Rubber Band Engineer

 I read the How to make Books into Magical Gifts post from Six Figures Under.  In the blog, Stefanie mentioned the book, Rubber Band Engineer  (RBE).  I bought a used copy online to see if the projects would dovetail well for Science Camp.  It turns out there are several excellent projects for my husband, Rob’s, Physics class, too: Hydraulics.  There are five hydraulics projects.  Like the other projects, the hydraulics employ simple materials: plastic syringes, tubing, cardboard, cable ties, glue guns, masking and duct tape, craft sticks, paint stir sticks, and of course, rubber bands.  The projects are similar to this hydraulic-powered hand.  Rob does special projects with his Physics class the last few weeks of class and likes to add hydraulics activities.

RBE is perfect for Science Camp, too.  There are sections with catapults and rubber band-powered flight projects perfect for tweens, who like purposeful designs.  The materials are affordable.  Home Depot sells a ten pack of 12” paint sticks for $1.48 and bundles of wood shims for $1.58.  You might have craft sticks on hand already.  I buy them in bulk.  We’ll need to alert the Thrift Store at our church to scout for clothespins, craft sticks, and rubber bands.  Borrow the book from the library or order a used copy.  My copy is going to see hard use in Physics and at Science Camp, next June.

Chemistry on a Budget: Flame Tests!

 Yes, Flame Tests can be affordable.  Flame test kits come in two varieties: Safer Flame Test kits and Traditional Flame Test kits.  The safer flame test kits usually involve Colorful Flame birthday candles.  (BTW Walmart often stocks these candles in the Party section.). Beyond Benign has this flame test lab designed for colorful birthday candles, which cost around $3. 

 Here are instructions for doing flame tests with a tea candle. (You can test these salts on the gas stove, too.).  Use chloride salts. Here is the Flinn lab with wood splints (i.e. wooden coffee stir sticks).  Sodium chloride is table salt.  Calcium chloride is Driveway Heat.  Copper II sulfate may be substituted for copper II chloride.  Make up 1 M solutions with the salts and soak either wood splints, craft sticks, or Q-tips in the solution before lighting the stick or Q-tip.  Steve Spangler has these instructions for flame tests with boric acid and cream of tartar.  

You can mix the salts in hand sanitizer and light them with a match or butane lighter.  Here are the lab instructions.  Here is an image with the colors the flames produce.  Boric acid burns green, cream of tartar, potassium bitartrate burns a light purple or violet color, table salt, NaCl, orange, Driveway Heat, CaCl2, deeper orange, and copper II sulfate teal or blue-green.  The salt solutions produce slightly different colors.   You can calculate the energy emitted, too, with these instructions.  

My Co-op Chem class does a all of these lab activities.  I plan to use the colorful candles as the quiz.  We do calculate the energy—typically with some help.

Apologia Biology: Oreo Mitosis Lab!

 I just ran across these Oreo Cell Cycle and Oreo Mitosis and Meiosis labs.  This website has photos.  The lab requires Oreo sandwich cookies and colorful sprinkles.  My teens live candy and food labs they may eat after completing the lab.  This lab is pretty budget-friendly, too.  Usually, my Bio class uses yarn on construction paper to make mitosis and meiosis models.  Oreos are much more fun!  We may do both!

The Library of Things!

Our library system is located in a large DC suburb; it’s quite innovative.  There are  Maker Spaces with 3D printers, Make and Take kits, and even The Library of Things. Whenever possible I browse the local library for ideas.  Our local library has a dedicated shelf for its Library of Things.  Today, the shelf has crochet, bocce, a thermal detector, and air quality kit.  Next summer, I plan to borrow several kits for Science Camp.  I want to borrow the radon kit, thermal sensor, and air quality sensor.  Your library may have similar devices to loan.  Check and see!  If you want to borrow environmental devices, see if you have a NASA Outreach Center.  I’ve used the center in Katherine Johnson Center located in Fairmont WV.  These centers have an assortment of tools, such as GPS devices or IR thermometers to loan.  Check with the local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if there is an educator.  Usually, Soil and Water acts as a clearinghouse for resources from several agencies.  

Science Camp: Books

 I’m researching ideas for Science Camp next June.  I came across to books in Six Figures Under post, Making ‘How to’ Books into Magical Gifts: Duct Tape Engineer and Smithsonian Maker Lab.  I thought I had reviewed just about every science or maker book; I ordered used copies of both books. The Maker Lab book has a number of familiar ideas for Camp: kaleidoscope, water wheel, balloon rocket car, etc.  It isn’t breaking new ground; however, the photography and instructions are unusually clear.  I’ll have the kids browse and select five or six activities from the book for Camp.  The Duct Tape Engineer book is a winner.  I think the geodesic dome igloo, sling, hammock, and giant catapult sound fun.  The kids will be 12-13 next June; kids that age often  like practical, purposeful, projects.  Most of the projects, such as the geodesic dome rely on inexpensive materials: plastic sheeting, cardboard,  bamboo sticks, and duct tape.  I’m going look for deals on duct tape and break down boxes to stack and save.  I’m getting excited just thinking about Camp!

Science on a Budget: Great Christmas Gifts!

 Stephanie at Six Figures Under has a frugal gift idea.  She suggests pairing a maker book with needed supplies as a Christmas present.  Our family gives books as Christmas presents, too.  We buy them used or heavily discounted at Ollie’s, which often has maker books on sale.  The idea is to pair the book with the household items, such as a book about making marshmallow shooters with the PVC pipes, couplings, and marshmallow.  What a great Christmas present!

Family Science: STEM Kits

Our little family does a lot of science on the side.  Our son-in-law is a software engineer who loves to buy fancy kits.  Ken drops off Paul and the complicated kit for us to navigate. Have you considered buying a STEM kit for Christmas?   Good Will online has a LEGO Boost, Snap Circuits, and Makey Makey kits available.  Makey Makey is a simple circuit kit.  However, this kit has clear instructions and fun ideas; kids use play doh and bananas to complete circuits.  LEGO Boost and LEGO Droid Commander are much more complicated.  First, the LEGO kits must be assembled. (You need to like building with LEGOS.  I mention this because our little family is NOT fond of building with LEGOS.) The controller needed to program the assembled robot can be tricky to insert.  (Ask me how I know.)  Our little family made the LEGO Boost kits family projects.  Programming the assembled robots was intuitive for Paul; but his daddy is a software engineer.  Paul was coding at seven.  I could understand the coding instructions from the LEGO Boost app.  I have no background or seemingly any aptitude for coding.  Look for sealed, used sets or kits.  Check at your library, too.  Ask if they have a Makey Makey kit, Snap Circuits, or other stem kits available.  Libraries with Maker Spaces often have these kits to try.  See if your kids even like Snap Circuits.  

Types of Chemical Reactions Lab

 Next week, the kids are doing labs with different types of chemical reactions.  Years ago, a colleague gave me this lab with reactions.   The first reaction is between an iron nail https://www.homesciencetools.com/product/manganese-dioxide-15-g/ and copper II chloride solution, 1M concentration.  Copper II sulfate or  copper II nitrate work, too.   Home Science Tools does sell manganese dioxide for #2.  I use 3% hydrogen peroxide from Walmart or the drug store.  Reaction #3 calls for standard baking soda and glass test tubes.  BTW glass test tubes and beakers are best for these reactions. In reaction #4, PHTH is phenolphthalein, which is combined with calcium metal turnings.  Use one small piece of calcium metal.  Reaction #5 is between two or three cm of magnesium ribbon and 1M HCl.  For Reaction #6, you can use the same copper sulfate from reaction #1.  Don’t make a solution.  Instead heat it gently in a test tube.  We use Sterno and butane lighters to heat test tubes.  Reaction #7 is a precipitate reaction.   Look at the precipitate reactions listed below.  They are cheaper.  The last reaction, #8, is between copper metal and silver nitrate, which is expensive.  You may want to just add the reactions listed below.  Don’t apologize for sticking to a budget; I happen to have some silver nitrate and copper metal shot.  We save and reuse these metals year after year.

The kids are going to do these precipitate reactions, (Student Worksheet) with household chemicals, too.  Yes, I know these reactions are labeled as Middle School.  But, the reactions are excellent.  My kids do the reactions and then write, name the compounds and elements, predict the products, and balance the equations.  Incidentally, these are the reactions I use for the Stoichiometry test.  The kids have seen the reactions and perform better on their tests using familiar reactions.  Do as many reactions as you can afford.  

I made a slideshow using Jamboard with the balanced equations and types for lab #1.  N.B.  The equations are written with a stylus.  Below are photos.

Iron nail and copper II chloride

See the changes in the copper II chloride solution and on the nail after one hour.

We used 3% hydrogen peroxide and manganese IV oxide.  Be sure to use a glowing splint—not a burning splint.

This is the reaction between calcium metal turnings and distilled water.  DO NOT TEST WITH EITHER A GLOWING OR BURNING SPLINT!  

We heated the test tubes with sterno.

This is the test between magnesium metal and hydrochloric acid.  We use 1 M hydrochloric acid.  I

The middle test tube has silver nitrate and copper shot.

Chemistry on a Budget: Frugal Melted Plastic Cup Ornaments

 This is one of those science experiments the whole family can try. My friend, Dolores, sent me a TikTok video.  I thought, ‘Does this qualify as science?’  Maybe.  Craftulate has these instructions.  You need sharpie markers and plastic cups.  I decided to try #5 and #6 plastic cups; I had both on hand.  Look on the bottom of the cup; the numbers on plastic bottles or cups identify the type of plastic. You can do a ten second lesson with the kids and explain the plastic number codes—or not.   We’re replacing our range Tuesday.  It seemed like the perfect time to melt plastic in case the fumes are too strong.  As you can see, I invested a full minute coloring the plastic cups.  There really weren’t any fumes; it was like baking sculpey, clay models in the oven.  The results were uneven—but fun!  Next Thursday, we’re making ornaments in class.  I might add this one, too.  BTW, BOTH #5 and #6 cups melted.

Chemistry: Mole Lab: Percent Composition of a Hydrate

 After Christmas, we’re starting moles, using this lab series. One of the labs is call Percent Composition if a Hydrate.  Usually, we follow this Quick Lab. (Scroll through the chapter a bit.)  But the lab calls for a Bunsen burner to heat the chemical.  We substitute Sterno or tea candles; they aren’t as effective.  However, you can use aluminum weigh dishes on a hot plate, instead.  Thank you Facebook!  I’m using these lab instructions, substituting aluminum weigh dishes.  I’m going to try heavy duty aluminum foil I already have on hand, first.  I think we’ll compare heating copper II sulfate in a test tube and Sterno versus an aluminum foil dish on a hot plate to see which method removes the most water.  

Balance Equations with Bottle Caps—the sequel

 Today, only four kids needed to complete the White Powder lab.  Only two other kids had long since mastered balancing equations.  I had the two Joes make the instructional video for Experiment 5.1.  The rest of the class worked on using bottle caps to balance equations.  This exercise really helped the kids see that they often were doubling compounds.  They could literally count the atoms.  We are using these chemical equations to balance; there is a key. (#6 and #11 are the same.)  We practice identifying the types of reactions at the same time.  I took photos.  We used easier equations.  Some of the kids will need to use the bottle caps for awhile.

 

Film Canister Lab Challenge

 This Thursday is a holy day of obligation.  Instead of class, the kids are doing Experiment 5.1 and the Flinn Lab Challenge: Film Canister Rocket. We’re using the same constraints; the kids must get the film canister to launch at least one meter in less than two minutes.  I want film as evidence.  In the video, the kids must explain what they used to launch the canister.  They were also instructed to use only citric acid, baking soda, water, and alka-seltzer tablets.  Take a look!

Apologia Chemistry: Experiment 5.1 Measuring the Width of a Molecule

 Joe and Joe finished the video explaining Experiment 5.1, including the calculations.  The video the boys made is below.  Here is the slideshow with the calculations.

Balance Equations Resources

 My Co-op class has been balancing equations.  This post has four videos with my tricks to balance equations. Here are the PhET simulations for balancing equations.  Here is a worksheet to use with the introductory PhET.  See if these help.

Chemistry: Teach Moles!

 I ran across this lab series.  I’m changing my approach to teaching moles.  Usually, I do many of these labs; however, I don’t teach them in a logical order to promote an understanding of moles.  My plan is to first introduce types of reactions in a lab.  Then we’ll launch into moles.  Look over the series.  Teens weigh moles, heat up hydrates, do Candium, etc.  We do Beanium—much cheaper.  I’ll post pix and notes when we reach the moles unit.

New Resource: Stoichiometry Decks!

 Take a look at Stoichiometry Decks.  Go to resources; there are three useful chart and a fun lab here.  Brennan, the author, has a blog, too!  Take a look.

Set up a Science Lab

 What do you need to set up a science lab?  I’ve taught and conducted training sessions in a wide variety of spaces.  Right now, we meet in my unfinished basement.  We bought folding tables and chairs from Walmart.  I bought inexpensive whiteboards and metal shelves to store boxes of supplies.  I use hot plates to heat solutions.  We do have a large, utility sink for water or clean-up.  If the weather in your area is temperate, the garage is another suitable space.  One year, I taught Co-op from my house and did all of the labs in the garage.  You might cluster labs to do outside.  For example, I did the series of seven, animal dissections outside.  One time, the kids met at the park and we did dissections because the Church, where we met, did not allow wet labs.  When I taught Co-op Biology at the Church, we met in a religious education classroom.  I got inventive about labs; we did several water quality labs at the local streams.  We did many food related labs and activities, which were permitted.  We made loads of models and looked at tons of slides.  

Does your library have a Maker Space you can use?  Ideally, the space should have water, electric outlets, tables, and chairs.  But, you might use Sterno or tea candles to heat solutions if there are no outlets for a hot plate.  You can fill jugs of water and keep buckets or large yogurt containers for waste.  When I train, the seminar or workshop might be in a classroom, event space, or hotel room.  Naturally, the lab activities or discrepant events for a workshop are simpler.  But, I think having an open space is usually enough to do science labs.  I prefer a concrete floor; I don’t like to worry about spills staining floors.  Go take another look at your garage.  I bet it’s ideal for many labs.

Mad Science Camp: The Joy of Toys!

 Next June, I’m doing another week-long science camp.  We used many of my better science experiments at Science Camp last June.  Next June, one morning’s theme is the Joy of Toys.  We’re making toys with some science: Zoetropes, Kaleidoscopes, 3D Hologram, and Flipsticks, optical illusions.  I have a box of optical illusion supplies: Rubbing plates, Magic Eye books, Card deck, Mirascope, and Disappearing Beaker.  We use these supplies for Physics, Science Camp, and outreach programs.  (Here are instructions to make your own disappearing beaker.  See if the cooking oil you have on hand works before you buy canola oil.)  

We’ll make Take Home Stem kits, using Arvin’s Gupta’s Toys from Trash, including Flying Toys and this Ball shooter.  Speaking of shooters, Frugal Fun’s Marshmallow gun, made from PVC pipes is easy to build.  Cut the pipe ahead for younger kiddos.  Frugal Fun has a Scrap Wood Rubberband Shooter, too.  If you have scrap wood, make these Stomp Catapults.  (You may want to let them catapult balls instead of blocks of wood.) When I host Camp, I have the wood pre-cut to save time.  Borrow many hammers.  Scavenge extra PVC and scrap wood to make Balance Boards.  We have made simple balance boards with scrap wood, PVC pipe, or a length of a pool noodle.  The kids decorated their boards with washi tape.  If you feel brave, let the kids hydro-dip the boards—ideally outside.  Below is a photo from Camp when the kids made floppy disk boxes.  Are they really toys?  They were fun!  Start saving Pringles can, floppy disks, CDs, and scrap wood.

Apologia Chemistry: Experiment 5.1 Width of a Molecule

The three teens who are miles ahead of the class began Experiment 5.1, Measuring the Width of a Molecule.  Here is the slideshow I made when I taught Chemistry remotely during the COVID quarantine.    My Co-op class is finishing the White Powder lab.  A few kids were absent owing to illness.  I want to give them time to finish their labs.  Next week, the teens who have finished (most) are doing 5.1 or creating an instructional lab video. I’ll post the video when it’s complete.  The kids who were I’ll are going to do Experiment 5.1 at home or after class.  I take advantage of labs to work individually with kids, too.  After the kids finished the white powder lab, they started balancing equations independently.  I work with two or three teens to teach them my tricks.