Test for Covid

 My husband, Rob, and I just returned from the Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.  We helped our son, Fr. Josh, with a Family Day VBS.  We have another family member with high risk health issues here at home.  Rob and I have been vaccinated; our family member wanted a negative Covid test after we returned.  I had been interested in the home test kits.  We used the BinaxNow kit kit.  How accurate are home kits?  We both tested negative.  BinaxNow is 98.5% accurate for negative results.  The test was easy and fairly noninvasive.  Here is Abbott’s website with a bit more information about the test kit.  Here is even more information.  The antibodies are in the test card, much like the Eldon blood test card blood type kit.  Yet another opportunity for a science lesson.

eScience Geology Kit

 Good Will has a nice Geology kit listed.  The CD included should have labs.  The eScience kits are usually designed for Community College students taking courses online.  The labs are suitable for high school and sometimes middle school students.  Watch the shipping!

Sonlight Science Kit

 Good Will has a Sonlight Science Kit available.  The materials may be from different kits.  There is a dissection set, a graduated cylinder, copper pipes, etc.  The white box may have slides.  Take a look!

Star Wars Lego Boost

 We ran into a few hiccups completing the Star Wars LEGO Boost.  Once we assembled R2D2, we were unable to connect the power pack to the iPad via the LEGO Boost app.  No idea why.  Believe me we tried just about everything: updating the iPad software, switching on and off the Bluetooth, and changing the batteries in the power pack.  Uncle.  Paul’s daddy is working on a solution.

Portfolio Season

 In Science, just as in every subject, it’s essential to document everything.  My Co-op students are members of several online home-school programs.  I try to make the science class work easy to document.  This year was entirely remote.  The kids submitted everything electronically.  I saved submissions in a folder in Gmail.  When kids submitted work, I loaded tests into Jamboard, graded assignments, took screenshots, and returned the graded work.  The kids took photos of labs for submission.  The grades are in Google Classroom and available to download into a spreadsheet.  The result is a robust sample of the work assigned.  There is plenty of evidence that the Chemistry class was lab-based.  The lab reports are saved in Google Docs, ready to submit.  Is it a pain?  Absolutely.  I want my kids to earn high school credit for my Co-op Chemistry class.  I make a point to document everything.  I even send my blog address to online home-schools with work samples and lab photos.  Families can take the photos, Docs, and links and save them in a spreadsheet for submission as a portfolio of work completed.  Job done.

Learn to Program with a Graphing Calculator

Did you know teachers once used graphing calculators to teach basic programming?  You can learn to code with any TI graphing calculator—even an older TI 82.  Start with this introduction and try 10 Minutes of Code.  What is the advantage of programming with a calculator rather than a computer?  The computer has many more distractions, such as YouTube, which the calculator does not have.  Take screenshots of the instructions and turn off the WiFi.

Science Lab Equipment at Good Will.

Good Will online has two listing for science labs which are good values: Science Equipment and Ring Stands.  The science equipment listing is an eScience chemistry kit, a type of lab kit custom made for online, college chemistry classes.  If the combined cost of the listing and shipping is under $50, it’s a good value.  The kit has a molecular model set, which sells used for about $20, two digital scales at about $10-$20 each, and a variety of basic lab equipment.  

The second listing for ring stands with clamps and rings is for ‘pick-up’ only.  If you live near Statesville, NC and home-school or teach a Co-op, this is a fantastic deal.  I only wish I lived closer!  Below is an image of the Science Equipment listing from  Good Will online.  

Feral Hogs

 I’m planning for Biology in the Fall. The Virginia DWR has teacher resources for problem based learning.  (Scroll down the page for the Feral Hog zipped link.  The documents are PDFs.)  My plan is to use the article as part of the Ecology unit, one of the earliest modules I do in Biology.  Why?  There are a number of ecological terms and feral hogs makes an interesting topic for discussion.  Along with feral hogs, we’ll address the tone in the article.  I plan to ask kids their opinions about feral hogs for sport.  I look for topics which elicit a good discussion, albeit without politics.

One more time! Why do I use Christian Biology textbooks?

 I teach Biology to home-school families. I use Christian Biology textbooks, any Apologia Biology edition. I assured the families that Evolution and Sex Education are not part of my curriculum.  The single chapter on Evolution is read at home and discussed as a family.  Sex Ed is strictly a family subject.  We discuss Bioethics from an orthodox Roman Catholic world view which values life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.  My job is to support the home-school families, not undermine their beliefs.  So, I stick to Apologia’s textbooks.  When the kids do a unit on Bioethics, all of the families are advised well in advance.  Lastly, parents are always welcome to join my classes.  I have had many home-school parents sit in class for months just to be certain the science instruction was consistent with their faith.  In a society seemingly intent on eroding family values, I’m determined to teach Biology as a science, not as a soapbox.  Apologia it is!

Biology Websites

 Let me share a few of the best Biology collections: Biology Junction, The Biology Corner, TEKs Gateway (Use the search bar.), and this comprehensive list of sites from NABT, The National Association of Biology Teachers.  One caveat: national Biology websites promote liberal perspectives.  I just sift through to the useful materials and ignore the liberal politics.  

ABO Simulation

 I’m prepping for Biology next Fall.  Here is an entire series of lessons and simulated blood labs with detailed instructions.  Scroll down the document for the blood recipe.  The recipes for the suspects and anti-sera use chemicals such as Epsom salts (MgSO4) and washing soda (Na2CO3).  Calcium nitrate for the anti-A and anti-Rh is available on Amazon—but it’s pricey.  I’m going to try making a different precipitate with calcium chloride and baking soda.  (Driveway Heat is calcium chloride.). I need to see how well the solutions color with food dye.  I found this Virtual Blood Test Lab for the kids to use if they are confused.  I’m  putting blood tests on the list for summer projects.

Alia-seltzer Video

 Here is a video of Alia-seltzer rockets performed today outside in the street.

More Alka-seltzer and Soda Science Photos

My Chemistry kids are completing the last of the labs.  Below are pix from the Alka-seltzer and soda labs.

 

Let’s prepare for Biology!

 Biology can be an expensive course: microscopes, dissection supplies, lab gear, etc.  Here are a few tips.  I own several microscopes I bought used.  However, my students use inexpensive, USB digital microscopes with laptops.  (The Jiusion is fine.). Make sure the microscope works with your laptop.  Most are.  Order it from Walmart or Amazon so it’s easy to return if the microscope is incompatible.  Buy a set of 25 Microscope slides.  (The price to beat is $14.). The goal is for kids to practice looking at microscope slides and making sketches.  

My students build, draw, and analyze Biomolecules with molecular model sets.  (The price to beat is $20.). Save money and craft your own molecular models, especially if you have clay on hand or like to make clay.  

I buy specimens for dissections from Home Science Tools (HST).  My students dissect all seven specimens.  Two or three students share specimens.  If you must economize, dissect the fish and frog.  HST sells both individually.  

The last big ticket item is individual blood test kits, such as the Eloncard blood test kit. I shop eBay and Amazon to find kits for under $10 each.  

Now is the time to look for deals for prepared microscope slides, molecular models, and lab specimens.  Preserved specimens in sealed bags, carefully stored, are fine for five years or so.  Message the seller to ask how old the specimens are.  Remember, HST has excellent prices for specimens. I recommend  the Biology Coloring book to save on copies.  Next fall, I’ll post loads of inexpensive labs and activities.  It’s not too soon to shop for fall.

Alka-Seltzer and Soda Science Labs

My Chemistry class is winding down.  We have one more class.  I asked the kids to do two soda pop labs from Neo/Sci Soda Pop kit and two Alka-seltzer labs.  Below are pix one student jus sent.  Yes, the Alka-seltzer tablets, soda, and film cartridge were part of the Chem kit I sent home.  The student even sent a short video of the Alka-seltzer rocket.  Yes, some of the labs in the kit were added to do as a family with younger siblings because we are home-schoolers.