Apologia Chemistry and Young Explorers Chemistry and Physics: Let’s play with Polymers!

Today is all about playing with polymers:  Vanishing Marbles, Instant Snow, and Flabbergasted or Slime.  Take a look at the slime link.  The idea today is to experiment!  I’m bringing several types of glue for the kids to combine with borax solution to test their different properties.   The Instant Snow link has ideas for experiments, too.  The kids will have fun in the context of solid experimental design.  Today, all of the kids in both classes are working together.

Apologia Chemistry: Organic Nomenclature Crash Course

Quick Update:  Goodwill online often has molecular models.  Search with ‘molecular’, ‘molecule’, and under kits.

Christmas Break looms large.  We are taking a break from balancing chemical reactions to learn organic nomenclature.  First I review an Introduction to Organic Nomenclature and draw several examples on the board.  I have the kids copy the names of the first ten Alkanes.  Yes, I use terms such as parent chain, substitute St, and functional groups.  Once I’ve drawn a few hydrocarbons, I build a molecule or two to compare it with those on the board.  Then I throw the kids right into the worksheets, which view, condensed structural formulas, line formulas, and molecular formulas.  After. The kids have completed five molecules, I have them build the five with the molecule kits to make the connection in their heads.  Trust me this approach works.

I use these worksheets: WS 10.4 and WS 10.7   I also have the kids build the molecules they name.  I bought these models online at Goodwill, over a few years because I use them for Biology, Chemistry, and Physical Science.  You could make your own kits.   I recommend marshmallows or clay models.  CPK Coloring represents the traditional colors for the atoms.We use three different kits to build the organic molecules: Moly Mod, Molecular Vision, and Molecules of Life.

Apologia Young Explorers Chemistry and Physics: Atoms

The younger students are working on several chemical topics: elements cards, ionic formula writing, and atom models similar to the atoms in the textbook.  My husband, Rob, is working with two of the moms for this class.  One mom, Christine, is taking the lead to explain atoms, electrons, protons, and neutrons.  The kids made paper plate molecules.  The kids glued protons and neutrons in the center or nucleus with star electrons around the perimeter.  The younger kids worked on their element cards.  We separated the older kids and taught them how to identify types of chemical reactions.

Apologia Chemistry: Chemical Reactions

We started to learn how to identify and balance chemical reactions.  This reaction lab is similar to the one I use which a colleague gave me years ago.  Start with Identifying Types of Chemical Reactions, Six Types of Reactions, or Khan Academy.  

Use practice worksheets with answers!  The more the better!

Apologia Chemistry and Young Explorers Chemistry and Physics: Intro to Periodic Table

Today both groups started together for an introduction to the Periodic Table.  (You might try this activity.)  I like to differentiate metals and nonmetals, liquids, gases, and solids, and groups and families.  Here are the names of the groups or families.  We briefly explained the numbering systems of the groups.  I start with a discussion of the origin of the names of the elements, i.e. countries, Greek gods, coinage metals known to antiquity, etc.  We colored and labeled the groups using several different periodic tables: Periodic Table with liquids, gases, and solids.  names of groups,  The younger kids also worked on their elements cards.  Fun!

Apologia Chemistry: Heat Sources

One tool common to science labs is the Bunsen burner.  Home-school and Co-op setting frequently use alcohol burners.  When I taught in public school there were students who just acted like nimrods in class.  I got in the habit of using electric burners whenever possible because they were so much safer.  Last week, we used tea candles and Sterno to heat Hydrates for Lab.  Stern has dyes added to make the flame more visible; it isn’t suitable for flame tests—we’ll have to use alcohol burners for that lab.  We tested adding small amounts of the salts to tea candles with mixed results.  These color flame candles are a good alternative for flame tests.  Whenever possible, we’ll be using electric burners in lab.

Apologia Young Explorers’ Chemistry and Physics: Properties of Matter

My husband, Rob, is leading this class.  Today, the kids worked on Try-it’s from Lesson 1 and 2, mainly, properties of Matter.  First the kids dropped water on to wax paper.  They went a little further and tried to move the drop, divide it, etc.  Rob created a contest to see who could drop the most drops of water on to a penny.  The kids also measured 50 mL of water in a graduated  cylinder to discuss the meniscus which forms.  During the same lab the kids created Oobleck, a nonNewtonian fluid.  Lastly, the kids made Lava lamps.  During each activity, the kids took time to explore, observe, and learn more about the correct terms.  Rob is careful to reinforce terms, such as viscosity.  Which fluid is more viscose or dense?  Because we meet in the Maker Lab of a library, there are library patrons stopping by nearly every class to observe, ask questions, and try activities.  Cool, right?

Apologia Chemistry: Hydrates Lab or Percent Composition Lab

We’re working on nomenclature.  Yes, still.  On Tuesday, I reviewed several topics under inorganic nomenclature: Ionic compounds, covalent molecules, binary and ternary acids, the Stock system, and Hydrates.  I also showed the kids how to calculate molar mass.  Today, we did this Quick Lab, Percent Composition with Hydrates: copper sulfate pentahydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, sodium phosphate dodecahydrate  and magnesium sulfate decahydrate.  We used Pyrex test tubes, which are heat tempered, tea candles, and Sterno to heat the chemicals.  I keep glass beakers on hand to extinguish the flames.  The tea candles or Sterno are safer than an alcohol burner.  Be sure to weigh the test tubes.  Sometimes, the chemical sticks inside.  You’ll need to weigh both before scraping it out as you clean the test tube.

Apologia Chemistry: Nomenclature

Yesterday, we did a brief review of Ionic and covalent nomenclature and learned how to name acids using this song sung to the tune from the movie Bridge Over the River Kwai
Acids, there are two kinds of them
Acids, there are two kinds of them
Binary, you add a hydro, add an “ic” and an acid
Then you’re done, done, done, done

Acids, there are two kinds of them
Acids there are two kinds of them
Ternary, if it’s “ite” make it “ous”
If it “ate” make it “ic”, add an acid
And you’re done, done,done,done.

And then there’s Oxygen, if there’s two less of them
Hypo is what we call it then
Too many “O’s’ make it “per” you know
One less O and then it’s “ite”
That’s no fright!
And we’re done, done, done, done


For example:
HCl.  Binary acid (two atoms) is hydrochloric acid
HNO3. Ternary acid (three or more atoms) is nitric acid ( The nitrate ion becomes “ic.”)
HNO2 is nitrous acid. (Nitrite ion becomes ”ous”)

Young Explorers Chemistry and Physics: Lesson 1

Our Co-op class have five children ages 7-11.  Sound familiar?  Gen, who is 11, is also very bright and capable.  Fortunately, I have experienced this situation in my Human Anatomy class.  Gen finished the Mystery Powders and Density measures quickly and accurately.  Gen is going to be the teacher’s assistant.  Yesterday, when the four boys were working on measures, correct use of a scale, density by displacement, use of calipers, and measuring volume with angraduated cylinder, Gen created a density column and Rainbow Density columns (Steve Spangler has one in a straw!).  We had a few issues creating the salt water density column.  Gen followed the Instructable directions and the column was too muddy.  I did a little research and the consensus agrees with Jeanne Fulbright: drop the fluids down the middle not down the sides to creat distinct layers.  My husband, Rob, is leading the class; we have lengthy discussions between classes, especially in the car after a lesson.  (We’re about 30 minutes from the library.).  Gen is going to repeat this lab and instruct the boys using the Rainbow Salt column and just demonstrate the density column using syrup, oil, dish detergent, etc..  Rob is concerned about the boys making a huge mess.  The kids are going to repeat the penny boat experiment and create a data table for a magnet Try-it.  If time permits, all of them will do the Lava lamp, too.  The class structure is modified, too.  All of the kids will read over the chapters.  Gen is the only student pursuing it as a complete class.  The boys will learn the vocabulary, do some reading, and participate in all of the labs in class.  Gen is going to do a lot of lab prepping and assisting to keep her engaged.  I’m going to take time to show Gen how to create a concept map and a digital blog.  I’ll help her with nomenclature, balancing equations, etc.  Rob and I plan to select topics from the Chemistry chapters and dive into Physics.

Apologia Chemistry: Hydrates or Percent Composition

The Hydrate or Percent Composition Lab is the one I use when I need more time with nomenclature and want the kids to have a lab experience.  I introduce the idea of hydrates, Percent Composition, and molar mass, while continuing to instruct in nomenclature.  Tomorrow, I’m going to introduce acid nomenclature, review the Stock System, covalent molecules, and Ionic compounds.  I plan to test the kids soon.  I let the kids use an ion chart and the Greek prefixes when I test them on nomenclature.  On Tuesday, my plan is to have the lab, teach them how to calculate molar mass and Percent Composition. Wish me luck.