Summer Science Camp 2023

 Here is my spreadsheet for Summer Science Camp.  The spreadsheet is more of a vast wish list.  Next week, my husband, Rob, and I will start getting the kits.  We expect six teens and two young siblings—all Science Camp veterans.  The boys are all thirteen; the two little girls are seven.  The little girls love slime, color change, and kitchen science experiments.  I’m going to let them jump in with the teen boys whenever they want.

I managed to amass several deals through Good Will online.  There are screen shots below.  I bought a dozen MEL Science kits to use with my Chemistry class.  My husband, Rob, had his Physics class do experiments with the kits, too.  I bought some refill chemicals, such as sodium silicate and stannous chloride.  I had a flash last week; the boys are thirteen!  We can use the MEL kits during Science Camp!  I have about a dozen different  kits.  A week ago, I bid on COSI Lunchbox Hyperloop kits—essentially magnet kits.  

Normally, I don’t use many kits.  But, the boys have been to Science Camp and over to my house for experiments for years.  Last year, the kids took Human Anatomy and did loads of fun activities.  I have had to stretch to think up fun labs.  I spent about $200 for all of the kits and replacement chemicals.  The remaining experiments will be from stuff already on hand.  Below are the screen-shots of the kits.

Butterfly Tea and LeChatelier

The kids decided to do the LeChatelier lab from the Apologia textbook, too, Experiment 15.2.  Guess what?  I modified the experiment.  I used  red cabbage powder instead of boiling red cabbage leaves.  Additionally, the kids used the butterfly tea.  We used baking soda, citric acid, ammonia, and baking soda.  The kids noted how the color changes in acids and bases and at hot and cold temperatures.

Module 13 in Apologia Chemistry is Equilibrium.  Beyond Benign has this Equilibrium/LeChatelier lab.  We did the second part using butterfly tea. FYI I keep an electric kettle in our lab to heat water quickly. The kids used steeped tea to experiment with temperature, baking soda, and citric acid.  The tea changes color.  I’m using the butterfly tea for Science Camp, too.

Biology on a Budget: Experimental Design

 Next Fall, I'm teaching Biology again for the local Co-op.  There are some labs I do every year.  But it's always fun to change things.  I ran across this Biology Lab Manual, full of budget-friendly biology labs.  Look at the first labs labeled "Scientific Method" and "Lab Variables: Penny Drop Lab, Alka-Seltzer Activity, and Shape of Water vs. Drop Height. Additionally, there is a graphing exercise: Heart Rate Response to Exercise.  These types of labs are ideal to use at the beginning of Biology.  As an instructor, it’s important to teach lab skills, graphing, independent, controlled, and confounding variables,  and experimental design.  These labs offer an opportunity to review formal, written, lab reports.  I invest time at the beginning of the year hammering home these concepts integral to labs all year.

Chemistry on an Extreme Budget: Two Gas Law Labs

 The Chemistry Co-op class is doing the Boyle's Law Lab and the Charles’ Law Lab.  These labs use water, plastic pipettes, a thermometer, and a little food dye.  Try to use similar, thin books for the Boyle's Law lab.  (I teach French and used a stack.  Thicker books, such as the Apologia textbooks can work, too.) Instead of using a clamp to seal the pipette, we heat-seal the pipette by burning the end. Remember, the gas in the pipette is air.  The volume of liquid moves as the air is compressed or as the temperature changes.  While the lab apparatus is crude, the labs demonstrate two, key Gas Laws well.  

                                                   These are heat-sealed; the ends are melted.

MEL Chemistry Kits

 My husband's Physics class took Chemistry with me during COVID lock-down.  They did most of the labs from the Apologia textbook and about 30 additional labs.  Their families picked up three, home-made Chemistry kits I made.  But, they missed a number of fun Chemistry experiments.  The Physics kids completed their course.  Now, they're spending three classes doing labs from the MEL Chemistry Kits.  I bought the kits used--primarily from Good Will or eBay.  I paid about $10 for each kit and $20-$25 for each starter set.  Both the Physics and Chemistry classes are enjoying the kits.  If you can buy the kits reasonably, these are great for supplementary labs to your course.

Gas Law Worksheets

 My Co-op Chemistry classroom is completing Gas Laws.  This week, the kids did Combined Gas Laws, Idea Gas Law Worksheet, and a Test, with a mix of gas law problems.  Next week we’re doing two microscale labs for Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Lab.  Just trying to stay accountable!

On another note, one of my students brought roses.

Microscale Titration of Vinegar

 The kids titrated vinegar today to conclude the Acid-Base module.  I used Flinn's Microscale Titration of Vinegar lab.   It went better than anticipated.  The main issue was the amount of phenolphthalein (PHTH).  We used 25-50 drops of the vinegar and NaOH.  One student used a toothpick to obtain a fraction of one drop of PHTH. The key is to use as little PHTH as possible.  

We titrated vinegar because the concentration of acetic acid in household vinegar is five percent.  Below is one sample titration with the calculations.  The kids had results of 4.3-5.1 % concentrations.  I had the kids do the dilutions and titrations.  Is this a bit slow?  Yes.  However, I think they come away with a much clearer understanding.

Gas Laws

 We are completing Gas Laws, Module 12 before we end Co-op Chemistry classes this month.  Here is the slideshow.  During COVID quarantine, I made a series of videos.  Here you go!

Gas Law Intro

Combined Gas Law

Ideal Gas Law

More Ideal Gas Law

Even More Ideal Gas Law

Titration Labs

 My kids are titrations acids and bases.  I did a crash course in dilutions.  Here are the instructions for the titration of vinegar.  First, the kids are making dilutions and titrations known concentrations of HCl and NaOH.  Here is a lab manual explaining how to do an acid-base titration.  I don’t have burettes; instead, we use pipettes and count drops.  Additionally, we are finishing Acid-Bases.  Here is my slideshow.  Here is the conjugate acid base worksheet the kids are doing.  Yes, we review Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis acids and bases.  Below are pix of titrations.  

Acid-Base Videos

 During COVID Quarantine, I taught Chemistry remotely.  I made many, many videos.  Below is the acid-base video series.  Here you go!

Apologia Chemistry Experiment 10.2

What is pH and Molarity?

How to calculate pH with a Casio calculator

How to calculate pH with a TI 30 calculator

How to calculate pH with a TI83/84 calculator

What is an acid-base titration?

What is mass percent or percent mass?

How to change mass percent into molarity

What is the mass percent of ammonia?

Calculate pH with Kw

At the beginning of class I reviewed pH calculations and introduced the concept of equilibrium.  Below are the notes from the board and the worksheet we’re using Thursday.  Here is a similar, live worksheet to try.  Most of the class time is just showing kids how to input the formula into a scientific calculator.  The TI 83/84 allow you to enter -log of the concentration of hydrogen ions.  There is a video demonstrating how to calculate pH.  Thursday, the kids are working on completing the chart.  

 

Micro Chem kit!

 Good Will has a listing for a MicroChem kit.  The lab manual alone is worth the bid price and shipping.  Yes, of course I bid on the kit!  Hey, even if you use the reaction plates and labware, this kit is worth $30.  BTW have you checked out Good Will’s new website, Good Will Finds?  My only quibble is not being able to check the shipping charges before bidding.  I was burnt once years ago when I didn’t check the shipping on a bid.  Good Will Finds has some good listings.  But, I’m not bidding unless I can estimate shipping fees.