add these powders to test: sugar, washing soda, salt, Tums, and Epsom salts.  Buy universal indicator solution to test for acids and bases.  Now, keep out all of the containers of white powders for the kids to test.  Use medicine droppers or pipets to drop the reagents: water, vinegar, iodine, and universal indicator.  I assemble a set of unknowns: the same powders in baby food jars marked and numbered.  I hide a key to the white powders.  The teens use the reagents to test the known powders and make notes.  Clever kids make a chart and repeat their tests a few times.  I also have them look up the chemical names for all of the powders, such as sodium bicarbonate for baking soda.  Once they've tested knows, they're challenged to sort the unknowns.  When they think they have correctly   identified three, I check and tell them yes or no.  They continue until they've correctly identified all of   the white powders.  Simple?  Not at all!  The kids are actually doing qualitative analysis, safely, in expensively, but effectively.  Still unsure?  This Middle School activity and lesson has a script to walk you through the activity step by step.

Apologia Chemistry and Physical Science: Nomenclature

Once the kids learn to name compounds, I like to do a nomenclature lab, such as Forming and Naming Ionic Compounds Lab.  This issue is locating the chemicals listed for the lab.    ACS has a middle school precipitate lab with household chemicals.  Now this is going to be a bit more challenging.  See if you can name the compounds which form in the ACS lab.  What I do for my home-school classes is to prepare these solutions.  Epsom salts has Mg 2+ and SO4 2- ions.  So I prep epsom salts into two vials, one Mg 2+ and one SO4 2-.  I do the same with driveway salts, calcium chloride, Ca 2+ and Cl-.  Washing soda is sodium carbonate, Na+ and CO3 2-.  I order silver nitrate because it reacts with so many compounds, Ag+ and NO3 -.  The kids make a chart with the ions and drop a few drops together.  If there's a change in color, bubbles, cloudy, or white crud forming, it's a new compound, a precipitate.  The kids then name those.  Here's a good example of the lab.  So, basically, I took the idea from the Naming Ionic Compounds lab, used precipitates, and applied the principles using household chemicals.

Apologia Chemistry and Physical Science: How to Name Acids

Before you tackle naming acids, it's important you can name polyatomic ions.  Why?  It's so much easier to learn how to name acids if you understand how to name polyatomic ions.  First there are two types of acids: binary and ternary, or acids with two elements or three (or more) elements.  Here are some binary acids: hydrochloric acid, hydroiodic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrosulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid.  They use the prefix, hydro.  Ternary acids do NOT!  H2SO4 is sulfuric acid.
SO4 2- is sulfate; when you add the hydrogens, it becomes sulfuric acid.  (pH means 'power of hydrogen'.)  Here's a great video explaining how to name acids. (The chemistry instructor isn't wearing his green shirt, but a red one, this time.)

Apologia Chemistry and Physical Science: How to Name Polyatomic Ions

One last lesson on nomenclature.  Now that you can name ionic and covalent, molecular compounds, the next step is to name polyatomic ions and acids. In science, we have no imagination.  Poly, means many.  Polyatomic ions are ions, negatively or positively charged atoms, with two or more ions in one entity, such as OH-, hydroxide, or SO4 2-, sulfate.  Most polyatomic ions are oxyanions, meaning they have oxygen and are negatively charged.  Don't freak out!  Mr. Kent's Polyatomic Ions has an excellent explanation with a chart of common polyatomic ions: sulfate, sulfite, nitrate, nitrite, hydroxide, phosphate, ammonium, and carbonate. (Mr. Kent is a reliable resource like Mr. Guch's Cavalcade.  His chart of common polyatomic ions is very extensive. I listed the polyatomic ions you're most likely to encounter.)

Apologia Chemistry and Physical Science: How to Name Molecular Compounds

Next up are binary molecular compounds.  In general chemistry, many of the compounds are either ionic or covalent compounds.  The simplest type of molecular compound is a binary molecular compound. Once you watch this video, go back to the website from Cavalcade for covalent worksheets.  After you think you've mastered both ionic and covalent compounds, try doing the mixed compound worksheets.  Mr. Guch, who publishes Cavalcade provides answer keys, so helpful to be able to check your work.

Apologia Chemistry and Physical Science: More Ionic Compounds aka Nomenclature

Once you get the hang of ionic nomenclature with the activity from Flinn, it's time to practice.  Cavalcade had scores of practice worksheets with answer keys!  By in large, both the worksheets and answer keys are well edited.  Once in awhile I do find an error.  Just Google your answer to see if the worksheet is the problem, rather than you.  Practice!

Apologia: Nomenclature for Chemistry and Physical Science

I've been teaching Chemistry and Physical Science for a number of years.  One topic germane to both is Nomenclature or naming ionic and molecular, chemical compounds.  The place to start is to memorize the Periodic Table.  Download one here. (Scroll down to locate the one with symbols and atomic numbers.)  One technique is to make Element Trading Cards, which you can actually buy!  This activity originates with an article in the Journal of Chemical Education.  (There is a sample card.  This abstract has a picture of completed cards.)  Make your own element cards and draw pictures to help you remember the element, such as a balloon for helium or a carton of milk for calcium.  Memorize the first 50, plus I, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb, Rn, U, and Pu.  Really.  This takes a long time, but is worthwhile when it comes to learning the elements.

Once you have a handle on the names of the more common elements, it's time to learn how to name ionic compounds.  Flinn Scientific's activity, Putting Ions In Their Hands is without a doubt the best activity to learn how to name ionic compounds.  I've used it successfully with both eighth graders, high school Chemistry students, and college kids of all abilities.  Print the cations (positive ions) on red card stock and the anions (negative ions) on blue card stock. Scroll through the document to locate the data sheet.  If you go back to the instructions, you'll find the first compound completed in step five.  Don't worry if it seems a little confusing; there's an answer key.

Here is a video of my students explaining how to do the activity.

Fabulous Safety Posters at Flinn Scientific.

Go to Flinn Sci's safety page in their catalog and look at their posters.  When you place an order, Flinn adds a free poster.  My favorite is 'Carol', which is for sale on this page.  I like to plaster them all over the room.  In Chemistry, it's critical kids keep their safety goggles on during lab, even more than Biology or Physical Science.  My best incentive?  For years, I kept lab rats.  If I caught a kid without goggles on, he had to clean their cage.  The other trick was to film labs for my YouTube channel.  Kids clamor end to be online and had to model safe lab practices.  This works with home-school Co-op kids, too!

Polymers

One of my favorite themes to teach in Chemistry is polymers.  Where to start?  Hands on Plastics.  Plastics are types of polymers.  This web site has an assortment of activities and background information.  I like to start with a lesson identifying plastic types by their codes.  The hands on plastics kit contains shredded pieces of different types of plastics to use in the activities on their site.  Make your own kit from recycled objects.  Next up is Flubber from borax and glue.  Yes, I know you made this recipe for fun.  Experiment with both Elmer's white and gel glues.  This time go to the link provided by ACS to understand how Flubber is a polymer or try the disposable diaper dissection and experiment.  The powder in disposable diapers which absorbs urine is a polymer.  Make and test your own glue.  Goop and Glue is a variation of Flubber.  Make it more inquiry-based by substituting other  liquid detergents, such as Dawn, Joy, or shampoo.  ChemMatters has an article about the 'science of slime'.  (BTW, ChemMatters has scores of interesting Chemistry article.). Want more ideas?  Try Jiggle Jels, Water Beads, and Instant Snow powder.  Every lab is fun.  Stand back.  Your kids will be clamoring to understand why this stuff has all of these weird properties.  Then, steer them to the ACS for answers.

NSTA Review: Amazing Land Animals and Marine Superstars

Hungry Tomato has a new series called 'Animal Bests', authored by John Farndon and illustrated by Cristina Portolano.  The two books I reviewed are 'Marine Superstars' and 'Amazing Land Animals'.  These two were fun to read.  Both books focused on animals' 'amazing abilities' or 'super senses' rather than dubbing them survival strategies.  The books in the series are geared toward children in grades 3-6 as nonfiction.  The writing is clear and cogent; it's not surprising that Fardon has been short-listed four times for the Royal Society's Young People's Book Prize.  'Marine Superstars' has fascinating facts.  I knew some turtle species eat jellyfish; I didn't know blue ocean slugs eat Portuguese Man of Wars (p. 31). My college Zoology would have been much more interesting had I know that sharks play dead (p.20) or that sepia came from cuttlefish ink (p. 21).  I love the way Farndon explains symbiosis as 'making allies' (p. 24) and includes a food web (p.27).  'Amazing Land Animals' introduces the book with 'a taste of how amazing land animals lanyard, before we even get to the really clever stuff', and has a few interesting facts to lure children into the book.  Teachers could launch their lessons by choosing an animal fact.  For instance, (p.9) 'Jumbo Da Vinci' is the title of a paragraph about elephants who paint.  Wouldn't children want to jump online to see examples or find out how much their paintings cost?  Teachers could tie a math lesson about speed to the cheetah (p.6), which can attain speeds of 121 kilometers per hour.  My favorite classroom pet is a rat; 'Amazing Land Animals' has two pages (pp. 20-21) dedicated to facts about rats, including how rats can detect land mines without detonating them.  Who knew?  The best aspect of both books?  It made me want to learn more.  Wouldn't a child ask, 'What else can a dolphin or elephant do?'  Perfect.  The illustrations support the texts well.  My favorite is the tiger (p. 30) swimming underwater, making it easy to imagine it snagging a crocodile.  Children value scientific accuracy along with interesting facts.  These two books deliver.  Both 'Amazing Land Animals' and 'Marine Superstars' are exactly the type of books for curious naturalists.  My only quibble is the price; at $26.65 for a hardback, few classrooms can afford their own copy.  However, libraries should consider buying these books.  They'll fly off the shelf.  My ten year old neighbor couldn't wait to get her hands on my copies.

Last Days of Summer

We're winding down to the last days of summer break.  Yes, we have quite an agenda: reading, bike riding, swimming, tomato picking, kick ball, Monopoly, and crafts.  I like to slip in a little science.  We have a trail behind our house.  We can take a walk and hear cicadas and frogs.  My niece, Savannah, and favorite six year old, Paul, went for a walk today on the trail around the pond. I explained that many frogs are nocturnal and more active at night.  We looked for the turtle.  I identified the tulip poplar and sweet gum trees.  We skirted around the goose poop.  Even a walk is an opportunity for a little science.  While you're out playing Pokemon Go, snap photos of trees and look them up with this Arbor Day download.  Yes, we even review gases and liquids at the pool; we're just that geeky.

First Day of School: Chemistry Demos

Flinn Scientific, my favorite source of chemistry kits has opening day demonstrations.  This is one science supplier with worthwhile videos.  Join their mailing list.

Summer Science Fun

While visiting family, we did a few, fun, science projects.  Since we're in the dog days of summer, here are a few fun projects for elementary aged children.  (Teens can help and look up the underlying science principles.  See if they can explain the ideas to the little ones.). First up is Flubber; wikihow has three recipes.  Use tempera paint instead of food coloring; it's cheaper.  What happens when you substitute clear glue for white glue?  Can you get the mixture into a bouncy ball?  Next are water beads.  These expand in water.  What happens if you put them in tap water, or salt water, or distilled water?  How about soda or vinegar?  Ghost crystals are a type of discrepant event using water beads.  (If you scroll down the page of this link, Educational Innovations has a lesson for ghost crystals.). Make sidewalk chalk or sidewalk paint. Make the chalk or chalk paint 3D.  (The 3D effect is a result of color theory.  Warm colors approach and cool colors recede.  Try layering warm and cool colors or putting them side by side.). One last idea: Cartesian divers. This one is with a pen cap.  Steve Spangler has one with a medicine dropper.  Try making a diver using a packet of ketchup.  When I'm making Cartesian divers at a camp or with a large group, I use pipets and nuts for ballast, like these materials from Educational Innovations.  Here are a few tips for divers.  Use a one liter soda bottle or stiff water bottle filled to the brim with cold tap water.  Set up a bucket of cold water to test your diver before putting it into your bottle.  A good diver will immediately dive down to the bottom and reimerge to the surface with a bobble.  Seal the cap tightly and squeeze the sides of the bottle with both hands.  A good diver is easy to squeeze to make it dive.  Won't the kids have fun?

More fun science ideas for summer.

We're visiting family and there are four young children.  Yeah.  I brought Magic sand I bought at Ollie's.  (I've bought it at Dollar Tree, too.  For larger quantities try Amazon or Educational Innovations.). Magic sand is hydrophobic, meaning it stays dry in water.  It's fun to play with.  When you're done, decant the water and store it in a plastic container.  Today, my sister-in-law had crystalis she brought home from the hydroponic greenhouse she manages.  Two emerged and the kids released the butterflies.  The kids found a frog in the garden.  I was struck by the thought of how many of these moments home-school families have to engage children with science.  We did one last fun experiment with the kids: Glow Germs.  I had my kit in the car with materials from the workshop at St. Pat's last week.  I have the kids rub Glow Germ lotion on their hands and demonstrate with a UV flashlight how the lotion glows.  After they wash their hands, we look for 'germs'.  Check nail beds.  Anytime is right for a little science!

Discrepent Events

Discrepent events make kids think.  NSTA has a nice collection.  One of my favorite is this density demo with Diet Coke and Coke.  If you put both cans of Coke and Diet Coke in a clear aquarium of water and ice, the Coke sinks and the Diet Coke floats because the Coke is denser than ice water.  Diet Coke with artificial sweetener is less dense and therefore floats.  Teachers use these discrepant events to introduce a unit, say density.  But, I used to get one out periodically just to make kids think. The Science Guru has the same idea.  This article has some classics across the science disciplines.

St. Pat Workshop

I spent the morning doing a workshop for a small Catholic school in WV.  Fun!  The workshop centered on integrating inquiry-based labs into the curriculum.  Ironically, many inquiry-based workshops are all driven by power-point slideshows.  Not this one!  Yes, I had a slideshow to organize the topics.  There were two teachers; these two are responsible for all of the science in grades four-seven.  We spent the morning doing labs with me coaching the two teachers, Melissa and Rachel, how to lead students. They designed labs, starting with Super Bubbles.  I know this doesn't sound like much of an inquiry lab.  The recipe is water, Karo syrup or glycerin, and liquid detergent.  Which brand of dish detergent produces the best bubble?  Which ratio of Karo and detergent produces the best bubble?  How are we going to measure what is the best bubble?  Rachel and Melissa chose to time how long before the bubble pops in order to compare brands of liquid, dish detergent.  By using time, they could graph the results.  The next experiment measures how the angle of a ramp impacts the distance a marble travels.  The idea is to do three trials, use metric measures, and change of angle of the ramp without stacking books, which changes the initial potential energy.  We designed an Alka-seltzer lab to make poppers.  Melissa and Rachel experimented with a quarter, half, and whole tablets.  Students could experiment with ratios of citric acid and baking soda (the two key ingredients in an Alks-seltzer tablet).  Melissa promoted the idea to time how long before it pops as a measurement because it's difficult to measure the height of the lid as it pops.  We did a DNA extraction from split peas.  We started by doing the lab according to the directions.  Then, we talked about ways to modify the lab to make it more inquiry-based.  The kids could change the type of detergent or alcohol, isopropyl or ethyl alcohol, the amount of meat tenderizer, or type of salt, iodized or non-iodized--just not all at once.  St. Pat was able to get iPads and Pasco probeware; we spent time reviewing how to use the equipment.  Lastly, we took time to talk about modifying or extending existing labs they use.  Here are a few photos.

Concept Maps, Another Tool for Fall.

You are probably familiar with Venn diagrams.  One tool I like to use is a concept map.  I assign vocabulary to introduce a lesson.  The student is instructed to create a concept map organizing these terms.  Here's the rub; kids need to understand the vocab before they can sort terms into categories.Inspirahttp://m.wikihow.com/Make-a-Concept-Maption has a good explanation here. (Inspiration is a commercial software program that creates concept maps.). IHMC has free software and apps to create digital concept maps.  Wikihow has a clear explanation here.

Physical Science Equipment on a Budget

I like to offer Physical Science classes, great for introducing the fundamentals of Chemistry and Physics.  Many of the experiments in the Apologia text involve inexpensive equipment. I like to add activities with some of the modules.  One tip is to use TOP Science Electricity and Magnetism for those particular  modules.  TOPs uses household materials, such as aluminum foil, clear tape, and straight pins.  I compare the experiments recommended in Apologia Physical Science and redirect kids to similar TOPs labs or instruct them to use the TOPs tools for the experiment.  Aside from the batteries, chances are you already have many of the items needed.  I like the depth of instruction in the TOPs manuals.  One Chemistry lab I frequently add to the course involves acids and bases, like these experiments.  As a bonus, these instructions employ microscale techniques and equipment.  Microscale means using drops instead of flasks of chemicals.  Much safer!  One more tip: dilute the chemicals before allowing the kids to experiment and wear,goggles!

Inexpensive Biology Lab Equipment

Last post, I shared a few tips for microscale chemistry equipment.  What about Biology labs?  You'll want a microscope.  While this type isn't ideal, it will due in a pinch.  Moreover you can capture images on your cell phone.  I used an inexpensive Halloween skeleton for Anatomy classes.  The first lesson was to use copies of skeletons to evaluate how accurate the plastic skeleton is.  Cool, right?  Ours was missing the sacrum.  Otherwise, it served us well for skeleton instruction.  One last tip is for charts: this oversized anatomy book.  It's huge.  You can separate the charts for instruction.  My Co-op class was small enough I didn't need to rip them from the book.  Over the course of the school year, I use tons of simulations which use simple supplies: Genetics with pennies, Flinn's predator-prey simulation,  or identifying water quality with macroinvertebrates using ice cube trays.  To learn more about the role of benthic macroinvertebrates as a measure of water quality try Cacapon Institute's Potomac Highlands Watershed School.  Cacapon Institute has loads of free resources.  You can do tons of valid biology on a budget.

Inexpensive Lab Equipment

I've taught Chemistry long enough go to have a few tricks.  One is microscale tools.  Microscale means using drops for chemical reactions instead of millimeters or more.  It's both cheaper and safer for students, and allows kids to repeat an experiment multiple times.  Look at this link.  See how a cassette case serves to hold pipets?  Q-tip swabs and toothpicks serve to mix liquids.  A clothespin can serve as a test tube holder.  This lab manual has experiments using improvised microscale equipment and household chemicals.  Perfect!  Who would have thought of using the blister pack from chewing gum as a reaction plate?

Let's prep for fall! Lab Equipment

Right after I review lab safety I teach kids about the lab equipment and ideally follow-up with lab practices.  I like to print a worksheet and pull out the corresponding equipment to review.  Carolina has tips for lab techniques.  Kids should be able to decant a liquid, weigh a sample using a digital scale, and measure a liquid with a graduated cylinder.  Here are some instructions.

Let's Prep for Fall: Science Safety!

When I teach Chemistry or Physical Science, I have a number of tools I use to instill science safety.  (The message is basically, 'Don't be a nimrod.")  Flinn Science has terrific materials for instructors.  If you place an order with Flinn, they include free lab safety posters.  Among the resources from Flinn are the middle school safety contract and the high school safety contract. I've used these with classes, including Co-op classes.  (Check with the facility you're using to see if the insurance company requires safety agreements.)  The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has myriad resources for safety.  What is important to emphasize?  Start by reading this brief for elementary science instruction from the American Chemical Society (ACS).  It covers the basics.  Number one is to wear goggles whenever you're using chemicals.  Teens love these colorful safety glasses!  I buy safety glasses rather than safety goggles because teens are much more likely to wear safety glasses.  I try to pay less than $2 per pair.  So, how should you approach safety?  First, read the safety guide from Flinn with the kids.  When I have a large group, I show a safety video students made years ago.  In fact, challenge your kids to determine safe lab practices and make their own video.  The teens who developed the safety video used Flinn's safety guidelines.  They might enjoy making safety slogans for bumper stickers or posters for the walls.  This is the Flinn poster teens like the most.

Memes!

It's back to school here in WV, where I'm visiting and doing a workshop for a small Catholic school.  So what's on the menu?  Memes!  Even if the classroom is my garage or basement, I like to plaster the walls with funny science posters, quotes, or memes!  One of the best is Chemistry Cat! This one about video games is hysterical.  The only problem locating funny posters is sifting through the dreck, particularly the material that's negative, anti-Christian, or vulgar.   Aaarrrgggh! Not science but these memes are clean.  I love this meme below.

A few resources...

There was an ad on Facebook, TOPS.  Typically, I loathe any ad---not this one.  TOPS promotes science through simple equipment.  Their electricity and magnetism units are excellent for elementary students.  Try one of the free samples.  Many families might not be familiar  with some of these fabulous web sites.  Another favorite is Exploratorium, which has a host of science activities for kids.  Try the 'head harps'.  I've used tons of these ideas for science camps and outreach events.  One more suggestion, Uncovering Student Ideas in Science.  These books are particularly useful Afro elementary instruction to determine common student misconceptions, such as conservation of mass.

Fun Idea: Crush Cans

I'm prepping for a workshop I'm doing Thursday for a small Catholic school.  As I was packing supplies, I came across a soda can and another idea hit me: crush cans.  I've been planning ideas that are effective, cheap, and might be suitable for Science Fair, such as DNA extraction from split peas.  Here's the lab.

Back on my favorite hobby horse, technology!

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had an article about new ways to use old technology.  Yes!  I was thinking about the ways I use older technology in my science classes.  One of my students, Megan, gave me a microscope for cell phones as a Christmas present.  I use it with an older cell phone.  Just as a note, the images are better with the camera on an iPhone--but it works!  In fact, if it weren't so slow, we would use the wifi on that cell phone for research, just as we do with an older iPad.  Here's another idea.  I loaded my husband's CD collection on to an old iPod. Originally, I wanted to buy a wireless speaker to play through our wifi, like the printer.  When I bought a wireless speaker through Karensbarn, I tried three devices and wasted a day trying to download the app and set it up unsuccessfully!  Arrrrgh!  I returned the speaker and has another idea: my old iPod.   I bought an iPod player through Goodwill for $17.93, with shipping to play his songs.  I set the iPod to shuffle his songs while he paints.  Tremendous sound quality and easy installation--cheap!  Good speakers for a computer aren't cheap.  Once in awhile, there's a podcast work sharing with your kids.  Load it on an old iPod and play it in the car.

 

Inexpensive Science Tools

Last Christmas, one of my home-school students came me this microscope for smart phones.  Now, this won't replace a decent microscope for Biology; however, it's perfect as a Fieldscope.  We used it to look at DNA we extracted.  You can take a photo to post.  I had an old cell phone I used with the microscope.  Since, neither is super expensive, I'm more comfortable using them in lab or outside.  I can hand it over to kids and let them have fun without worrying about s rat hinge the lens.  That said, the camera on my husband's old iPhone works better than the camera on my Android with this microscope.  This inexpensive digital balance works surprisingly well to measure small quantities of chemicals.  (Be sure to use a cupcake paper on the scale when you weigh any chemical.). This IR thermometer is another of my favorite, inexpensive pieces of equipment.  All three are portable with a wide range of applications.

Where can you buy science supplies? Let's get ready for fall!

Let me tell you.  As a veteran science teacher, I scour stores and online sites for deals.  Whether you're leading a Co-op, planning lessons for home, or prepping for school, science teachers need loads of supplies.  Science supplies are expensive!  My first tip is that chemicals are usually cheaper at the grocery store. (Depending on the quantities, the grocery store often is a better value than the Dollar store for chemicals). Google the chemicals for the common names.  For example, sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate is baking soda.   Here is one list.  For example, magnesium sulfate is the active ingredient in Epsom salts.  Driveway deicer is either calcium chloride or sodium chloride.  My next tip is to use tempera paint instead of food color to make substances such as Flubber or Ooobleck.  You'll save loads this way.  If the instructions call for food dye, try tempera.  My third tip is to select lab experiments based on the materials.  For example, the DNA Extraction can be performed with strawberries, bananas, onions, or dried peas.  Dried peas are $1.  We have a winner!   I do not believe that extracting DNA from strawberries is inherently more exciting than from peas.  Here's another advantage of using dried peas: repeat experiments.  They're so cheap, you can repeat the extraction using different detergents or different alcohols.  My last piece of advice is obvious: shop your house first for supplies.

Shop for Science Classes

Let's gear up for fall.  Where do you go to buy supplies?  If you're using the Apologia Science textbooks, you know the authors use many household items, which saves loads of money.  But, sometimes you want special items, such as a microscope, glassware, or molecular models.  Certainly, I buy specific items on Amazon, eBay, and Home Training Tools.  But check out Good Will online.  See this molecular model?  You'll have to check often.  Don't make the mistake I made initially.  I forgot to check the shipping.  Yikes!  I was hit with much higher than expected fees on a few items.  I registered and now check shipping costs every single time before deciding whether the equipment is really a bargain.  When you search at Goodwill online, try 'lab kit' or 'lab set' in the search, as well as key words, such as 'microscope'.

Alka-seltzer Lab Pointers

Alka-seltzer labs are great. Let's look at ways to tweak these labs.  First, what in an Alka-seltzer tablet?  The two key ingredients are citric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate, otherwise known as baking soda.  What are the proportions?  We can use a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between baking soda and citric acid. (Scroll down the pages of this link for the balance chemical reaction.  BTW, this link has ideas for experiments!). The ratio between baking soda to citric acid is 3 moles to 1 mole.  Each tablet has 1 gram of citric acid and 1.9 grams of baking soda.  You can let kids  adjust the ratios of citric acid and baking soda to determine the ratio to produce the best results.  Compare these ratios to a tablet of Alka-seltzer or generic tablets.  Kids can do a lot of experimentation.  Want a fun way to end the lab?  Make bath bombs!  Do this with your Co-op class and provide small bags.  The kids can get a leg up making Christmas presents.