Periodic Table Cards

 I mentioned in an earlier post that the Chemistry summer assignment is to make Periodic Table cards based on this JCE article ,which sometimes opens and sometimes doesn’t.  I assigned specific colors for each group in order for the kiddos to be able to play the card game.  (I’ve assigned this activity for years.  So far, exactly one student was excited to play the card game.). Full disclosure: I have never made my own set.  Evidently I loaned out my set which a student game me.  (Okay, I made a few as examples.). Since my demo set is AWOL, I made my own.  Now I need a safe spot to preserve these cards forever.  It took me about three hours to make a card set.  This exercise helps the kiddos learn the names and symbols of many elements.  Really!

Periodic Table

 My Chemistry class is making their own set of element cards as their summer assignment, based on this JCE article.  There are so many ideas for elements, such as Periodic Table of Element Cookies or Cupcakes.  Be sure to check out the inspirational LEGO Periodic Tables below.  You are going to have so much fun!

1. Here is a free set of elements to print on card stock and use as flash cards.   

2. Quick Six is an element game with cards.  

3.  There are several versions of Periodic Table Battleship: Element’s Symbols, Electron Configuration, and Period Number and Group Number.

4.  Periodic Table License Plates

5.  Adopt an Element

6.  3D Print Periodic Table

7.  LEGO Periodic Table Ideas

8. The Peepiodic Table

9.  Periodic Trends

10.  The Periodic Table of Cereal or Pokemon or these below.

How do we watch a video?

This year, in Advanced Biology, which is Anatomy, we’ve watched quite a few videos.  First, I adore the Amoeba Sisters for an overview.  They are usually about five minutes.  The other video series we’ve used is Crash Course Anatomy, about ten minute videos.  When we watch, I pause the video and ask questions.  In fact, I pause it a lot.  I stopped during the urinary video and asked about osmosis.  The teens learned about osmosis in Biology and had done two labs.  After an extended review, I restarted the video.  I pause the video to have them write down terms.  Often, after the narrator introduces a segment, I’ll pause and ask just what are different types of muscles.  I could never get away with this in a public school.  The kids would revolt.  Too many students loathe any video interruption.  In fact your kiddo might object to this method, too. What are alternatives?   In public schools, many, many teachers use guided notes or video worksheets for videos.  Every.  Single. Time.  After the video, the instructor reviews the answers with the class.  TPT has Crash Course notes, worksheets, etc—many free!  BTW, the same is true of the Amoeba Sisters’ videos.  Although the Amoeba sisters have a dedicated TPT page for their worksheets, some of which are free.  However, other teachers have created loads of free video worksheets based on their videos, which are free.

Cell Models

 Like DNA, kiddos feel as though making cell models are doing science.  I do assign models for Biology; they help kiddos visualize the organelles, cell wall, and cell membrane.  Many families love to make edible, cell models.  I have banned them from class.  Why?  Inevitably, one of the kiddos insists on making the cytoplasm from something that leaks all over the classroom.  I still include edible models below. Below are ideas and examples.  I nearly forgot Shrinky Dink Models!

1. BJU has 4 Edible Cell Model Projects which include cake and jello models.

2. Build a LEGO Cell.

3. Raid the ink drawer to make a Trash to Treasure: Plant Cell Model.

4. Create a traditional Clay model.  These tend to vary in quality.

5. Easy Cell Model can be made from paper or felt.

Delta Science or FOSS

 Delta Science has been around for a long time.  Currently, Delta Science is now FOSS, sold by School Specialty.  These kits (often in drawers) occasionally pop up on eBay.  (I bought one at GoodWill.)  I have evaluated any number of kits; FOSS materials are superior.  Here’s the rub: locating the investigations guide.  The readers aren’t hard to locate; however, you’ll find very similar titles.  Delta Science has changed the names of its programs over and over.  The content and activities have NOT changed substantially.  

I just found a Levers and Pulleys drawer for Physical Science.  The price was $62.17.  

There are issues.  The video is VHS.   Booo!  I bought a DVD and found a link with an overview of the investigations.  Here is the YouTube video.  I made a request to cancel the DVD order.  I might end up with all three VHS, DVD, and YouTube versions.  

I bought a copy of the reader to use with the program.

These kits are amazing.  I had a similar saga when I bought the FOSS kit pictured in the post.  I bought the reader, first.  The reader doesn’t have any activities.  Where are the activities which coincide with the kit?  What is the name for the teacher’s guide? The answer is  ‘Investigations guide’.  I did a deep dive before I had all of the resources.  

If you are persistent, the DELTA/FOSS kits have excellent materials.  New kids are prohibitively expensive.  The books are sold separately.  These types of kits are sold as curriculum for schools.

DNA

 For whatever reason, kiddos feel as though they are doing science when they make DNA models.  Why?  I have no idea.  But, let’s capitalize on their interest.  Before you buy a model, let me share a few hands-on activities. Does your library have a 3D printer?  Do you have loads of time?  Look at the Folding DNA Model Kit at Thingaverse.

1.  Extract DNA. Use split peas.  Be sure to have fresh meat tenderizer.  Otherwise any detergent or variety of alcohol seem to work.  The Strawberry DNA Extraction does not require meat tenderizer—just expensive strawberries.

2. DNA Keychains and DNA Bead Necklace can appeal to your crafter.  Use can use pipe cleaners and beads, too.

3. Fold Your Own DNA, Make a DNA Model with construction paper and toothpicks.

4. HHMI Interactive Model, Modeling the Structure of DNA, the student hand-out, and copy of nucleotides is a mini-course in DNA.

5.  DNA Pop Beads, Modeling DNA with Pop Beads, or Building DNA with Beads all use pop beads.

6. Candy DNA (gum drops), Edible DNA (marshmallows), and Make a DNA Model with Gummy Bears and Candy.  Save this model for last.

7. DNA Paper Model is cheap to make.  This cardboard model is quite elegant.

You can always just buy a model.  This one was about $9.  I just had to know what quality of kit I could get to use as a demo.  

Below are some more commercial kits.

Soil Studies

 One neglected topic is soil science.  Soil is so important to farming!  I did some digging to locate resources.  For several years, some of my students competed in Envirothon, which has a soils component.  There is a National Land and Range Judging Contest.  Here is a guide to soil judging.  Let’s create a soils course for upper school.

1.  Soil Science Curriculum provides an outline. Guides such as Soil Judging are good for introductions and overviews.  Why Do We Study Soil? has an interactive discussion with activities to introduce soil science.

2. GLOBE Pedosphere (Soils) has subunits such as, Soil Particle Density  and Soil Characterization.  

3.  Envirothon has a soils component.  Consequently, there are many resources available. The  Soil Basics Video is 50 minutes in length—another good way to introduce soils.  The video is intended as an Envirothon Training.  These Soils Practice Questions can check for understanding.  Here is a soils study guide.

4.  This Garden Lesson Plan is constructed for middle-school aged students. I checked that the  VIMEO and YouTube links are live; some of the activity links are broken.  

5. Agriculture in the Classroom has Properties of Soils with links to loads of activities.  I like to begin with middle-school level materials.  The instruction tends to be both simpler and clearer.  

What about younger kiddos?  Soils-Elementary GLOBE has the free ebook, The Scoop on Soils, an introduction with a teacher’s guide. Look at Soils Treasure Hunt, one of the Elementary GLOBE activities.  Project Learning Tree’s Resources for Soil Stories includes The Dirt on Dirt featuring Sid the Science Kid.

What’s coming up?

Our Co-op finishes instruction in May.  Then summer planning begins in earnest.  I’m hoping to host Maker Camp in June.  VBS is already scheduled.  We have two weeks of Faith Camp on the calendar in July.  My plan is to post popular topics with resources.  Summer is a great time to get ahead for fall classes.  Our Co-op assigns summer projects and reading lists.  

In August, I want to focus on Chemistry.  This fall I’m teaching both the Young Explorers’ Chemistry and Physics and Apologia Chemistry.  (We use the second edition; here is the errata page for the third edition.  The initial reviews stated that this textbook was rife with error.  The only way to get a decent textbook is to buy the most recent edition—at full price.)  I’ll repost the high school lessons in August with updates.  Hopefully I’ll have the YE Chem and Phys ready, too.

Advanced Biology: Multiple Births

 Here is the final Advanced Biology slide deck I prepared.  When I have taught Human Biology, I included a unit about multiple births.  Why?  They are fascinating!  I’m using interesting facts about multiples with meiosis and birth complications.  I am very conservative regarding instruction about the marital act.  Module 16 handles sexuality well, I still leave this topic with families.  

Have you really done all of those programs?

 Yes.  Why? When I first started teaching, I taught in small, private schools.  These schools attracted wealthy families, but were shy on resources.  I was spending a great deal of my own money.  Additionally,  there was another Biology teacher and a Physics teacher.  I was teaching Physical Science, Life Science, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science.  At one point I taught Earth Science, too.  Did I mention I had an undergrad in Biology with a concentration in Chemistry?  I had a lot of self doubt, which was completely justified.  How can you teach five preps well?  How can anyone be expected to be proficient in every science subject?  I also needed to get creative finding more resources so I spent less of my own money. 

Things happened gradually.  I reviewed books for NSTA and AAAS.  Teachers were recruited to review books, programs, software, etc and got to keep the media.  I continued to write for AAAS until a few years ago.  I attended conferences, such as AP Workshops and AP Summer Institutes.  I learned about programs largely through word of mouth.  When I started to teach AP Environmental Science, the local,Soil and Water Conservation District’s educational rep visited our school.  She had tons of resources and contacts.  This is how I learned about Envirothon.  Envirothon has projects.  One year, the project was to write a watershed grant.  Why not just write a real grant?  At the time, one of the Admins and a parent were experts.  They taught me how to write grants. I had some success and began delivering grant workshops.  One of the parents was a biologist at SCBI, formerly Smithsonian’s Conservation Research Center.  Writing grants, working with the Smithsonian, and delivering grant workshops led to many more contacts.  

When I changed schools, I started new programs.  I generally began with a call to the local soil and water educator.  He or she led to more contacts.  Often, local environmental groups would approach schools with programs.  I also was an AP Reader and table leader for several years.  Again, these types of opportunities lead to more contacts and more programs.  Sometimes sponsors or partners asked me to round up participants for free programs and training, such as Projects Wet, Wild, and Learning Tree.  I took several courses through NASA IV & V STEM Center, especially if I wanted to borrow equipment for a project, such as IR thermometers to study Surface Temperature.I took training for GLOBE. 

 In West Virginia, teachers with their Master’s degrees no longer need to take courses for recertification.  As a result, they don’t have an incentive to take continuing education courses.  In Virginia, with a Master’s degree, teachers can use points, such as workshops or grants, to earn credit for recertification.  While teaching in Virginia, I took programs for recertification credit.  In West Virginia, relatively few teachers took part in programs.  The science teachers at the high school where I taught did.  We got all kinds of materials through state programs by participating in week-long trainings.  

I remained certified as an insurance policy; the private schools where I taught did not require certification.  I got my Master’s when I realized recertification would be easier.  I added a Chemistry endorsement to my certification as evidence I was qualified to teach chemistry?  I was mainly teaching chemistry, by that time.  (Parents in prep schools can be demanding.)  I achieved National Board certification in Chemistry for myself.  (Okay, there was an annual stipend.) Did I really have the knowledge to teach chemistry?  (It was helpful when a disgruntled parent asked if I was even qualified to teach chemistry.)  Yes, I’ve done many, many programs, which have provided an enormously varied career.  As a bonus, I’m not afraid to try something new.

Friday Fun Day: Art in Science!

 This morning one of the Middle Schoolers in Co-op sat outside with a box of markers, sketching.  Many kids love art.  Let’s combine art with science.  Do art outside and hose off the mess afterwards.  Start with Chemistry Colors Our World.

1. Magnet Painting is simple enough for a toddler and still fun for older kiddos.

2. Chromatography Flowers

3. Fizzy Baking Soda Art or Fizzing Sidewalk Paint

4. Fibonacci Art

5. Tie Dye is always best done outside.

6. Colorful Lather Prints, Chemistry and Art in a Bag,and Art are from ACS. 

7. Fresco Art

Tips for the Fair!

I love going to the fair.  Last summer we planned our drive to Canada to include a local fair.  It didn’t disappoint.   Did you know Virginia has a Homeschool Day at the State Fair?  Yes, there are Competitions!  Do you want to compete?  Do you want to display your prized chicken or eggs?  Do you make delicious baked goods?  Do some research before you decide if you want to enter the fair.

1. Let’s begin with basics.  Here is an example of a fair entry form.  Here is How to Fill Our 4-H Entey Form.  Here is a sample online entry.  If you have two entries, easy must be listed separately.  

2. Here are some tips for 4-H parents preparing for the fair.  Here and here are tips about judging.

3. What are the criteria for judging?  Virginia Tech has Youth Livestock Resources. Follow the poultry link to Poultry Judging Virtual Workshops on to the National 4-H Justing Manual. Here is the quick start guide.  Here are judging tips for canned goods. Another guide is Exhibiting and Judging Vegetables.    Sometimes the judging criteria are part of the rules, however vague they may be.  If you dig, you can find the judging guidelines for just about any category, such as quilts.

4.  Learn more about 4-H Programs.  Here is the Virginia 4-H Welcome Guide; here is a program guide.

5. Get more information about FFA and a guide, another group heavily invested in fairs. Just look at the FFA State Fair Guide.  Both FFA and 4-H encourage competition, such as Skillathon.  Members of 4-H or FFA are going to have an edge at the fair.  

Plan for the Fair!

 You do not have to belong to 4-H to participate in the local fair.  There are a huge variety of entries. I entered goods in one fair.  I had no idea how strict the requirements were and bombed badly!   Do your homework!  Start soon!  Locally, Stafford County has a fair—without a permanent home.  It does have a home-making category and the fair isn’t until October.  This type of fair is ideal for your first foray.  No pressure!  

When we lived in Winchester, VA, there were several local fairs: Warren County, Berkeley County, Jefferson County, Clarke County, and the Shenandoah County Fairs.  I toured all of these, except Berkeley County’s fairgrounds.  (We used to volunteer at a Pro-Life Booth at Jefferson County.)  We were spoiled.  I like old-fashioned, county fairs.  What is the process?

1.  First, look at the  fairground’s website, such as Frederick County Fairground.  Read the rules! Some, such as Prince William County’s General rules are lengthy and have a fixed cost.  Are exhibitors given a free pass?  

2.  Review the entries, such as Agriculture/Crafts.  Read the Judging Criteria.  Youth Baked Goods’ criteria are equally specific.  Some fairs offer Education Exhibits, which are open-ended, but often agricultural.  There are loads of other categories: Hobbies and Collections, Fine Arts, Canning, Horticulture, Sewing, and Photography.  Yes, growing food or flowers, understanding photography, baking bread, or creating an educational exhibit all have scientific merit.  

3.  Look over any special events, such as the Youth Pet Show or   Farm Animal Costume Contest.  Imagine dressing up your chicken!  Hilarious!

4.  Livestock at any fair is a special category and takes planning.  However, Rabbits and Chickens might work.  Take a look at the Poultry Requirements.

5. Read the Livestock Regulations thoroughly. Note this fair requires YOCA Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Training.  Check with the local Extension office for information.  Typically, youth who exhibit livestock are members of FFA or 4-H.  

Now is the time to get organized if you want to take part in your local fair.  You need ample time to complete forms, grow produce, practice recipes, or contact a vet.  Kiddos like to work with a purpose or goal.  Work as a family to decide which entries you want to submit. Make plans!  This summer is going to be so much fun!

Forensics for Kids!

 Are you planning some elective, summer classes?  Many families do.  Consider forensics.  How can you devise your own class?

1.  Contact the local police station.  Explain you are a teaching a summer forensics class.  Does the local police station have any resources?  For example, could an officer show the kiddos how to fingerprint or map a crime scene?  See if there is information about tours?  Does the station have a simulated crime scene or forensics lab?  Schedule a field trip.  

2. View some videos: Inside the Crime Lab, Kid Science Forensics Lab, 

3.  HST has Learn About Forensics Science, which is a project.  The Science Spot has Forensics Science Lesson Plans, with an outline, slide decks—a year’s worth of materials.  Crime Scene Basics has a good overview.

4.  Fingerprints: Fingerprint Evidence slides have students roll their fingers over a stamp pad on to an index card to examine their fingerprints.  The slide deck explains whorls, loops, and ridge characteristics, too. Here are more fingerprint activities.  

5.  Do the Strawberry DNA Extraction.  DNA Detective has a lesson and video and a Tomato DNA Extraction..

6. Teach Besides Me has Crime Scene Science with handwriting, footprint, and  blood-splatter analysis.  You Be the Crime Scene Investigator has a series of activities.

7. Create your own Blood Typing Lab.  HST’s Blood Typing Science for Kids has good instruction and a simple Blood Compatibility activity with food coloring.

8.  If you teach Chemistry, you may have the materials for CSI Live, which was a family show.  Regardless scroll down to Print Castings; it requires Plaster of Paris.  

9. Host a Mock Crime Scene is a great culminating project.  Have your kiddos plan a crime scene and go through the tests, labs, and investigations.  Study a room and do Forensics Science Experiments with photos. Here are a DIY Crime Scene, How To Set Up A Crime Scene, and The Ultimate Guide.

10.  Have your kiddos keep records, take photos, and create a slide deck summarizing the whole process.  Be sure to add this to your digital portfolio.

Here are some of my favorite sites for experiments!

 When I need ideas, there are several reliable sources of engaging experiments, which do not cost a fortune.  I need to site Lessons from Educational Innovations.  These lessons have ideas for their products, such as The Drinking Bird—really sound ideas.  Below are my favorite websites.

1. Science Bob’s Experiments come with images, videos, instructions, and explanations for simple experiments such as The Exploding Lunch Bag.  His homepage is obsessed with Elephant’s Toothpaste.  (BTW, the kiddo version of Elephant’s Toothpaste requires 3% hydrogen peroxide and yeast.  The explosive version requires fresh 30% hydrogen and sodium iodide, a catalyst.  You should only do the second version if you have experience with chemicals.)

2. Another celebrity scientist is Steve Spangler.  His site is full of familiar and imaginative experiments, such as the Balancing Hex Nut Challenge.  I have to try this for Maker Camp.  I’m going to be busy in May.  My husband, Rob, likes to have a model for every experiment.

3. Toys from Trash literally shows how to make toys from trash, such as the Pencil Spinner.  Be sure to look at the Free Films.  I stumbled upon Arvind Gupta’s website years ago when I was planning the first Joy of Toys science camps.  It doesn’t disappoint.

4. Another winner is Frugal Fun.  Sarah Dees has organized her webpage into categories: Summer, LEGO,  STEM, etc. Try the STEM Challenges.

5. Exploratorium’s Tools for Teaching and Learning has Watch and Do Science, Tinkering Projects, and Science Snacks.  Below are used books.  My favorites are The Science Explorer, The Science Explorer, Out and About, and The Explorabook.

One suggestion to try when your kiddos say they are bored.

 I’m stuck on summer projects.  I made up a container full of activities: jump rope, bike ride, read, etc.   Get out craft sticks and write simple activities on each stick.  You may want to have different categories or themes, such as STEM challenges.  (Challenges make excellent group activities.)  So when your kiddos complain they are bored, tell them to pull out a craft stick from the coffee can.  Here is a list of easy suggestions with instructions.  I especially like toys kiddos make and play with afterwards.  Make a folder with instructions (virtual or digital).

1. Make sidewalk chalk and go outside to chalk dead bodies.  Here, here and here are different instructions.  No, it isn’t cheating to go buy a box to have on hand.  

2.  Make eight different types of Super Bubbles.  For this activity, you may want to pull the materials and store them in a labeled box or bin, a kit.  Younger kiddos love bubbles.  Store wands with the bubbles or hula hoop with the bubble kit.  Challenge your tribe to hula hoop!

3. Make Cartesian divers: HST (medicine dropper), Science Bob (soy), Steve Spangler (ketchup), and Cartesian Diver (plastic pen top).  Here is the pipette version.

4.  Pull out 30 Playdough Recipes and 40 Slime Recipes for many hours of fun.  How do the recipes compare to commercial playdough or commercial slime?  Some recipes are better than others.  Label each cart stick Cloud Dough, Oobleck, Glitter Slime, etc.

5. 20 Edible Science Experiments  or 19 Edible Science Experiments are hits.  Buy Edible Chemistry.  Your family will mess with the ingredients for an hour.  Refill the containers with sodium alginate, calcium lactate (substitute for calcium acetate), citric acid, and baking soda.  The Magic Color Crystals are powdered cabbage.  Don’t forget to add sugar!  If you don’t the potions are foul.

Weather Watcher!

 Be a weather watcher!  Is your child a naturalist?  I bet this kiddo also likes to track the weather! The National Weather Service has a Just for Kids page with Weather 101.  This slide deck, Weather 101 is a good overview of weather technology, web sites, and introduction to weather as a topic.   See NASA’s Space Place’s weather page. National Geographic Kids has weather facts.  Do you have a serious student?  Your kiddo may want to learn how to read a Weather Map.  Here is a more advance weather map site.  Use this slide deck with Understanding the Weather Map.

Hands-on Activities and Lessons: 

1.  Create a Weather Wheel is for young kiddos. 

2.  Here is a wheel of Weathercaster, which aligns with the Sager Weathercaster, outlined here with codes.  Here is more information about the Sager Weathercaster.  No I had never heard of it either. See if the local airport has a meteorologist with background.  Ask for a tour and explanation of weather mapping.

3. These Activity Packs have 5th Grade Weather Systems and 7th Grade Atmosphere lessons with both teachers’ guides and student worksheets.

4. Here are instructions for homemade weather instruments.  

5. Here is a plethora of weather related experiments for kiddos from grades K-12.

Summer Projects: Make your own Geocache!

 Has your family tried Geocaching?  Look at all the geocache locations just in Stafford County.  The sites may have small prizes. Here is some geocaching etiquette.  Have items to trade.  If a box you find is empty, put in a small prize.  Round up small items— many from the dollar store.  (Shop your house first!) You’ll need a Geocaching app or Garmin eTrex.  There are other GPS devices; the eTrex is a workhorse and has been around for a long time.  You may want to Make Your Own Geocache.  Here is a guide to hiding your first cache.  Sell geocaching as a treasure hunt.

Summer Projects: Design a Boat!

 I’ve been looking for family projects.  Many of us wind up instruction for the year in May.  I like to have projects to do along with summer reading, in between summer camps, such as VBS.  Buoyancy and Boat Design has a series of activities about sinking and floating.  Finally the kiddos make penny boats with aluminum foil.  Perfect for tykes. Float a paper boat.

What about older children?  Build a Cardboard Boat; plan on using a lot of duct tape.  Here, here, and here are more tips and inspiration.  Have you heard of the Concrete Canoe Challenge? (I met a teacher who participated or I would never have heard of it either.). Have you ever considered making a Dugout Canoe?   These types of projects work well as a family or group.  See what inspires your family.

Summer Assignments for Next Fall’s Classes

 The high school students in our local Co-op complete summer assignments.  The literature classes typically have a reading list.  The Finance/Consumer Math class assigns Dave Ramsay’s high school program. Rob gives the NY Regents Algebra I test to Physics students as a summer assignment, to be sure they have mastered the math necessary to be successful. (Typically, the teens take Algebra II concurrently with Physics.)  The NY Math Tests for Grade 8  would work as a summer assignment for Physical Science.  

I sent out the summer assignment to the students enrolled in next year’s Chemistry classes.  I also added their names as students to Google Chemistey Classroom.  I want the students to have plenty of time to complete the project.  Clever kiddos can finish the project while they complete their lessons; they are free all summer.  Below are three assignments.

Advanced Biology did this Infectious Disease  project last summer.

Biology classes create a list of 100 species for a giant food web the teens make during the Ecology modules.

Chemistry classes create a set of Periodic Table cards, based on this JCE article, a Periodic Table card game.  Here is the blog post explaining which groups of elements and which colors for each group.  Below are a few examples teens made.