Mad Science: Stem Kits: Hex Bug and Air Powered Car

Guess who has STEM kits?  Good Will online has Hex Bug Vex Robotics Starter kit and Air Power Engine Kit.  Our household is planning and testing STEM activities and programming Lego Boost.  I bet you are looking for kits for your kids.  These two kits are priced fairly; they each retail for about $25.  Believe me; I have a stack of science kits we break out on a rainy afternoon.  Could you build your own?  Here and here are simple air-powered cars you can make with plastic bottles, straws, and balloons.   This air car kit is less expensive.  Be critical of any STEM kit.  Ask yourself if you and your kids could make a model instead.

Apologia Chemistry: Organic Hydrocarbons Introduction

Warning!  I love Organic Chemistry.  I like for my kids to have an introduction during Chemistry.  This may be much more than your class wants to tackle.  Before we do the modules on Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Equilibrium, and Redox, we are doing Organic Chem.  Yeah!  I am compiling resources: Hydrocarbon chapter introduction, Study Guide for Notes (answer key), Nomenclature WS 10.4 (answer key), Nomenclature 10.7 (answer key), and Organic functional groups.  I have a brief introductory slideshow.  My plan is for the kids to name, write, and make the molecules.

 The class builds and names the first ten alkanes and then tackles the 10.4 Worksheet.  We use molecular model kits to build the molecules on the worksheet.  Where do you get molecules?   I use Lab-aids Molecules of Life for large classes.  (Yes, the kit is pricey, about $125.00.)  Ebay has inexpensive molecular model kits from China.  (The issue is the amount of time for the molecules to arrive.)  Here are models you make by labeling your fingers. The kids can make molecules with play dough and toothpicks.  Below are videos for naming organic molecules.

Video 1 in the Organic Series

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

Video 6

Mad Science: Colorful Bubbles

Warning!  Before you make colorful bubbles, put on a paint smock, lab apron, or old clothes.  Have you seen Bubble Colors?  This is an experiment challenging kids to make red bubbles.  The issue is the experiment uses commercial bubble solution.  Kids try to dye it.  What about bubbles you make from scratch?  At Mad Science Camp, we make bubbles on Friday.  I like the idea of making bubbles as an experiment.  Here are classic bubble recipes with either corn syrup or glycerin.  Kids can experiment with different brands of dish detergents.  (Dawn is best.)  We want to try to make multi-colored bubbles.  Here are directions for colorful bubbles using paint.  Here are directions to make bubbles with food coloring.  These are supposed to be stainless.  I want to try food coloring, acrylic paint, and cabbage powder.  Let's hope it's nice outside.  The kids will make one classic recipe for bubbles with corn syrup, Dawn, and water.  They'll experiment with different pigments and might try the stainless bubbles.  I can't wait!

We tried coloring bubbles.  So disappointing.  We colored both homemade and commercial bubble solutions.  None colored well.  Crud.

Mad Science: Dollar Tree Science

Have you seen Dollar Tree Crafts or Hacks?  Dollar Tree has science materials.  Start with chemicals:  rubbing alcohol, white glue, Epsom salts, cornstarch, baking soda, peroxide, and table salt.  (Walmart is also great for science materials.).  The next category is Novelty Toys: grow animals, glitter slime (to compare with homemade slime), and  bouncy balls (Stacked Ball Drop—bouncy ball on a tennis ball.),. Dollar Tree has science toys: Mini-Copters, rockets, bubbles, and chalk.  I buy toys and compare them with DIY chalk, bubbles, and rockets, or paper stomp rockets.  Toys add to the fun.  I buy customizable travel mugs at Dollar Tree for the kids.  Use the paper inserts as a template and cut blank pieces.  The kids draw and color the paper with science images to customize the mug. I sew draw string bags in plain fabric for the kids to decorate and store their loot from camp, such as the little toys.  One more tip—buy plastic dinosaurs toys to use to make fossil casts.  Isn’t this fun?

Mad Science: Do Camp at home

Our household does science.  My husband teaches Math and  Physics; I teach Biology and Chemistry.  Clearly we like STEM.  Usually in the summer my husband and I volunteer for VBS, Cub Scout Camp, and Science Camp.  We had planned to host a Science Camp at home.  Since we are in lockdown our plan is to continue school all summer and add camp activities to our schedule.  Mad Science this summer has Chemistry and Physics as the theme.

Start planning your camp.  Let’s talk about science kits.  Scrounge first for materials at home.  Clothespins can serve as test tube holders.  I buy bags of small plastic test tubes which fit in cassette cases, and substitute for test tube racks.  Dollar Tree sells test tubes with racks by the case.  (If you can shop at Dollar Tree start there for many science materials.). Buy pipettes or medicine droppers.  Add craft sticks or coffee stirrers to stir potions.  Kids love small jars to store powdered chemicals: Epsom salts, cornstarch, baking soda, table salt, citric acid, and plaster.  Label the jars.  Older kids can write the chemical names and formulas.  Add plastic paint palettes to use as reaction plates.  We use empty coffee cans or shoe boxes  to store all of the science equipment.  Decorate the box with science symbols.

After the kits organize their science kits, let them decorate large t-shirts as Lab coats.  Don’t forget safety glasses. (Kids can use them for nerf wars, too.). If you are going for a traditional camp approach, tie dye the tshirts.  I use Dharma Dyes.  Let the kids experiment with different mordants. Alum is a good mordant and makes giant crystals—add crystals to your list of science experiments.

If you have a dedicated space for Mad Science Camp, let the kids decorate posters for the walls.  Print a few Memes.  Have a contest for the best Lab Safety bumper sticker or cartoon.  The kits, posters, and  t-shirts should keep your kids engaged for two hours.  Look at you!  Your first day of camp is sorted.

Mad Science: Steve Spangler is planning a Virtual STEM Camp! Plan yours!

Steve Spangler is hosting Virtual Science Camps live by Zoom in June.  Plan your own science camp.    You can do it!  Do you need ideas?  I am here for you!  Start here, the Big Picture for the Mad Science Camp I was planning for June.  Here are some of the posts with ideas for Mad Science Camp: Competitions, Launchers, Instant Snow, Candy Science, CSI, Coding, Anatomy Academy, and Science Equipment—Make Your Own!  Yes, there are more Mad Science posts.  BTW, Mad Science is on Pinterest, too.  Determine your theme.  Our Mad Science Camp was planning to focus on Chemistry and Physics, two of our favorite topics.  Like you, we are in lock-down, too.  My family is doing experiments at home—all of us like lab.  We will keep posting our experiments with videos for you.  What are you waiting for?  Steve Spangler’s camp is $249.  You can do Mad Science Camp for less!  Let’s do this.

Mad Science Camp: Cartesian Diver and Crush Can

Update: We did Balloon in a Bottle, too.  I finally added the video below.  We forgot to upload it.   The kids submitted lab reports explaining how each demo or activity operates in terms of gases and pressure.

At our house, we do a great deal of science.  Monday, we made Cartesian divers and crushed cans.  Both of these activities are perfect for virtual science camp.  Ask the kids to explain why the diver dives and why the can crushes.  Did you hear Steve Spangler is hosting a virtual STEM Camp?  Hey!  You can do your own camp. Cartesian divers and can crushing are both very affordable camp ideas.  Make the divers more of a STEM activity.  Try different versions of Cartesian divers: Pen Caps diver,  Soy sauce diver,  Eye dropper, and pipette divers.    Start with a look at the videos.

Apologia Chemistry Module 12: The Gas Phase Video Series

Earlier I posted an intro blog post to Module 12, The Gas Phase with videos.  Here are a set of gas law problems. (Here is the answer key.)  Today I made seven short videos about gas laws:a bit of background, types of gas laws, and tutorials.  They are below in order--likely more than you want to know about gas laws.  Hope they help.

                                        Video 1: Intro

                                           Video 2: Gas Law Units and Combined Gas Law

                                         Video 3: Ideal Gas Law

                                         Video 4: More on Ideal Gas Law

                                          Video 5: Even more on Ideal Gas Law

                                           Video 6: How to do Combined Gas Law problems

                                          Video 7: How to do Ideal Gas Law problems

Apologia Chemistry and Biology: Molecular Models at Good Will

Update!  Good Will has a new listing for Molymod Molecular Model Sets. This is a terrific deal.

I am planning an Organic Chem model for Chemistry.  It helps to use molecular models to teach Organic Chem.  Good Will online frequently has listing for molecular models: Prentice Hall Molecular Organic Chemistry Model Set, Molecular visions Model Kit, Student Molecular Model Set, and Flexible Molecular Model Set—this type makes molecules which are hard to understand.   I like the Organic Chemistry Model set.  These have larger atoms and easier to assemble into organic molecules.  Here is a similar molecular model kit on eBay.  This kit is similar and priced at $12.  I bought this Lab-aids Molecules of Life Kit for my Biology class.  It was pricey; I do use the molecules for instruction in Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry.  The molecules are small; however there are enough atoms for a large class to build models.  I need to step away from the Good Will and eBay listings for molecules; there is a large box of the kits in my basement.

OSMO Starter Kit

Good Will online has an OSMO starter kit listing.  The starter kits retail for $189.  Right now the listing on Good Will is running about $30 with shipping.  OSMO interacts with an iPad.  This is an interactive educational game system.  Take a look at this video to see if you might be interested.  Ordinarily, I would be very excited to try a new STEM gadget.  But one  of OSMO’s featured activities is tangrams, not one of my favorites.  I am sure tangrams build spacial skills; they just leave me cold.  Don’t let me bias your interest.  Take a look.

Apologia Chemistry Module 12: The Gas Phase or Gas Laws

I am organizing materials for Module 12.  Here is an overview of the Gas Law formulas.  Here is a page of resources: animations, labs, and links.  (I checked several links--they are active.  Mr. Clark maintains his website.)  This textbook chapter may help visual learners.  One gas law lab you can do at home is Crush Cans. Another here is the Cartesian Diver.  (Here are instructions for the Cartesian diver using a pen cap.). How do we include this as a lab?  Treat each fun experiment as a lab.  In the background section, explain how the cans crush in terms of pressure and gas molecules.  Explain how pressure on the system changes the driver’s density.  The whole family can do these two activities together.  We did both as a family here.   Fun, right?

Apologia Chemistry: Module 11 Solutions

My class is working on the experiments this week for Module 11.  This morning Lacie did all four experiments: 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, and 11.4.  We substituted CaCl2 (Driveway Heat) for Lye.  Please do not use lye! Lacie followed the directions from the textbook.  She did not have any real trouble doing these labs.   My class is writing summaries explaining the purpose of each lab.  Here is an overview for Module 11.

Lego Boost Robot: Video

I have been posting about Paul's Lego Boost here and here. The robot took over two hours to build over the past three days.  (Paul played with the Lego Boost after finishing class work.) We made a short video below.  Take a look.

Apologia Biology Module 6: The Cell

Cells are important concepts for kids.  I usually do Module 6 after Ecology.  Here are photos with ideas for cell models.  Here is a rubric and guide for the cell model project.  I discourage jello cell models which ooze everywhere.  My class may use dry beans, buttons, pipe-cleaners, polymer clay organelles, etc.  Students must include a title and key.  Here is a simple example from the Biology Co-op class I taught 2018/2019.

Mad Science Camp: Farm Camp

The local Boy Scout Council is planning Cub Scout Day Camp with Down on the Farm camp theme in June, Covid-19 permitting.  My husband and I like to volunteer for camp.  My job is crafts—with some added science. Usually, we do Cub Scout crafts, such as making leather neckerchief slides along with farm activities.  Sometimes the planners assign crafts to make.  I don’t mind.  I do plan extra activities.   We always need a few.  Once I was stranded with 30 Cub Scouts during a storm for two hours.  We were ready.

How do you stick with the theme and add a bit of science?  Obvious ideas include a mini-terrarium in a jar (with farm animals made with polymer clay and an LED tea candle), and water bottle filtration system.  Farmers often have a background in soil science and conservation.  Here are soil science experiments.  I like the Bernese Funnel to extract insects from leaf litter.  I want to make the ‘I SPY bottle in the Down on the Farm packet, just for fun.  Here is an example with dyed rice.  (The kids can add polymer food such as an egg, pumpkin, ear of corn, berries, etc.) You can add a bit of science to Funny Face Grass in a Cup by having kids plant both grass seed cups and radish seed cups to determine which seeds sprout first.

Here is one more idea—set up a microscope. Use a digital microscope with a USB plug to attach to a laptop.  Ideally, I set up three computers with digital microscopes for groups of eight or more kids.  Have the soil samples out and let them collect other interesting items to observe.  My kids focus the item with the microscope and take screen shots.  Here is where you get creative.  Use the microscope screen shots as inspiration to paint Canvas Art with Plastic Animals.  The day the kids make polymer animals, make some with Sculpey Clay to bake and paint.  I recommend making the polymer clay animals for the terrarium, I Spy, and Canvas Art projects early in the week to allow enough time to bake or air dry and paint the animals and farm products.  (Buy a bag of plastic animals for younger kids or children with disabilities to use instead of  making polymer animals.). Look at you making the science creative!

Light Up Crystal kit and Terrarium

Good Will has a listing for a Mini Explorer Terrarium and Light up Crystal Kit. Amazon lists the terrarium at $35 and the crystal kit at $29.  These kits are good candidates for presents if the bidding is under $15.  Here are instructions for LED crystal structures with LED tea lights.  Here are direction for a terrarium with LED candles.  I would make it with inexpensive LED tea lights and use a large plastic container as a terrarium.  Cool ideas, right?

Mad Science: Anatomy Academy CPR

Are you planning to do science camp at home?  Want to Anatomy Academy?  Good Will has a family of CPR manikins.  Some parents have EMT training or are nurses.  Teach CPR at home.  Use your background to map out an anatomy camp.  Here are first-aid ideas.  This post has a link to my Anatomy Pinterest board. If you have a healthcare background, use it!  I’m betting your kids will love evaluating some of the ideas and creating science camp at home.

More about Lego Boost.

Our nine year old grandson, Paul, is working every day with Lego Boost. (Here is an earlier post.)  Paul's daddy is a software engineer; he wants Paul to spend an hour coding everyday.  Yesterday, Paul worked for an hour on the robot build.  He still needs to add the feet.  Lego Boost comes with the Legos for all of the builds listed on the package.  Below are photos from yesterday's build.  The building instructions are part of the app.  BTW the robot took over an hour to build--Paul is an experience Lego builder.

Apologia Young Explorers Zoology 1: Fossil Casts

Lesson Eight has a project, Make a Fossil Egg.  Surprise!  I modified the activity.  Home Science Tools (HST) has an activity, Making a Fossil Cast.  (HST store sells plaster and fossils.  Walmart sells plaster in the craft section.). First, what is the point of making a fossil cast?  Here is one explanation.  Fossil casts may be used to preserve the fossil, to create museum models, or to record the fossil in situ, where it originated.

We used fossils on hand I collected from the Chesapeake Bay, mainly shark teeth and bits of jaw bone.  (Here is a link for fossil molds.). Guess what?  We substituted Sculptee clay for the plaster or play doh. I had it on hand.   Paul pressed the fossils into the clay and we baked his fossil casts.  Nice and neat.  Below are some photos.

Apologia Biology: Coloring Workbook

One resource I use frequently in Biology is a Coloring Workbook.  The Biology Coloring Book is available for about $5 used.  There are free coloring worksheets.  The used coloring workbooks are often cheaper than the cost of copies.  If the workbook or coloring book has too many details or notes, kids grow to hate them.  Some topics lend themselves better to coloring pages.  Use them to label the microscope and compare animal and plant cells.  I like to use detailed coloring pages for animals when kids dissect.  I do not advise using them every week.  Kids are going to be sketching slides, too.  Buy a Biology coloring workbook and use it judiciously.

Apologia Biology Module 1: Comparison Charts

I am prepping materials for Biology next fall.  One of the first topics is Classification.  Once we discuss the six kingdoms, I like to start with Six Kingdom Comparison Chart.  One thing we do in Biology is make comparisons.  Now is the time to learn how to make charts.  This Six Kingdom Chart has broad categories and answers.  Have your child browse and summarize the six kingdoms to understand how organisms differ are increasingly complex.

Next, compare animal and plant cells.  Start with these coloring worksheets with a table of organelles.  After finishing the assignment, make a list of similarities and differences between animal and plant cells.

Let’s compare prokaryotes and eukaryotes.  Once agin, let’s do a coloring worksheet, answer questions, and make a chart for the student’s notebook.  Get in the habit of making comparisons right from the beginning.

One last idea is Cell Comparisons.  The comparison charts offer a good starting point for making comparisons between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, as well as Eubacteria, plant, and animal cells.

Mattel Hot Wheels Rocket Car Science Kit

Good Will has a listing for Mattel Hot Wheels Rocket Car Science Kit.  What is it?  The Rocket Car is powered with a reaction between vinegar and baking soda.  I want to test citric acid, water, and baking soda, as well as alka-seltzer and water. The Good Will bid with shipping is comparable to listings on eBay.  I am tempted by the Rocket car; I am going to shop around for a better price. It’s a cool idea for a gift.  Want another fun Rocket? The Mighty Seltzer Rocket from Educational Innovations is a great rocket.

Where do you get inspiration? Today it’s a sextant!

Often my inspiration comes from topics I’m currently teaching.  Mad Science usually has ideas from past science camps.  The biggest source of inspiration is Good Will online, the home to all things random.  Today Good Will has a new listing for a sextant. Sargent Welch is a science outlet.  New sextants retail for $63.90.  Sextants are used in astronomy.  Guess what?  Here are instructions from NASA how to make your own sextant with a protractor,msg ring, and washer.  The instructions include examples and uses for sextants.  Fun, right?

Mad Science: Lego Boost

Update: We love Lego Boost.  Paul spent hours programming the robot.  Now for the cat!  Do you think we have enough electronics?

Did you read my post about Scratch, Coji, and Lego Boost?  Our family is trying to do science camp activities at home every day after school work.  Right now, Paul, our nine year old grandson, is coding with Lego Boost.  Last week, we did the first build and played with the app.  Below is a brief video of the app with the build.  Lego Boost is fairly intuitive.  Once you load the app to an iPad, the device syncs by Bluetooth when you press the green button.  There are layers of code.  Take a look at the video to see.

Apologia Chemistry Module 11: Solutions and Koolaid Concentration Lab

My kids are doing the Koolaid Concentration Lab to learn how to prepare and dilute stock solutions, in this case, a stock solution of Kool-aid.  For this lab purposes, we are using moles of sucrose, granulated, white sugar, to calculate molarity—-not the Koolaid packet added.  We are treating the Kool-aid powder as dye.  The molar mass of sucrose is about 342 g/mol—depending how you round or do not round the molar masses.  The other issue is the mass of sucrose in a cup: 200-215 grams per cup.  Arrrgggghhhh!  Take a look at the video for more instructions and issues related to this lab.

Mad Science: Dow Science Starts with a Question

Summer Science Camp may take place at home.  If fact, our family plans to start Mad Science Camp soon.  Right now, I am compiling resources.  Today’s sample is Dow Science Starts with a Question.  This is a thoughtful lesson with interesting applications, such as links to the chemicals and food, such as onion rings and veggie burgers.  Two of the labs require baking soda, sodium alginate, and calcium chloride.  Order phenol red to use the baking soda and calcium chloride to do Reaction in a Bag.  Here is some background on sodium alginate.  Finally, here are instructions for sodium alginate juice spheres.  Try using a dropper bottle, syringe, or pipette to drop the balls into calcium chloride solution.  Anything worth doing is worth over-doing.

Universe Unboxed: Is it a good deal?

Good Will has a listing for Universe Unboxed Survival Science., which lists for $20.  The contents and experiments look interesting.  FYI Calcium chloride is Driveway Heat.  The iron filings are to make a hand warmer.  The projects include a compass,solar oven, and filtration system.  It has an assortment of experiments.  The listing comes with a game, True Science.  This is the sort of kit I buy for gifts.  You might want the kit for the experiments.  I do buy kits occasionally to see the contents and ideas for experiments.   Not a bad deal.

Apologia Young Explorers Zoology 1: Make connections to Scouts

Paul, nine, is in Cub Scouts.  There is some overlap with some of the Zoology projects and activities and the Cub Scout badge, Into the Wild.  One badge activity is bird watching; this activity dovetails well with he life list activity in Zoology 1.  Paul is working on Lesson 6, Bats, which are keystone species.  Another badge requirement is about ecosystems.  My plan is to show Paul how to do a food web which features bats in the our backyard ecosystem to comply with a badge requirement for food chains, producers, consumers, and decomposers.  Here is a photo of the food web.

Mad Science: Learn to Code: MIT Scratch, Coji, and Lego Boost

Update: We are doing Mad Science Camp at home.  I will post ideas you could use for Science Camp at home.  Is your child interested in learning to code? Start with MIT Scratch.  Paul and I used 20 Games to Create with Scratch to learn how to navigate Scratch.  There is a Scratch coding book available in Kindle Unlimited.  Try your digital library, too.  My digital library has coding books—but, not MIT Scratch online to borrow.

 Buy Coji to try first.  Coji is available for $23 on Amazon right now.  The Coji robot needs an free app downloaded to an iPad which syncs by Bluetooth.  Kids tap on icon codes to program Coji.  This toy is easy to set up for play.  Start with Coji to see if your kid likes coding before you upgrade to Lego Boost.

Full disclosure: my son-in-law, Ken, is a software engineer and Lego fan.  He bought Lego Boost for our grandson, Paul (9) to program.  Ken has brought over many kits for us to explore with Paul, such as Little Bits and Go Pro with Hot Wheels.  I am the designated trouble-shooter.  I approach every new project with a great deal of trepidation.  Paul approaches every new project with enthusiasm.

Lego Boost was not terrible.  Here is the rub; there are few instructions.  Once I opened the kit, there was a plain box and a giant poster with a photo of the blocky object in the plain, white box.  To get started, you need to download the app for Lego Boost and put six AAA batteries inside the white block, the Lego motorized hub.   I loaded the Lego Boost app to my iPad.  (Here is the guide to compatible devices.  In my experience with other devices, iPads are much more compatible than Kindle Fire devices.)   The Lego motorized hub syncs to the iPad by Bluetooth.  So far so good.  Paul and I used the Lego Boost app to build the car in the first bag.  The build was straightforward and classic Lego.  (If you have built Lego kits, you have seen the numbered bags.)  Once we built the car, we added the motor and sensor from an unmarked bag.  Then we programmed the car.  Paul swipes instruction codes for actions.  We have Coji, a coding robot, which has similar coded instructions.  Paul found the coding intuitive.  I would have had to play with the settings for 15 minutes.

This is an expensive toy--$160.  But Paul and Ken love Legos, computers, and programming.  If you are familiar with Lego kits, the build is easy. You may need to fiddle with the app in order to program your new toy.   If your child is a Lego fanatic, he or she would love this toy.

Apologia Chemistry: Periodic Table Intro

Once kids memorize the Periodic Table they should understand how the Table is organized.  Start here for an introduction to names, groups, atomic mass, etc.  Here is a video lecture if you need more help.

Apologia Chemistry: Summer Assignment Periodic Table Elements Activity

In light of Covid-19, I am assembling materials for Chemistry next year.  Over the summer, my kids prepare elements cards.  Here is the blog post with photos of the element cards and colors we use.  Here is the original article about the elements and the game from the Journal of Chemical Education. I use this activity every year.  The first week or two of class the kids must memorize the most commonly used elements: 1-50, 53, 56, 78-80, 82, 86, 88, and 92.  The Periodic Table test is naming the elements using a Periodic Table without the names.  We start early testing on the Periodic Table.  It makes it easier all year to locate the elements to determine their atomic number, atomic mass, and group.

Apologia Biology Module 10: Ecological Relationships

I am sure we are all hoping to be out and about next fall.  Right now, I’m planning worst case scenarios where my Biology and Chemistry Co-op classes begin remotely.  One of the first modules I teach is Ecology, in Module 10.  Module 10, Ecology, explores relationships among organisms: symbiosis, predator-prey, and competition.  Here is a solid introductory activity.  This activity allows teens to sort examples of symbiosis into categories.  Perfect!  If we cannot meet in person, we can still do hands-on activities.

Apologia Biology: Basic Equipment for Labs

What lab equipment do you need for Biology.  Dr. Wile recommends a microscope,  microscope slides,  and a dissection set.  I have bought microscopes and slides from Good Will online.  My Biology classes met at a local library.  I had to box up the microscopes and lug them back and forth.  Now, I set up a few laptops or Chromebooks with digital microscopes. The kids focus the camera on to the slide, take a screen shot, and sketch from the image on the laptop.  I still have three or four compound microscopes; we use the digital scopes much more frequently.

I bought the dissection specimens from Home Science Tools and the dissecting tools from Good Will, Amazon, and eBay.  What do you really need to dissect?  You can use styrofoam plates, T-pins (or sewing pins), and a scalpel.  Buy the four specimens separately and save.

Here is a list of general science equipment which is useful for Biology and Chemistry: safety glasses or goggles, test tubes, test tube racks, test tube holder, test tube brush, a ring stand, beakers, graduated cylinders, Petrie dishes, metal scoops, a digital scale, funnel, thermometer, and mortar and pestle.
The Apologia Chemistry lab kit or this Basic Chemistry Set  has some of this equipment. Add a  digital scale , which is more accurate than the scale included in the Apologia kit.

Many of the other labs in Biology require simple materials you may have or are available at the Dollar store, such as baggies, iodine, and cornstarch for the diffusion lab.  My classes do NOT use alcohol burners.  We use electric ranges or sterno instead.  You can execute great labs with relatively simple materials.

Apologia Biology Module 10: Ecology Levels of Organization

One of the first ideas in a Module 10, Ecology, is levels of organization.  I do this idea in Human Anatomy and Biology.  In the body the levels of organization range from the atoms in molecules of cells to the organism.  Here is a blog post from Human Biology with plastic cups.  I write terms, cells, atoms, organs, organ systems, etc. on the rim and mix up the layers or levels of organization.  For Biology, I use this same idea with levels of organization in biological communities: biosphere, biomes, communities, ecosystems, populations, species, organisms, atoms, cells, and molecules—not in that order!  I bought plastic cups on clearance because I reuse this idea of levels for different classes.  Any stacking cup works.

Apologia Biology Module 10: Ecology Make a Food Web

After my Co-op classes completes the intro activities in Module 1, I teach Module 10,  Ecology.  In the first part of Module 1, Dr. Wile mentions herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, producers, and consumers.  Module 1 introduces dichotomous keys.  I just think it’s a good type to start Ecology.  I begin by having the kids make a list of every species in the local ecosystem; ours is an eastern deciduous forest ecosystem.  It helps to go outside and look.  The list should have 50 species and include plants, trees, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, rodents, spiders, etc.  Next, research the scientific name for each species.  As your teen researches what each species eats, she will add species to the list.  Cap the list at 100 species or the food web becomes too messy.

Before making a giant food web from the list of organisms in the local ecosystem, start small with Food Web: Identify Consumers (Key).  Are you finding the terms confusing?  Let’s sort them.  Dr. Wile uses producers and consumers.  Producers are also called autotrophs.  Consumers are primary, secondary or tertiary.   Herbivores are primary consumers.  Carnivores and omnivores are secondary or tertiary consumers.  Consumers can be called heterotrophs: first order, second order, or third order. A hawk may be a third order heterotrophs or tertiary consumer.  There can be quaternary or fourth order heterotrophs, such as a hawk which eats raccoons.  This site has examples.

Let’s try making food webs. This activity has several different sets of organisms from different ecosystems.  Use the food web diagram in Module 10.  Cut the organisms, place them into trophic levels (producer, primary consumers, etc. and draw arrows from the diner to the meal. Khan Academy has an explanation.  Scroll down for an example of a food web organized into trophic levels.

Below is a simple food web I did with my grandson, Paul, for Zoology 1.  Have a look.

Apologia Biology Module 1: Biological Keys and Experiment 1.1

Module 1 includes biological keys and Experiment 1.1, Using a Biological Key.  Biological keys are also called dichotomous keys, because they the decision tree usually has two choices.  Before you do Experiment 1.1, try this simple key.  Now use Figure 1.7, the dichotomous key, and do Experiment 1.1.  Here is a key activity for ‘norns’. Here is one more for ‘Pamishans’.  Remember, you start over with the first question for each critter until you reach its name.

Apologia Biology: Module 1 Taxonomy

Module 1 includes Biological Classification or Taxonomy.  Dr. Wile uses a five kingdom model: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.  I prefer a six kingdom model which divides Monera into Archaebacteria and Eubacteria.  Some systems use realms and domains; Dr. Wile discusses A Three Domain System, too.  Start by making up a mnemonic for Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.  Mine is Katie poured coke on father’s good suit.  Make up a better mnemonic and memorize the classification system.  The scientific name is its  genus and species names, hence binomial nomenclature.  Here are instructions for writing a scientific name.  When you write the name by hand, both genus and species are underlined.

Apologia Biology: Animal and Plant Cells or Eukaryotic Cells

I am planning some introductory lessons for Biology in case my Co-op class is still quarantined and I have to teach remotely.  After we teach lab safety and introduce the microscope, the next lesson is to compare eukaryotic plant and animal cells.  Start with coloring and labeling the animal cell and plant cell.  Kids can do this Sidewalk Chalk activity and label cells outside.

Apologia Biology Module 1 Experiment 1.2: Make Microscope Slides

Biology students need to be able to name and use a microscope and prepare microscope slides in Experiment 1.2. Home Science Tools has instructions for cork, cheek cells, and sugar or salt crystals.  HST also has a microscope data sheet.  This sheet is especially useful.  In Biology, teens need to observe and sketch plant cells, microbes, animals cells, anatomy slides, etc.  In the past, my classes used printer paper to make sketches.  Often, these sketches were not labeled with the specimen and magnification.  I plan to print single copies and ask my kids to use the copy as a guide for their microscope slides—much like a lab rubric.  Instruct your teen to make five slides and use this guide to sketch five specimens at different magnifications.  If your microscope only has two magnifications, include one sketch of the specimen under a hand lens or with the naked eye.  Take photos of the entire activity or a video and add it to your digital portfolio.

Apologia Biology Module 1: Name Parts of a Microscope

After your kids learn the names of general science equipment, teach them the names and functions of a compound microscope.  Here is a labeling worksheet with answers to use as a quiz.  Print copies and test your teen until he or she knows the names and functions of each part.  Here is a detailed microscope coloring page to use to learn the names of the microscope parts and functions.

Apologia Chemistry: Name lab equipment

One of the first activities along with Lab Safety is identifying lab equipment.  Ordinarily, I pull out all of the glassware, reaction plates, spatulas, etc and teach kids their names.  Chemistry has quite a bit of specialized equipment.  Start here by matching the pictures with names.  This activity would make a good quiz.  Are you struggling to identify the labware?  Use this.  One more resource is here.  These lab exercises are interactive.

Apologia Science: Lab Safety

In light of COVID-19, I’m planning for fall.  My plan is to teach Biology and Chemistry next fall.  What if we need remote Co-op classes initially?  I want to be ready.  One of the first topics is Lab Safety.  ECISD, a Texas school district has posted this safety lesson. The cartoon is an excellent activity.  Have your teen identify all of the safety equipment in the carton, too.   Here is a copy of Flinn Scientific’s safety contract, all my students and their parents sign.  Flinn’s safety test and answer key assess understanding.  Here is the complete safety lesson.  Scroll down the page to see the answers to the cartoon safety violations and good practices.

 Want a fun activity?  Try lab safety bumper stickers.  Here is a picture with examples.  Your kids might want to find their favorite lab safety meme.  We post them in our home-school classroom in the basement.

Science-Art Fusion Crystals Kit

What a great idea!  Let’s combine crystals with art.  Good Will has a listing for Science Art Fusion Crystals Kit.  Now the combined price of the kit and shipping are about the same as a new retail kit.  But, you can use this idea for your own crystal projects.  Start with these crystal growing ideas and supplies from Home Science Tools.  Make shapes with pipe cleaners and dip them into the crystal solutions.  Paint the crystal solutions on to paper to create pictures.  Look at Steve Spangler’s site for directions to make crystal ornaments. (Make your own shapes instead.). Here is a link for salt crystal painting.  Now make this more of a stem project.  Which types of crystals are better for painting: alum, borax, salt, or sugar?  Which type of crystals form first?  Do the crystals form more quickly if seeded?  I imagine you have some time on your hands.  Let’s combine art with science.

Where do you buy science equipment and materials?

Like you, I order plenty of supplies from Amazon or eBay.  I use Home Science Tools often for all types of science equipment and chemicals.  This company delivers chemicals to your house.  Most science companies, such as Flinn Scientific or Carolina Biological will only ship to schools or colleges.  I have persuaded Flinn to ship to the church office; however the company was reluctant.  Home Science Tools understands you are ordering materials for home or for a Co-op class.  The second company I want to recommend is Educational Innovations.  They have some of the coolest science products, such as ultraviolet detecting beads or Glo Germs.  Educational Innovations has a blog.  Home Science Tools has ideas for science projects.  I am supporting both companies because these are the type of suppliers so necessary to home-school families.  Lastly, don’t forget to check Good Will online.  You can find telescopes, microscopes, and science kits at Good Will.  Check them out!

Apologia Chemistry: Module 10: Acid Base Calculations and Identifications Worksheets

My Chemistry class needs to practice calculating pH, pOH and identifying Bronsted-Lowery conjugate acid-base pairs.  I am using this pH worksheet (key) and this conjugate acids and bases worksheet (key).  Here are the Khan Academy articles on Acids and Bases.  Below are the videos I made for pH on the calculator and an overview of three kinds of acids and bases.  I am pretty sure Lacie edited out the part where my husband, Rob, asked if we could take a break because Instacart had delivered our groceries.  I was right in the middle of Brønsted-Lowry acids and bases!  Argggh!  The struggle is real.

Apologia Chemistry: Are you looking for chemistry resources?

We all know and love Khan Academy.  The Apologia Chemistry textbook is written for home-school students.  But if you have read my blog you know I draw from other sources.  I taught in public and private schools.  There are many chemistry textbooks.  One I still use is Prentice Hall Chemistry.  It has simulations, animations, and worksheets.  My copy is a wrap-around teacher’s edition I bought used.  Wrap-around teacher editions have the answers to the activities.  Moreover, these textbooks have the supplies, concentrations, and tips for the mini-labs in the textbook.