Black Friday Science Deals

Update: Disposable gloves are 100 for $6.23.   Amazon has a digital infrared thermometer for $13.59.     (This is for measuring surface temperatures.)

You may not be thinking about science during Black Friday.  One item, Kindle Fire, is $30.  I bought one last year during Black Friday to have an extra tablet for the kids to use to do research.   Amazon has a Chemistry Kit with many of the basic supplies for microscale Chemistry.  Do you need use this disposable gloves for dissections?  This digital scale is $7.64 and this kitchen scale is $7.63.  (It can measure in grams.) I usually pay around $9. How about a Hot Wheels set for Speedometry?  Sharpies are 24 for $8.45–useful for loads of science experiments, such as marking the name of solutions and the date prepared.  I use an electric kettle to heat water for labs, such as Charles Law.  (Mine is similar to this plastic electric kettle.  It’s $13.03.).

There are several deals on mini projectors, telescopes, and microscopes.  I shop Good Will instead.  This digital microscope from Celestron is fun and reduced to $159.99.  Our local library system has these; they’re fun.  But, I think a digital microscope for $20, which connects to the computer is a better deal.  We use these for slides.  The kids focus the microscope, take a screen shot, and make sketches.

Want larger density cubes?  At $27.74, this density set is a splurge.  I use mine for density, specific heat, and accuracy labs.  For me, they are worth the investment.  These magnet wands are six for $10.13–six presents or serve six kids for science camp.  This plastic mirror set at $5.99 is a good deal if you are doing optics with one child.  Have you been desperate for a gas burner?  This one is $20.40.  Gas burners allow students to score, cut, and flame-polish glass stir rods.  A propane burner is better for flame tests than alcohol burners or tea candles.  However, tea candles and hot plates are much safer than alcohol burners or gas burners.  I’m on the fence whether I’ll splurge on a gas burner or not.

Amazon has a $5 Popular Science subscription.  There are slightly cheaper hand lens at 10/$10.78.  These have lanyards and are great for pond studies outdoors.  Dollar Tree sells larger land lens.

Mad Science: Day Eight

Want a different theme for one of the days during your science camp?  How about Marvelous Metals?    This guide has several labs: Metal hunt, Let’s Do Chemistry with a Penny, and Magnetic Metals.  Try Polishing Pennies or Float a Metal Boat, Iron for Breakfast, Drops on a Penny, and U. S. Currency lab.  Connect a digital microscope to a laptop to examine coins, one dollar, five dollar, and ten dollar notes.  Use new notes.

Teach density with density cubes, pennies (older than 1982 and newer than 1982),  grow copper sulfate crystals,  test items with a magnet (including coins), separate a mixture (add iron filings to sepate with a strong magnet),  Metals vs Nonmetals,  and test metal conductivity.  Color Flame Birthday Candles are composed of metallic salts.  Light them to see which metallic salt produces which color.  (Copper salts produce a teal or blue-green colored flame.).

Metals are elements on the Periodic Table.  Decorate Periodic Table cookies or build Gumdrop atoms of lithium.  Steve Spangler has a Soda Can Corrosion activity, Rip a Soda Can in Half, and The Blalancing Nails Trick.

Build a coffee can cuica or secret bells.  See?  You can have fun all morning!

Mad Science: Day Seven

I think rocks and minerals are a fun theme for science camp, too.  One of my friends is teaching Physical Science, which includes the Rock Cycle.  Kids should study Rocks and Minerals.  I’ve taught Earth Science several times—honestly, not my favorite subject.  But, it’s important.  Kids like to learn how to identify rocks and minerals.  Clemson’s guide is excellent.  It begins by asking if the item is even a rock.  Here’s my tip: have 15 or 20 rocks from a set where they have been identified. Start with these introductory activities: observation of minerals, salt, Epsom salts, table salt, calcium chloride, compare the color of the mineral with its streak,

 Clemson’s guide uses typical tools: iron nail, unglazed tile, a magnifier, a penny, UV flashlight (fluorescence),  vinegar, a magnet, and a piece of glass.  (Here is an elementary introduction.). Here are several fun labs.).  This set has a huge mix of rocks, minerals, geodes, and fossils.  There are several tests to perform: density, (This lab uses density by displacement.), Moh’s harness,  Streak test, luster, cleavage, fracture,  color, magnetism, reaction with acid, striating, odor, and fluorescence.


Here is a good general mineral identification lab.  Here are detailed instructions for the tests. (This is another excellent guide.  It’s a college level guide.). Use a mineral ID flow chart.


What are we going to do?  I have two sets: these gem stones and these stones.  The kids will perform all of the tests on known samples first.  Once the kids are familiar with all of the tests, they can use the identification sheets, notes, tablets, and charts to see if they can correctly identify the minerals.
1. Use a magnifier to observe the crystal shapes of sugar, table salt, Epsom salt, copper sulfate, and calcium chloride.
2. Take each sample and make observations: color, luster, odor, layers, etc.
3. Test for hardness.
4. Test for streak.
5. Use vinegar to see if any of the rocks bubble.
6. Take the density by displacement.
7. Test with a magnet.
8. Test with a UV flashlight.
9. Use this table and density chart to identify the minerals.
10. Make Epsom salt and alum geodes.
11. Smash geodes.
12.  Test unknowns.

Mad Science: Day Six

Update: Here are Make and Take equipment for stream studies.

Update: Clear fluorescent tube sleeves or guards are about $3.75 to make a turbidity or transparency tube.  Here are instructions for reading results.

Mad Science Camp needs back up activities.  Sometimes planned  activities are completed in five minutes when 30 minutes were anticipated.  So, here is Day Six: Stream Assay.  When kids measure the health of a stream, or in our case, a retention pond, there are several factors: temperature, turbidity, pH, and nitrates.  Weather data is important, too.  We’ll use GLOBE protocols to learn about clouds and test water in the stream and retention pond near our house.

Our resources are found in Elementary Globe.  First, we’ll make clinometers,  densiometer, transparency tubes, and assemble water kits: buckets, thermometers, test kits, white ice cube trays, magnifiers, tennis ball, flags, and measuring tape.  The kids will do Water Wonders, read Willow Creek and Clouds Have Names, do a Sky Report, use a cloud identification chart, (and this chart, too). make clouds in jars,  look for macroinvertebrates, test the water, measure stream flow, and measure canopy of the trees over the stream and pond.

We need to test these plans.  We’ll assemble the materials for the instruments and charts.  Several friends are naturalists.  Here are several protocols.  We’ll have a blast!

Apologia Chemistry: Balance Equations and Update 12/3

Update: We spent all of class working on several worksheets.  On Thursday, we are going to learn how to identify types of reactions and take a quiz on balancing equations.

Today we balanced equations.  Mr. Kent and Mr. Guch have good tutorials.  Here are tips and tricks.  Balance one atom or compound at a time.  Line up the atoms on both sides in the same order.  Make one change at a time.  Balance oxygen and oxygen compounds last.  Equations can be balanced algebraically, too.

Apologia Science: GLOBE

Update: The frost tube is another diy GLOBE instrument to study soil as part of Pedosphere or soil unit.  Here is an entire curriculum for GLOBE Weather.

I’ve been obsessed recently with locating low cost equipment.  Have you heard of GLOBE?  In the United States, GLOBE is sponsored by NASA.  GLOBE is an international program providing protocols for collecting environmental data.  The program is free; even the training is free and online.    Here’s the rub; the protocols, data sheets, e-training can be hard to navigate owing to the sheer volume.

Start here with the teacher’s guide.  Now, chose Atmosphere and then select Clouds.  GLOBE has a comprehensive program to study clouds, precipitation, etc.  There are instructions for many pieces of equipment: GLOBE has designed the program for any audience.  For example, here are the instructions for making a Secchi disc and transparency tube.  (They are used to measure turbidity or water transparency.). This instrument, a densiometer, measures canopy cover in a forest.  A clinometer is used to measure angles to determine tree height.  (Here is a printable measuring tape.)

After you browse GLOBE and start to tear out your hair, try GLOBE for Elementary school-aged students.  Look at this sensory weather bar for young children.  This protocol for aerosols is a good example of how GLOBE integrates science with simple tools.  Don’t be daunted by the volume of resources!  Start with Elementary GLOBE and shift to Atmosphere for older students.  Again, start with Clouds.  Before you know it, you’ll be moving on to Hydrosphere.

Apologia Science: Water Quality Tests

Update: Here are the instructions to make a Secchi disc and transparency tube to measure turbidity or water transparency.  If you are planning a stream study, make a transparency tube and bring an umbrella.


Last year, in Biology, my students performed several ecological activities.  Watershed studies, stream assay, and water quality tests make good science fair projects, too.  Lamont’s Water Quality Kits are the gold standard for water testing.  Students can perform several stream tests with an armored thermometer (or metal-backed thermometer), aquarium test kits, white ice cube trays, a fish net, a tennis ball, and a bucket.  5-in-1 or 6-in-1 test strips are easy to use and accurate.  The most useful tests are pH, nitrate/nitrite, and hardness.  Phosphates are difficult to measure.  Indicator solutions and pH strips are fine for testing acidity or alkalinity.  Kids like the aquarium test kits because they feel more scientific.  (Compare to the Lamont’s broad pH kit.). Fresh kits are better.  Try to use up the materials in six months or so.  The chemicals degrade.

Start with an overview of stream assay. (This intro has great reference citations, such as GLOBE.).  Students assess the stream’s temperature, pH, nitrates, hardness, dissolved oxygen, and macroinvertebrates. (Laminate guides and bring nets and white ice cube trays for sorting water critters.  The types of critters in a stream indicate the health of the stream.  The tennis ball is tossed in the water and used to time the stream flow.  Bring a tape measure to measure the distance tracked with the ball.). Now that you’ve opened Pandora’s box, take a look at National Geographic’s Field scope.  This is a free mapping project- a citizen science program.  GLOBE offers similar projects and programs.

Welcome to watersheds.  Here are several good guides. Try this on first.   Here are definitions of water quality indicators.  Crumpled Paper Watershed is an excellent way to explain what a watershed is.

The local forestry and soil and water conservation district should have more information.  Ask if they have an Enviroscape watershed model.  Check to see if the agency has a macroinvertebrate expert willing to teach.  The conservation district usually has an educator and the agency serves as a clearing house for other environmental agencies.  Don’t worry if you are new to watershed education.  Their job is to help.  I’ve worked with many agencies; some are better than others.  Keep asking until they put you in touch with someone helpful.

Watershed study Does not have to be expensive.  Go for it!

Apologia Chemistry: Nomenclature Test

Today, we prepped for a nomenclature test.  The kids reviewed ionic compounds and formulas, covalent molecules, and acid nomenclature.  This worksheet (with key) is similar in difficulty to the one I assigned.  The kids are doing the test at home with their notes: ionic formulas, periodic table, and notes from class.  Before the test, I asked the kids to label each compound as ionic, covalent, or an acid to reduce error.  In a few cases, I marked the compounds I,A, or C for the child. 

Low Cost Technical Science Equipment

How I wish I had a gift for rigging tech.  Have you heard of Foldscope?  It’s a paper microscope.  There’s a field of science research in designing low cost science equipment for developing countries using open-source tech.  Like to tinker?  These are terrific projects.

Mad Science: Make Science Equipment

Update: I had another idea for Camp: molecular modeling kits with clay and toothpicks.  We can make and color our clay and use play dough.  Carbon atoms are usually black, oxygen blue, hydrogen white, and Halogens green.  This activity is a good place to start.

Earlier I posted an overview of Mad Science with a basic science kit.  The kits are going to build their own equipment.  We’ll test a soda straw balance, a plastic hangar scale, a no tools scale, a microbalance, a rubber and spring scale, and this scale.  I’ll plan a play date, dig out materials, and have young friends test several designs for scales.  We’ll save three for camp.  (Teens might like this micrometer caliper diy.  Alternately, teens may scream and pull out their hair.). Calibrate your scales with coins.  Note that some of the ideas below are more realistic for camp than others.  We plan to try several balances, cylinders, and thermometers.

Basic equipment: balance, graduated cylinders, magnifier, test tube rack, and specimen box.

Make diy graduated cylinders for the kits.

Make thermometers or this easy thermometer.  (Directions are here.).  Yet another thermometer?  Test thermometers in hot, warm, cold, and ice-cold bowls to report the changes.

Microscope?  Another microscope? Add-on microscope for smart phone?  Clip on microscope? ($5.99 for smartphone)


Make a rain gauge.  Make a weather station.  Barometer?  Psychrometer?

Hydrometer?  Another hydrometer?

 Densiometer?

Clinometer?

Paper funnel?

Apologia Chemistry: Separating a Mixture and Physical and Chemical Change

Today, I postponed checking the nomenclature homework and dove into the two labs.  Both labs are
 In all three editions of Apologia Chemistry.  Separating a mixture involves separating sand, salt, and water in the textbook.  I used Magic Sand, container of small metal pieces, salt, and water.  The magic sand resists water.  The kids used magnets to remove the metal and separated the sand through a filter, as indicated.

The second lab, Chemical and Physical Change, substitutes for the lab, Chemical and Physical Change I the textbook which uses The Works.  I’m not wild about using The Works cleaner.
This lab is green and uses household chemicals.  Make up red cabbage extract immediately before class.  (Red Cabbage Powder has a good shelf-life, at least six months.)

This lab involves making a prediction, recording observations, and deciding whether the reaction is chemical or physical.  I had thought differentiating between chemical and physical change was self-evident.  It’s not.  Dr. Wile is right to include these labs.  This lab revealed a number of misconceptions.  Have your child test each substance with the red cabbage indicator before and after each reaction.  In this manner, the student can determine if there was a change in pH.

Kids like these labs because they manipulate chemicals and use reaction plates, test tubes, and ring stand (Separating Mixtures).  Warning!  The second lab is messy.  The kids used the digital thermometers with TI 84 to measure changes in temperature.  The photos are evidence we do these labs-even the sparklers!   We skipped the urea and boiling water steps.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 3 Nomenclature All Class Long

We reviewed nomenclature all class: binary acids, ternary acids, ionic compounds, Stock system, and covalent molecules.  All of it.  Initially, I separate the topics.  We've taught nomenclature long enough we can mix compounds. Here is a good example.   How is this taught?  First we went over homework.  Then, I covered the board with polyatomic halide oxyanions.  Next, we reviewed all of the ternary acids formed from halide polyatomic ions.  For example ClO- (hypochlorite ion) and HClO (hypochlorous acid).  This takes a long time.  Next, we reviewed common polyatomic ions: nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrite, sulfite, phosphite, etc and their respective acids: nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid carbonic acid, nitrous acid, sulfurous acid, phorphorous acid. The kids have more practice for homework.  Thursday is lab.

Apologia Chemistry: $100 for Lab Equipment—Even Chemicals!

Update: I ran across a molecular model kit for $12.50-a good price.  But why not make your own modeling kit with clay and toothpicks?  Usually, carbon atoms are black, hydrogen white, oxygen blue, and Halogen atoms green.  Yes, play dough is fine.

Update: Wow! A digital thermometer for $12.99!  The range is phenomenal: -40-450 F.  You’ll have to convert to Celsius.  I use hot plates ($10.26) to heat borosilicate or Pyrex beakers with solutions.  Much safer than Bunsen burners.

Update: I went on a fact-finding trip to Dollar Tree.  There is a full complement of Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, tea candles, and rubbing alcohol.  The one I visited in WV had six packs of paint palettes in the Toys aisle. These are useful for chemical reactions as reaction plates.  I’ll let you know how they hold up.  Each pack has six palettes.   I bought magnifiers to use for stream studies and optics labs.  While I was in WV, I went to a Mennonite grocery outlet, Weaver’s.  This is a terrific place to find food coloring, alum, cream of tartar, etc. at discount prices.  Ollie’s is another good place to shop for discount goods for lab.  If you have an independent hardware store, it’s a good place to buy copper sulfate (blue stone or root killer), plaster of Paris for chalk, and gallons of white glue for slime.

Update: I was at Walmart and checked prices.  Yeast is $1.79 for three packets and four pounds of Epsom salts are $2.86.   Hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol are $0.88 each.  Browse the clearance aisle, too.  Look at these simple science tools: balance, cylinder, test tube rack, magnifier, and specimen box.  I especially like the balance and milk carton test tube rack.  This thermometer is $3.48.

Microspirit burner is a tiny alcohol burner.  Generally, I use tea candles to heat reagents.

Look at this microtitration assembly.  I think the syringe can control the drops more accurately than with pipette alone.

Can you equip a chemistry lab in your home for $100?   I’m talking about a bare bones lab.  But, your child deserves to try a variety of lab experiments.  I put together a list of materials, chemical supplies, and labs.

First, locate a cassette case, clothes pin (test tube holder), iron nails, steel wool, sand paper, transparency sheets, yogurt cups, soda can, glass jars, plastic bottles, CDs, q-tips, craft sticks, and plastic spoons.  Drinking straws and blister packs from gum can be used for small scale reactions.  A soda can, cork, and pin convert to a calorimeter to measure calories in food.  A paper towel tube and CD convert into a spectroscope.

Equipment:

Medicine droppers $4.33 (reuse instead of plastic pipettes)

Digital scale  $8.33

Cupcake liners $1.00 (weigh paper)

Coffee filters $1.00 (dollar store)

Tea candles $1.00 (heat solutions)

Paint palettes (6) $4.20 (reaction plates)

Toothpicks $1.00 (Walmart or dollar store) (stir sticks)

Graduated cylinders $4.97

Test tubes and rack $7.99

Small funnels (2) $1.00 ( Walmart)

Thermometer $5 (glass) or (metal $3.55)

Plastic syringe $2

Total: $41.82

Chemicals:

Copper sulfate 9.53
Citric acid $5.74

Salt $0.50 (dollar store)

Sodium bicarbonate $0.50 (baking soda)

Sodium carbonate $4.10 ( washing soda)

pH test strips $2

Isopropyl alcohol $1 (dollar store) (rubbing alcohol) 

Magnesium sulfate $1 (dollar store) (Epsom salts)

Hydrogen peroxide $1 (dollar store)

Yeast $4.10 (three packets)
Cornstarch $1 (dollar store)
Iodine $1 (dollar store)

Calcium chloride  $5.42 (Driveway Heat)

Dish soap $1 (dollar store)

Ammonia $1 (dollar store)
Bag of mixed beans $1
Bag of dry popcorn $1.50
Steel wool  $3.31

Total: 45.70

Labs

Chemical or Physical (Skip the urea reaction and locate Koolaid.)
Ink Chromatography Lab

Make pH test strips. (This lab requires red cabbage.  I use the household items on hand: apple juice, lemon juice, vinegar, salt in water, 

Precipitate Reaction (This lab uses Epsom salts and washing soda and a piece of Ivory soap.
Chemical Reactions (Make red cabbage indicator solution to substitute for Universal indicator.)
What’s new, CO2?
Hydrate Lab
Penny Density Lab
Green Pennies Lab
Trading Places

Beanium

Popcorn Counting Units
White Powder Lab
Yeast Rate Lab

Charles Lae Lab (Use large yogurt cups as beakers.  The 10 mL oral syringe works better than a 30 mL syringe.)
Why no metal containers? (Koolaid and steel wool)

Apologia Physical Science: Green Labs

I’m betting your child wants more chemistry experiments.  I can see you cringing.  Chemistry labs are dangerous and costly.  Here are a series of acid-base labs which require Citric acid, sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, washing soda, and universal indicator.  Green Pennies Lab requires pennies, vinegar, and salt.  Baking Soda vs Baking Powder uses baking soda, vinegar, and baking powder.  Forming a Precipitate requires sodium carbonate (washing soda), ivory soap, and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts).  Color Change requires laundry detergent, Cream of Tartar, and red cabbage.  (I use red cabbage powder.  It can substitute for universal indicator.). Different Substance React Differently or Reaction in a Bag require baking soda, calcium chloride (Driveway Heat), citric acid, and either phenol red, or universal indicator.  I’ll bet cabbage powder or leaves will work, too.

Apologia Chemistry: Green Chemistry

I’ve been looking for Microscale Chemistry labs. (These labs can be performed on a transparency sheet.). Green labs are often small scale or micro-scale.  Green Chemistry reduces the amounts of chemicals used and substitutes safer chemicals in labs.  I like these labs because they are safer, cheaper, and produce less waste; many reactions can be safely disposed down the drain.

The advantage to homeschoolers who use green labs is that many of the chemicals are household chemicals.  Beyond Benign has a chemistry curriculum; many of the chemicals are available at Walmart.  Green Pennies is another green lab and uses salt, vinegar, and pennies.  This is perfect for a child who wants more labs.  Be sure to read Module 16, Redox to understand why the pennies turn green.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 15 Equilibrium Green Lab

I have a dream.  I want to complete Kinetics, Equilibrium, Redox, and Thermodynamics.  I always complete at least 12 modules.  I have seldom done more than brush on equilibrium, except in Honors Chemistry classes.  Sigh.

I’ve been researching green, small scale labs, such as this equilibrium lab, which uses black tea, baking soda, vinegar, iodine, and spray starch (or liquid starch).  Why green labs?  Because green chemistry includes small amounts of household chemicals.   Perfect!

Apologia Chemistry: Module 4 Chemical Reactions Green Chemistry

I have loads of chemical reaction labs from years of teaching Chemistry.  But, I’ve been looking for more small scale and green chemical reactions.  Why?  Green chemicals are frequently household chemicals.

One topic in Module 4 is Chemical Reaction vs Physical Change.  This lab, Chemical or Physical Change?, uses, citric acid, yeast, sodium carbonate ( Na2CO3) (washing Soda), baking soda, sparklers, (NaHCO3) calcium chloride (CaCl2) (Driveway Heat), vinegar, Kool-aid, and steel wool.  (Urea is another chemical used.  I use the materials I have on hand.  I have everything but urea.).  This is a good lab.

This Chemical Reactions lab requires the following: magnesium ribbon, steel wool, HCl, hydrochloride acid, nail, copper chloride, copper sulfate or blue stone (Some hardware stores sell blue stone or copper sulfate as root killer.), potassium carbonate, Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3 ( washing soda), calcium chloride CaCl2 ( Driveway Heat), calcium oxide (quicklime), copper wire, and calcium carbonate chips.  I plan to add some of these reactions to an introduction to chemical reactions lab.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 14 Reaction Rates

I’m trying to align labs with modules.  I found a green lab, Greening the Clock to use for Module 14, Reaction Rates.  Apologia’s Optional MicroChem kit has a Reaction rate lab, too.  This lab requires Vit. C tablets, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and liquid starch, all available at Walmart.  This is my kind of lab.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 14 Kinetics

If we get to Module 14, Kinetics, there’s an experiment, 14.2, The Effect of a Catalyst on the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide.  Additionally, the Optional MicroChem kit from Apologia has an experiment evaluating reaction rates and temperature.  Now, here’s another option, Catalysts and Oxygen.  The chemicals are Vit.C tablets, hydrogen peroxide, green food dye, and dish detergent.

Our class meets for an hour and fifteen minutes or enough time for two labs.  I would combine this lab with Greening the Clock Reaction.  Both labs require Vit. C and hydrogen peroxide.  This will minimize waste.  One last lab, Measurement of Catalase Activity with Yeast Spheres, is similar to Experiment 14.2 in Apologia Chemistry.  The difference is the yeast spheres, which require calcium chloride, CaCl2, Driveway Heat, and sodium alginate.  Anna, a student in Human Biology made the spheres for the Catalase lab.  It made it easy to time the yeast as it reacted to he hydrogen peroxide.  I would cluster these labs because the hydrogen peroxide has a relatively short shelf life.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 16 Redox

Let me dream!  Module 16 is Redox, Oxidation Reduction.  Only Honors Chemistry has explored Redox because the class preps for AP Chemistry.  A Greener Redox uses zinc chloride and magnesium ribbon.  Here is a traditional Redox lab with a series of nitrate compounds.  It’s also a metal activity series.

Apologia Chemistry: What is microscale chemistry?

Apologia Chemistry program offers an optional MicroChem kit.  What is microchemistry?  Microchem uses small amounts of chemicals and solutions for the experiments.  It's safer and less expensive.  The labs use drops of reagents instead of beakers.  Typically, labs are conducted in reaction plates with pipettes.  What supplies are needed for microscale chemistry?  The basics are reaction plates, syringes, mini test tubes, (borosilicate or Pyrex or Kimex)  pipettes, cassette cases (to hold pipettes), toothpicks (or wood stir sticks), dropper bottles, —even straws cut into tiny scoops, and blister packs from gum.


Here are instructions for a series of microchem experiments.  The instructions indicate how to manipulate the pipettes for different labs.  This UNESCO microscale chemistry lab manua has detailed instructions for complex chemical reactions.  There are different types of pipettes: graduated pipettes, thin stem,  and different sizes, which range from 1 mL to 10 mL.  This article has an image of basic microchem equipment.  Tea candles can heat borosilicate test tubes.  (Buy tea candles at the dollar store.)  You can even perform microscale has chemistry experiments or these or UNESCO Micro-Experiments or these or microscale for primary science.

When you do these labs, there is much less waste to dispose in the trash or down the sink.  Micro scale or small scale labs are cheaper, greener, and safer.

Apologia Chemistry: Acid Nomenclature Module 9 and 10

Today we taught how to name Binary and Ternary Acids.  A colleague taught me this song to use.  I teach ternary acid naming first.  Below is the song’s tune.   Basically, we practiced naming polyatomic ions and acids. Here is a practice worksheet with key.

Here is the Acid Naming Song
(Bridge over the River Kwai)


Acids there are two kinds of them
Acids there are two kinds of them
Binary you add a hydro
Put on an -ic and add an acid
And you’re done, done, done, done.


Acids there are two kinds of them
Acids there are two kinds of them
Ternary, if it’s an -ite make it an -ous
If it’s an -ate make it an -ic and add acid
And you’re done, done, done, done.


And then there’s oxygen, if there’re two less of them
Hypo is what we call it then
Too many O make it per you know
One less O and it’s -ite
And that’s no fright and
We’re done, done, done,done!

Science Camp: Mad Science Why do Camp?

Science Camp is one of my passions.  Before we moved to help with our grandson, my husband and I directed VBS and Science Camp at our church in West Virginia.  Home-school families at our church asked me to run a science camp.  I received permission from our pastor.  Yes, 40% of the kids were from home-school families; however, 60% were from the community—some weren’t parishioners.

I had led science camps at private schools where I taught and charged $250 for the week.  But, our church was in West Virginia.  We set the fee at $25 per family and admitted everyone, independent of whether or not they could afford the $25 fee.  I ran a book and toy sale to raise money for VBS and Science Camp and begged.  We had 40-50 kids each year at camp.  My budget was $500.

The key to stretching funds is to use household chemicals.  For example, glycerin and dish soap make super bubbles; corn syrup and dish soap work nearly as well.  I raided yard sales for cassette cases and CDs.  I made lists and begged for donations: q-tips, straws, coffee filters, baggies, pipe cleaners, beads, etc.

Next summer’s camp will only have 12 or so kids.  I’ll raid my house and science supplies for materials.  We’re saving tons of recycled bottles, boxes, etc.  I stalk Good Will and Walmart clearance aisles.  Hosting a quality science camp is not cheap—it doesn’t need to be cost prohibitive.  Just look at these minute to win it Science ideas.

Summer Camp: Mad Science Just for Fun!

When I plan a summer camp, I schedule in fun.  Start with games: Human Ring Toss, hula hoop contests, water balloon toss, relay races, even Human Piñata.  When the kids make chalk, we plan time to make murals.  Make chalk paint to use with home-made chalk.  Buy a box of sidewalk chalk, too.  How does home-made chalk compare with commercial sidewalk chalk?

Plan a few crafts, too.  Teach paracord crafts or Leather crafts.  Let the kids make Chemistry cards, I Spy bottles, or decorate Periodic Table cookies.  Let the kids assemble juice box robots for snack.  Make lizard lanyards with pony beads and UV beads.


While we are prepping for camp, let’s print experiments for the science kits or samples from TOPS.  Add fun activities, such as tornado in a bottle or snow globe.  I think these Halloween candy experiments are perfect for their science kits.

What’s in our science kits?  We fill shoe boxes or coffee canisters with pipettes, mini test tubes, clothespins, (test tube holders) a cassette case (The cassette case hold pipettes or mini test tubes.), dropper bottles, small containers, stir sticks, craft sticks, and safety glasses.  The kids mark and fill the small containers with salt, sugar, cornstarch, baking soda, and citric acid.  The kids add materials to their kits over the course of the week of camp.  Imagine getting your own kit!

How about games?  More games?

Science Camp Mad Science Day Two

I'm publishing links for the activities we're planning for next summer's science camp so you can start saving materials.

Day Two: Optics and Color
1.  Smart Phone Projector and Smart phone speakers or These smart phone speakers
2. Optical Illusions
3.  CD spinners
4. Flip sticks
5. Colorful Lather Prints
6. Marbling Rocks
7. Marker Butterflys
8. Color changing milk
9. 3D hand prints
10. Persistence of Vision

Science Camp: Mad Science Day Four

I'm publishing links for the activities we're planning for next summer's science camp so you can start saving materials.

Day Four: The Joy of Toys
1. Slime
2. Chalk
3. Play dough
4. Giant Bubbles
5. Build simple catapult
6. Build balance boards
7. UV bead bracelets
8. Head harps
9. Dancing Man
10. CD spectroscope
11. Beaker Creatures (toys in bath bombs)

Science Camp: Mad Science Day Five

I'm publishing links for the activities we're planning for next summer's science camp so you can start saving materials.

Cd Case Frame

Day Five: Rockets and Mayhem
1. Mighty seltzer rockets
2. Water Rockets
3. Stomp Rockets
4. Cartesian Divers
5. Vortex bottles
6. Magic Sand
7. Instant Snow
8. Water beads
9. Germs
10. Super Balls

Summer Science Camp: Mad Science Day One

We are in the process of planning, testing ideas, and organizing materials.  I’m saving ideas by day here.  Below are Pix from our test test for Edible Science.  The teens tried Edible Water Bottles and Juice Spheres.  What a mess.  There is no way we’re doing juice spheres.  One teen demonstrated edible water bottles and the kids weren’t interested.  The edible pudding slime was a hit and the edible jello slime a flop.  We just did pop rocks in soda.  We’ll need to add more experiments. BTW, four of the kids are nine.  The others are 11-16.  Our target age is about 7-10.

Shirts: colored shirts, painter’s tape, acrylic paint, resist on t-shirts
Cousins Games: hula hoop and hold hands
Minute to Win It ideas for Games

I'm publishing links for the activities we're planning for next summer's science camp so you can start saving materials.

Egg toss sheet cookie pan

Day One: Edible Chemistry
1. Edible Chemistry
2. Pudding Slime
3. Jello Slime
4. Pop Rocks recipe
5. Pop rocks, soda, and balloon
6. Edible Water Bottles
7.  Spherification
8. Red Cabbage Chemistry
9. Gummy Bears Recipe
10. Candy Science: Test for acidic and basic candies
11. Dancing Gummy Worms or Dancing Raisins
12. Ice Cream in a Bag