Let’s test acids and bases!

Kids like to do acid and base tests.  There is enough equipment and household chemicals to make them feel like scientists.  Here is the lab I’m using with household goods I already have on hand.  We’re using a bunch of indicators.  (See below.). One topic in the Plants unit is about anthocyanins; red cabbage has loads!  The acid-base lab will discuss red cabbage and just what anthocyanins are—types of plant pigments.  Plant pigments and natural or commercial dyes changes color in the presence of acids or bases, which is why they serve as acid-base indicators.  I distributed different household chemicals the kids will share between groups.  I’m ready to launch lab Tuesday.

Human Anatomy for Kiddos

 First, let me recommend Apologia’s Human Anatomy from their Young Explorers series.  I taught this course with kids aged six to eleven.  We used both the regular and Junior notebooks.  While I love this curriculum, many families want a low-key program for younger kids, especially kiddos still struggling with reading.  Here we go!

1. Try Anatomy Academy.  I’m still determining this year’s science camp theme.  But it might be Anatomy Academy.  When I do camp with a large group, say 40+ kids, I invite speakers.  We set up rotating stations.  The costs in the budget are for a group of 40.  Have teens in your Co-op take this on as a project.  Create a list of materials needed and ask folks to save recycled materials.  Let the teens lead different stations.  

2.  What about a Montessori approach?  Here is a Human Body Unit Study.  Here are related printables.  Another way to organize your study unit is to create a Human Body Lapbook.  This guide, Human Body Systems, has about 50 questions to use for self-study.  This packet has more templates to use with the lapbook.

3. One of my favorite resources is Adorable Wearables. Aldi’s has paper, grocery bags.

4. Make models: Paper Bag Lungs,  Egg Carton Spine,  Sidewalk Chalk Anatomy ( or chalk outlines),  Human Blood, Human Digestive System Clay Model,  Pasta Skeleton,  Heart For Kids and Human Anatomy in Candy (inspirational images).  Look at 31 Interactive Anatomy Activities  for even more models.

5. Check out a pile of Anatomy books from the library.   Keep a reading log.  Combine the book list with the lapbook.  Don’t forget to take photos for your digital portfolio.

Eldoncard Blood Tests

 Today’s Bio class went well.  Why?  I used Eldoncard blood tests.  The instructions were in English.  Each test kit has two lancets in case the kid didn’t draw enough blood the first time.  The kids are busy rewriting their lab reports, which have excellent discussions about sources of error based on last week’s unmitigated disaster.

Science of Photography

Let’s find ways to approach science more successfully.   Some themes (NASCAR) resonate more than others.  Let see what’s available in photography.

Kiddos:

1.  Capturing Light is a complete lesson set from the Getty Museum.  One part involves making a pinhole camera.  Try making a Pringles Pinhole camera, Granola box, or an oatmeal box camera.  In science camp last summer, the oatmeal box worked better than the Pringles can.  Connect this lesson with Every Picture has a Story lesson from the Smithsonian.  

2.   Try making cyanotype prints.  Sun and Shadows, from Home Science Tools, has shadow prints made with construction paper and tracing shadows. While this is more about solar science, young kiddos love to place scissors, leaves, and stencils on colored construction paper and to leave them in the sun to create shadows. 

3. Try Light Painting or here.  Okay, it’s probably more Art than Science.  However, you are experimenting!

Teens:

1. National Chemistry Week (NCW) is sponsored annually by the American Chemical Society (ACS) annually.  (Usually NCW coincide with Mole Day in October.)  Last year’s NCW theme was Picture Perfect Chemistry:

2.  Polaroid Photography Lesson is from the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT).  It’s  a High School level, free lesson with an article, lab, teacher’s guide, redox lab, and  several graphics.  FYI the chemistry, even in the article, is fairly advanced.

3.  Here are a few articles: The Chemistry of Digital Photography and Printing, Film or Digital?, Photography Through the Years (graphic), and  Polaroid Photography (history).

4. Look at the photography project ideas at Science Buddies.  The Cell Phone Microscope looks interesting. 

Goldilocks

 I’m planning to teach Advanced Biology next year. It looks like a lot of anatomy.  So, I’ll want an anatomy coloring book.  In the past I used anatomy, coloring books with over 300 pages.  What was I thinking?  The kids won’t color all of these!  I think I’ve found the ‘Goldilocks’ version, Start Exploring Gray’s Anatomy.  There are 128 pages; about half are coloring pages. No, we won’t color all of them.  However, we should finish most of them, without overwhelming anyone.  I have three copies of the extensive anatomy and physiology coloring books for anyone feeling short-changed.  I have one copy with about 30 pages to color for anyone easily disheartened by too much work.

Science of NASCAR

 Full disclosure: I’m not a NASCAR fan.  My husband, Rob is.  Many young people love NASCAR. Did you know there are NASCAR science material?  Yes! Here  is an article about the science of speed.  Physics World has this article about NASCAR and safety.  You hear a great deal about safety during any race.  The Physics article examines any number of safety innovations.  While I’m not a fan, I do like any activity which engages kids.  Here are a few suggestions.

1. Scholastic has a packet, NASCAR Acceleration Nation (Teacher Notes and car template) and The Science of Speed.  I think all of the unit notes are here.  For some reason Scholastic’s NASCAR Speed resources are scattered.

2. One classic is the Hot Wheels Lab.  These types of labs are inexpensive.  Track and cars are available from Walmart for under $5.  Here is Racetrack lab with several Physics Classroom references. Race Car on Different Surfaces is another lab Rob does with the Physics classes.  It’s suitable for Physical Science, too.

3. The Chemistry of NASCAR is an 8th grade Physical Science lesson. This article with materials   Is similar and written by a teacher from Charlotte, N.C.—-naturally!  Here is NASCAR Kids activity packet.  This is just for fun.

4.  Look at NASCAR’s Hall of Fame resources headed as Ignition.There are several videos and lessons for grades 6-12.  Look at Motion and Energy for grades 2-5.

5. Sonoma has this packet, STEAM Race Car Challenge.  Here is STEM at the Track.

  

Science on a Budget: Kitchen Chemistry

Kitchen Chemistry is one of those topics which range from toddler to college-level science.  Moreover Kitchen Chemistry can be practical or analytical.  Often this type of chemistry appeals to any student.  Let me share some of my favorites.

Kiddos:

1.  Ice Cream in a Bag appeals to kids of any age.  It’s one of our favorites at Science Camp.

2. Take inspiration from this blog post, Kitchen Chemistry.  Kiddos printed 3-D cookie cutters, made microwave mug cakes, and rice cereal treats.  Many libraries have 3-D printers.  I’ve used the Thingaverse, downloaded stl files saved on a USB drive, and transferred files to the 3D printer. The librarians are trained to help; it’s likely they will train you.   It’s like watching paint dry when an object prints.

3. Amazing Kitchen Chemistry has gumdrop molecules, iron in cereal, and several experiments which use kitchen supplies, but aren’t Kitchen Chemistry.

4.  Look at KiwiCo’s 10 Food Science Experiments for Kids.

High School:

1.  Cookie Lab explores some of the science basics surrounding baking.  Follow-up with this article about Cookie Chemistry.  Flow up with Baking and Pastry Chemistry for more ideas, in terms of curriculum.  Purdue’s Food Chemistry has even greater depth.

2. AACT has a huge Collection of Kitchen Chemistry labs.   Membership is $45 per year.  Whenever I teach Chemistry, I rejoin AACT.  

3. RSC has loads of articles for Kitchen Chemistry.  However, visitors are limited to one article per month (two if registered). 

4.  Here is a Chemmatters article, Peanut Brittle, with great science background. Here is the recipe written with science terms.

5. National Agriculture in the Classroom has Food Chemistry Experiments tailored to Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins.  

6.  Chemmatters articles have just enough background information: Sugar, Marshmallows,  Cheese,  Ice Cream, and Candy.

7. Look at NCW’s 2014 resources, The Sweet Side of Chemistry.

Photosynthesis Paper Models

 Photosynthesis is another tough concept to understand.  In addition to labs, make models.  Here is an interactive notebook diagram.  Here and  here are examples.  Frequently, I show kids examples and have them make their own model.  This worksheet has layers of a leaf to color, cut, and paste.  Here is a complicated leaf model.  Leaf Etchings has possibilities, too.  This year, I have a tremendous mix of kids with different ability levels; I’ll probably use several of these ideas.

More Paper and Virtual Dissections!

 I found a few more paper dissections.  I’ll keep looking.

1.  This Earth Worm has organs to color, cut, and glue.  Be sure to add an outer layer—like the sponge below.

2. This Paper Frog has colorful organs for kids who loathe coloring.

3. I found a Virtual Sheep Heart and Cow Eye dissections.

Make dissection specimens using clay!

 Why not make clay specimens?  The kit below encourages kids to make the organs from clay.  

Scout realistic frogs, clams, perch, etc from polymer clay.  Here is a tutorial for a realistic frog.  Use the templates and instructions from this DIY Frog for Dissecting.  Substitute clay models for felt pieces.  Here is a polymer charm for inspiration.  Last year, we made a bunch of polymer models of different animals, along with paper dissections.  This year, I’m going to let the kids create their own polymer specimens, too, especially if they do not want to dissect.

Buy Used Books!

 I’m ordering anatomy coloring books for Advanced Biology next year; my target price is about $5 each.  The question is what is the quality of used coloring books?  If you aren’t particular about the cover and don’t mind a few pages colored, used books abound.  Below are a few I just ordered.  

Fruit, Flower, and Pickle Dissections

 My daffodils are coming up in the back yard.  So, I’m planning a number of fruit and flower dissections.  Below are a bunch to choose.  I use daffodils, apples, and chili peppers to keep costs down.

1. What am I Easting? dissects flowers and fruits.  There is loads of information, too.  Flowers, Fruits, and Seeds has a dichotomous key.  This Types of Fruits slide deck helps sort fruits and gives a bit of background.

2. The Exploratorium has both a Fruit Dissection and a Flower Dissection with teaching tips.

3. The Pickle or Banana dissections introduce anatomical planes.  These labs are useful to understand anatomical directions, planes, and terms.  

4. We use the Daffodil Flower Dissection every year.  I bought live flowers in their pots for a dissection; afterwards, I planted the bulbs in the backyard.  We use these flowers every time I teach Bio.

5. Here is my favorite Fruit Dissection with apples.  We like to dissect peppers. Here is the anatomy of a chili pepper.

Anatomy on a Budget: Virtual Human Anatomy Labs for Cats and Pigs.

 Traditionally, students dissect a fetal pig or a cat in Anatomy.  However, these specimens are expensive.  Moreover, many, many kids object to dissecting either a baby pig or Fluffy.  (No, I don’t object, personally.  Another teacher was upset when I ordered a cat to dissect.  She was a member of the Humane Society.  She became fairly heated when I explained that the specimens come from animal shelters.  I did NOT go on to explain that fetal pigs come from slaughterhouses.). 

1. Here are fetal pig dissection images.  There are several virtual, fetal pig labs: Virtual Pig Whitman College (nice organization), Texas A&M (slide deck), and San Diego Mesa College Images (both labeled and unlabeled).

2. Fetal Pig Dissection guides: Ward’s, Virtual Pig Dissection Worksheet (written for Whitman’s virtual dissection), and Virtual Pig (no pix).  You could use the unlabeled images with a hefty worksheet and give your kids a real workout!  You may want to have them write a lab report.

3. There are several virtual cat dissections: Anatomy Corner, Virtual Cat, and Kenyon College.

4. There are a few guides available, too: Complete Cat Dissection Guide with Assessment, Wards’s,  Biology Corner, and Lab Report.

Anatomy on a Budget: General Materials and Resources

 I love to teach Anatomy—especially Human Anatomy.  I have a few general tools I use; none of which break the bank.   For example, I use this giant book instead of posters.  Don’t pay more than $10.  Yes, there are loads of great anatomy resources online.  If you’re trying to reduce your reliance on tech, get the giant anatomy book.  I tape post-it notes over male genitals.

One of the first lessons is to determine whether a Halloween skeleton or  Mr. Skeleton is accurate.  The kids use their textbooks and the giant anatomy book.  The kids all bet paper skeletons to use at home to memorize bones.  BTW, even the six year olds in my Young Explorers Human Anatomy class memorized the names of all the major bones.  Really.

Keep a caddy full of office supplies, : rulers, measuring tape, paper clips, balloons, rubber bands, etc for labs, such as  Reaction Time with Rulers. Look for a sale on clay.  I like the polymer clay for models.  I bake it in the kitchen oven without any residue or chemical odors. Any clay works.

Lastly, histology or the study of tissue is an important part of Anatomy.  Invest in a microscope and slides.  My First Lab microscope is amazing.  The basic set of Amscope microscope slides has several anatomy slides.  Sets of 50 or 100 are more than adequate for Anatomy.  Plan to invest time regularly sketching histology slides.