Apologia Chemistry: Module 3 Ionic Formula Lab

Once the kids do the lab, I have them learn how to mix compounds, make solutions, react, and write the formulas.  We're really doing single replacement reactions.  I use a small scale lab from Prentice Hall with the chemicals I have on hand.  The kids make up 1M solutions and then drop 5-10 drops of each and record a reaction.  Then the kids write the formulas of the resulting products.  Fun!
Update:  We took another class to repeat the lab and write the formulas.

Module 3: Ionic Nomenclature

Putting the Ions in Their Hands is my weapon of mass instruction to teach how to name ionic compounds.  Really.  Here are some practice worksheets.  The key to learn how to name and write ionic formulas is to practice.
Ionic formula writing worksheet and key
Lots of ionic formula writing practice

New NSTA reviews published!

Microbes: Microbes

Who Made My Lunch Series: Lunch

NSTA: Picture-Perfect Science Lessons Grades 3-6

I Review material for NSTA frequently and received a catalog of their publications.  In it was ‘Picture-Perfect Science Lessons’, which uses children’s literature to frame inquiry- based science lessons.  It’s more of a manual for either elementary teachers or librarians.  The local libraries all have Maker spaces.  So, I was curious.  The science and inquiry tools are sound.  For example, Chapter 4 describes BSCS 5E Instructional Model, a great tool to use to create science lessons.  The manual includes a variety of types of lessons in physical, life, and earth sciences.  For example, Chapter 8, Rice is Life, includes books about rice, germination activities, and a small Journal.  Mystery Pellets, Chapter 10 includes owl pellet dissections, relevant word sort Cards, and food webs. There are loads of ideas for activities: letters to conservation groups, building instruments, even making a ‘fortune-teller’.  Fun!  See if your library has a copy.  This book would be a great supplement to science lessons at Co-op.

Apologia Chemistry: Resources

I ran across AACT, the American Association of Chemistry Teachers.  They have some great resources, such as Three Station Gas Law Lab.  Yes, I already have scads of labs—but I’m always looking for labs which can be performed at home or in a Co-op setting with everyday materials.  Take a look.

Apologia Chemistry Module 1: Measures

Update: After the lab, we spent time reviewing metric prefixes, SI units, significant figures, with examples and practice.  My husband, Rob, leads the math exercises.  I like to do a few problems together, assign problems to work individually, check answers, and finally, explain problems most of the kids missed.  With this method, we can hone in on which students need more help individually.  After class, Rob spent 20 minutes teaching A.

Yes, we’re still in Module 1, Day One.  For my classes, Day One can last a month.  My goal is to introduce a host of skills.  Tomorrow’s class we’ll finish Flinn’s Reaction in a Bag.  The kids observed a change in temperature and we didn’t have any thermometers.  We’ll repeat the lab and measure temperature changes. ( BTW, the phenol red in the lab is the same indicator solution used in many pool kits.  The lab calls for 10 mL and small samples of chemicals are available through Home Training Tools.). Here’s the overview of tomorrow’s lesson.

Lesson Thursday

1. Check Koolaid, Cards, Density, Accuracy Lab, Safety contracts, emails, student names, notebooks, Concepts maps Module 1, and Reaction in a Bag.
2. Finish Reaction in a bag with thermometers. Show them how to use digital thermometers.
3. Conversions WS
4. Greek prefixes
5. Sig. Fig. WS
6. Precision vs Accuracy
7. Job of Zero
8. Degree of Accuracy
9. Koolaid Lab example: degree of accuracy with mass and cup of sugar.
10. Practice Sheets
11. Check sci fair ideas
12. Null and Alternative hypotheses
13. Controlled, confounding, and independent variables
14. Review WS, Lab, Problem solving note-keeping and digital records.
15. Notebook Guidelines:  organize information into tables, concept maps, list, include title, name, and date, each value has units of measure and a label, such as mean, median, and mode, or sugar, water, Koolaid.

Apologia Chemistry: Reaction in a Bag from Flinn

Today we discussed ideas for Science Fair.  To be continued.  Then we spent 30 minutes with Flinn's Reaction in a Bag.  I like this lab because it uses three chemicals: phenol red solution, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and calcium chloride (ice melt--check the bag).  The reaction takes place in a plastic ziplock baggie.  We double bag the reaction in a giant gallon bag and cover the table in newsprint because we are meeting in the Maker Space at the library.  You may want to replicate these precautions in your kitchen.  When we experimented at home, the labs took place either in the garage or basement.  The kids have a chance to combine these and make observations.  The materials are simple, but the results are dramatic.  Cool!

Apologia Chemistry: Precision

We finally finished the Density lab and began Accuracy and Precision. (This lab also teaches these concepts.)  I use an IPS lab which employs a Solo cup, ruler, and sponge.  The kids drop wet sponges into a Solo cup 30 times from a known distance and record the distance from the cup.  If the sponge lands in the cup the measure is 0; if the sponge lands outside the cup, the students measure (with a ruler) the distance the sponge lands from the cup.  Really.  The kids like this lab.  I have them calculate the mean, median, and mode for the 30 measures they record in a data table.

Here are pre-lab questions:
1. What is an accurate measurement in this experiment?
2. Where should the dropped sponges be measured from?
3. Should there be any regulations on how the student on the chair should stand? (Decide if you'll permit them to stand on a chair.)
4. What unit of measure should the class use to measure the dropped sponges? (cm or mm)

Post-Lab questions:
1. What was your most accurate measurement?  Why was it the most accurate?
2. Were your measurements precise?  Explain.
3. Can just one measurement be considered precise?  Accurate?  Explain.
4. Can measurements be precise, but NOT accurate?  Explain.
5.  Compare the mean, median, and mode.  Are they similar or different?
6.  Evaluate your procedure.  Was there enough detail?  What would you change?
7.  Did the data table you constructed fit the data you collected.

Conclusion.
Differentiate between accuracy and precision

Apologia Chemistry: Kool-aid check up, Density of Bowling Ball

Today was Bowling for Density or Will a Bowling Ball Float?  The answer is maybe.  League bowling balls have a maximum weight of 16 lbs.  A bowling ball less than 12 lbs will float and greater than 12 lbs will sink.  The density of water (add ice) is 1.0 g/mL.  We checked the recipes for the Kool-aid Lab, and Vanishing Volume, a discrepant event.  Next class, we’ll complete and debrief all of these labs, answering questions to understand the purpose.  The point is to understand measures, convert units, and calculations, all Module 1.

Apologia Chemistry: Graphing Calc 101 and Kool-aid Lab

The kids were asking about their graphing calculators so I decided to introduce a lesson for half the class.  When I teach TI 83/84, I bring a my TI ViewScreen, overhead, TI 84 graphing calculator, and a bag of TI 83 calculators.  We also use emulators and apps for iPad.  I post a TI  84 poster to show kids where the buttons are located.  When I taught in public schools, the math departments had suitcases with graphing calculators, overheads, and TI ViewScreens.  Ask the local high school to see if a teacher is willing to give your kids graphing lessons.  We learn how to enter and analyze data.  Once you learn how to graph and how to do regressions, you're set.  The TI 83, 84, and TINspire are similar.  Today, we just learned how to enter data in STAT.

The second half is the Kool-aid lab.  I ordered new plastic cyclinders, Kool-aid, and extra didgital scales.  The kids have to determine how much Kool-aid, sugar, and water to make a five ounce cup of Kool-aid.  The idea is to first convert the 2 quart, 1 cup, 1 package recipe to mL and grams.  FYI, there is about 150 grams in one cup of sugar.  One fluid ounce is roughly 30 mL.  Some of the kids just measured the amount of water the cup held in mL using the graduated cyclinder.  This activity takes 45 minutes.  My husband had one group weigh the Kool-aid.  Guess what?  The actual mass of Kool-aid powder varies from the mass listed on the package.  I've never verified the mass before.  The measures will be around 0.2 grams of Kool-aid, 10-15 grams of sugar, and 100-140 mL.  The results depend on how precisely the kids convert or round, the amount of water they use in a 5 oz. cup, whether they use one or two cups of sugar or one or two packages of Kool-aid in their recipes.  But this will give you a ball park estimate.

Apologia Chemistry: Accuracy and Precision.

This is an excellent lab requiring a ruler, plastic cup, and sponges.  You'll want to print these b/c I scanned them upside down.  My copy had stains.  But the lab is that good!  I have the kids design it.  They decide the height to drop it, etc.  I have the kids do 30 trials and record the mean, median, and mode.