Into to Chemistry: Reaction in a Bag Lab

Here is one of the first labs we do in Chemistry, in lieu of a lecture on the ' Scientific Method'.  Flinn Scientific's Reaction in a Bag hones observation skills, introduces an indicator solution and produces a fabulous reaction.  I'll post photos when we get to this lab.

Science Fair Links

I put these links together for a work shop and wanted to share these.

Science Fair Resources 

1. Car exhaust Lab: http://lorpub.gadoe.org/State%20of%20Georgia/GAVS%20Shared/Science/APES_AirPollutionClimateChange_Shared/AirQuality.pdf
2. Project Worksheet: http://sc087.k12.sd.us/Science%20Fair%20Resources/5-12sciencefairprojectworksheet.pdf
3. Planning Guide: http://northport.k12.ny.us/backpack/getfile.aspx?id=177898
4. Science Fair Project Template (google)
5. Science Fair Information Packet: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/cms/lib/WV01000962/Centricity/Domain/34/Elementary%20Book.pdf
6. How to organize Science Fair: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/blog/2011/03/04/science-fair-planning-and-creative-ideas/
7. Step by Step: https://www.phsd144.net/cms/lib3/IL01001725/Centricity/Domain/572/ScienceFairPacket.pdf
8. Bubble Rocket:http://wveis.k12.wv.us/teach21/cso/upload/UP3612WS7.doc
9. Do Pump Caps Preserve fizz?  http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=176937 and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fizz_keeper
10. Stain Removal:https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/best-way-stains-out-of-clothes/
11. Mud watt: https://www.homesciencetools.com/mudwatt-science-fair-pack
12. Water test:https://www.homesciencetools.com/watersafe-science-project-kit
13. Salt Water Energy: https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/salt-water-energy/ and Envirobattery: https://www.homesciencetools.com/enviro-battery-kit
14. Most effective sunscreen: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/uv-reactive-beads/
15. Kits and Ideas:https://www.teachersource.com/category/science-fair-ideas
16. Jelly Marbles: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/vanishing-jelly-marbles/
17. Reaction Rocket:https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.teachersource.com/downloads/lesson_pdf/RKT-625.pdf
18. Clothes that Glow: https://sciencenotes.org/list-of-things-that-glow-under-black-light/ and Glow Putty and more: https://www.brit.co/glowing-products/
19. Homemade Hand Warmers: https://www.homesciencetools.com/a/homemade-hand-warmers
20. Bird Feeders: https://www.homesciencetools.com/a/bird-science-projects-for-elementary (number of birds or variety
21. List of Winning Projects: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/cms/lib/WV01000962/Centricity/Domain/34/Elementary%20County%20Winners.pdf

Get ready for Chemistry!

Chemistry begins in ten days!   Yeah!  I have twenty items scheduled to do the first day.  Honestly, I make up a long list of skills the kids need and label it all 'Day One'.  Day One continues for two weeks.  First is The Checks Lab which uses checks as a device for kids to use existing data to determine what the story is behind all of the checks.  The science is to base your hypothesis on existing evidence.  (I like to remind kids that their faith is also based on evidence from
God.). These teacher notes may help.  I also teach about the inquiry process using this Cube Activity.  Both of these activities are from inquiry-based workshops I gave through College Board.  Both are instrumental in instructing how to approach science.

Young Explorer Human Anatomy: Chapter One Cells

The first unit in Human Anatomy introduces Cells.  Make clay animal cell models.  Have the kids color and label animal cells first.  Next have the kids create their own models in clay.  Some children like to make flag labels to poke into their model.  Others prefer to make keys.  It doesn't matter.  Then, by all means, make an edible cell; the kids love cells made with candy!  I like to make, color, and label animal cells in several media.  Trust me, the kids will be able to identify cell parts.  Be sure to have the older children complete the Journal activities requiring them to understand the function of the different organelles.  This is an easy way to differentiate instruction.  Everyone made models; the older children had a greater depth of understanding.

Young Explorers Human Anatomy: Skeletal System

A friend of mine is prepping her Anatomy program for fall.  One of our lessons was the skeletal system.  I bought a plastic skeleton from Target in early October for $15.   The first question I asked the children was, "Is this toy skeleton scientifically accurate?"  We used  worksheets and spent time naming and labeling the bones before we determined the skeleton was accurate.  Older children can write the names of the bones and tape them on to the skeleton or review these names with younger children orally.  We did lots of both.  The kids liked making all sorts of skeletons.  We liked pasta skeletons to make and label and full size paper skeletons.  This one comes in pieces!  While you are on the skeletal system, try to make a spinal cord with a pool noodle or an egg carton spinal cord, like the ones we made.  (I wish I had thought to buy pool noodles on clearance!  I had saved egg cartons, though.). We used blank skeleton worksheets for quizzes.  The older children wrote the names, some of whom needed word list.  Younger children identified the names orally when quizzed.  (My class was eleven children ages 6-11.)