Apologia Chemistry: Build basic equipment

I'm constantly reminded that many students do not have basic lab equipment or have large families with tight budgets. The Science Notebook has tips for creating and calibrating liquid measuring devices.  Try to locate a graduated cylinder--even on loan to calibrate your glassware or bottles.  Here are instructions to construct a scale.  A penny made before 1982 has a mass of three grams.  Pennies minted after 1982 have a mass of 2.5 grams.  (1982 pennies vary as the mints changed over.).  Nickels have a mass of five grams.  Coins can serve as weights for your scale.  We use craft sticks to mix and inexpensive plastic palettes as reaction plates.  Walmart sells inexpensive thermometers you can use for many experiments and can calibrate.

Apologia Chemistry: Periodic Table Test and Density or Measurement Lab

Today was the first time the kids took their periodic table tests.  They have to achieve 90% or retake the test until they achieve 90%.  I give them blank copies of the Periodic Table and expect them to know 1-50, Pt, Au, Hg, and Pb.  After the quiz, the kids started the Measurement Lab.  We measured the volume (directly and by displacement) of several objects: metal cubes, glass marbles, metal cylinders,  acrylic blocks, wood blocks, etc.  The kids created data tables of the objects, their mass, volume, density, and percent error.   Here is the volume of geometric objects,  the density of common objects, and direction to calculate percent error.

1. Review the formulas for density, volume of a sphere, rectangle, square, and cylinder.
2. Remind the kids that density= Mass/volume
3. Check that they know how to measure with a digital scale (tare or zero and use a weigh paper) and measure volume with the meniscus.
4. Create a Data Table:
Object              Mass           Volume         Density        Percent Error

5.  Plan for the lab to take at least one hour.  Really.

Apologia Chemistry: Day One

Day One lasts two or three weeks.  Yesterday, the second class session, we checked on the Elements Cards, graphing calculators and emulators, reviewed lab equipment, Claim, Evidence, Reasoning or CER, and taught the kids to create Concept Maps on paper using Measures from Module 1.  The kids are reading Module 1 for Tuesday.  I had hopes of watching the lab safety video; the computer at the library lacks speakers.  Next class, Tuesday, we'll look at Concept Map software, watch the safety film, sign the safety contracts, and do a lab.  Here's hoping for a good year!

Picture Perfect Science

NSTA has an interesting series called, Picture Perfect Science, which uses trade books as vehicles for inquiry-based science.  Pretty cool!  Ask the librarian to see if you can get a copy to examine.

Apologia Chemistry Begins

Today we started Chemistry with two activities: The Checks Lab Activity and The Cube Activities.  (The cubes are located after the article.). My class is 'inquiry-based', which uses data to drive discussions.  We also covered some administrivia.  Our class is using Google Classroom as a tool to house resources and keep records.

NSTA Review: 'Who Made My Lunch?'

Librarians, looking for a series to support National School Lunch week?  'Who Made My Lunch?' by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman is ideal.  This six book series includes all the components of a typical child's lunch: peanut butter, jelly, wheat bread, cheese, ice cream, and chocolate.  The six titles are 'From Milk to Ice Cream', 'From Milk to Cheese', 'From Cocoa Beans to Chocolate', 'From Grapes to Jelly', 'From Peanuts to Peanut Butter', and 'From Wheat to Bread'.  Few children grow up on farms.  Instead children are disconnected from the origins of the food from the grocery store.  What offers more appeal than chocolate bars and ice cream or a classic PB& J sandwich?  The series is intended for the early elementary grades, K-3.  The text is clear without condescension.  For example, in 'From Wheat to Bread', the authors explains, " The wheat sprouts quickly.  But this is winter wheat.  During the cold months, it goes dormant.  That's sort of like taking a nap."  (p.6).  In 'From Peanuts to Peanut Butter', Heos includes interesting details, "At the peanut butter factory, you'll roast the peanuts in a hot oven.  The tray moves up and down so that the peanuts shake while they bake.  This way, they cook evenly." (p.15). At the end of each title is a map displaying where the grapes, peanuts, cocoa beans, etc is grown.  (p.23). On the last page (p.24) are brief glossaries, websites, and bibliographies.  The websites, while brief, are germane.  In the Chocolate book is a link to Fair Trade information and Peanuts includes a site about peanut and tree nut allergies.  The Grapes, Wheat,and Peanuts books could serve as springboards for class discussions about plant growth and cultivation before a science lesson planting seeds.  Any of these titles dovetail with nutrition lessons.  I'm confident children will find these books engaging.  The 'Who Made My Lunch?' Series would make an excellent addition to any library or classroom.

Into to Chemistry: Reaction in a Bag Lab

Here is one of the first labs we do in Chemistry, in lieu of a lecture on the ' Scientific Method'.  Flinn Scientific's Reaction in a Bag hones observation skills, introduces an indicator solution and produces a fabulous reaction.  I'll post photos when we get to this lab.

Science Fair Links

I put these links together for a work shop and wanted to share these.

Science Fair Resources 

1. Car exhaust Lab: http://lorpub.gadoe.org/State%20of%20Georgia/GAVS%20Shared/Science/APES_AirPollutionClimateChange_Shared/AirQuality.pdf
2. Project Worksheet: http://sc087.k12.sd.us/Science%20Fair%20Resources/5-12sciencefairprojectworksheet.pdf
3. Planning Guide: http://northport.k12.ny.us/backpack/getfile.aspx?id=177898
4. Science Fair Project Template (google)
5. Science Fair Information Packet: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/cms/lib/WV01000962/Centricity/Domain/34/Elementary%20Book.pdf
6. How to organize Science Fair: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/blog/2011/03/04/science-fair-planning-and-creative-ideas/
7. Step by Step: https://www.phsd144.net/cms/lib3/IL01001725/Centricity/Domain/572/ScienceFairPacket.pdf
8. Bubble Rocket:http://wveis.k12.wv.us/teach21/cso/upload/UP3612WS7.doc
9. Do Pump Caps Preserve fizz?  http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=176937 and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fizz_keeper
10. Stain Removal:https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/best-way-stains-out-of-clothes/
11. Mud watt: https://www.homesciencetools.com/mudwatt-science-fair-pack
12. Water test:https://www.homesciencetools.com/watersafe-science-project-kit
13. Salt Water Energy: https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/salt-water-energy/ and Envirobattery: https://www.homesciencetools.com/enviro-battery-kit
14. Most effective sunscreen: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/uv-reactive-beads/
15. Kits and Ideas:https://www.teachersource.com/category/science-fair-ideas
16. Jelly Marbles: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/vanishing-jelly-marbles/
17. Reaction Rocket:https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.teachersource.com/downloads/lesson_pdf/RKT-625.pdf
18. Clothes that Glow: https://sciencenotes.org/list-of-things-that-glow-under-black-light/ and Glow Putty and more: https://www.brit.co/glowing-products/
19. Homemade Hand Warmers: https://www.homesciencetools.com/a/homemade-hand-warmers
20. Bird Feeders: https://www.homesciencetools.com/a/bird-science-projects-for-elementary (number of birds or variety
21. List of Winning Projects: https://www.berkeleycountyschools.org/cms/lib/WV01000962/Centricity/Domain/34/Elementary%20County%20Winners.pdf

Get ready for Chemistry!

Chemistry begins in ten days!   Yeah!  I have twenty items scheduled to do the first day.  Honestly, I make up a long list of skills the kids need and label it all 'Day One'.  Day One continues for two weeks.  First is The Checks Lab which uses checks as a device for kids to use existing data to determine what the story is behind all of the checks.  The science is to base your hypothesis on existing evidence.  (I like to remind kids that their faith is also based on evidence from
God.). These teacher notes may help.  I also teach about the inquiry process using this Cube Activity.  Both of these activities are from inquiry-based workshops I gave through College Board.  Both are instrumental in instructing how to approach science.

Young Explorer Human Anatomy: Chapter One Cells

The first unit in Human Anatomy introduces Cells.  Make clay animal cell models.  Have the kids color and label animal cells first.  Next have the kids create their own models in clay.  Some children like to make flag labels to poke into their model.  Others prefer to make keys.  It doesn't matter.  Then, by all means, make an edible cell; the kids love cells made with candy!  I like to make, color, and label animal cells in several media.  Trust me, the kids will be able to identify cell parts.  Be sure to have the older children complete the Journal activities requiring them to understand the function of the different organelles.  This is an easy way to differentiate instruction.  Everyone made models; the older children had a greater depth of understanding.

Young Explorers Human Anatomy: Skeletal System

A friend of mine is prepping her Anatomy program for fall.  One of our lessons was the skeletal system.  I bought a plastic skeleton from Target in early October for $15.   The first question I asked the children was, "Is this toy skeleton scientifically accurate?"  We used  worksheets and spent time naming and labeling the bones before we determined the skeleton was accurate.  Older children can write the names of the bones and tape them on to the skeleton or review these names with younger children orally.  We did lots of both.  The kids liked making all sorts of skeletons.  We liked pasta skeletons to make and label and full size paper skeletons.  This one comes in pieces!  While you are on the skeletal system, try to make a spinal cord with a pool noodle or an egg carton spinal cord, like the ones we made.  (I wish I had thought to buy pool noodles on clearance!  I had saved egg cartons, though.). We used blank skeleton worksheets for quizzes.  The older children wrote the names, some of whom needed word list.  Younger children identified the names orally when quizzed.  (My class was eleven children ages 6-11.)