Apologia Chemistry: Module 3 Laws of Definite and Multiple Proportions

 Thursday, my Chemistry Co-op class is going to tackle the bus and bolts of Chemistry—literally.  Let me give you my sources: Classifying Matter, Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures, Nuts and Bolts Matter Activity, and Laws of Definite and Multiple Proportions Lab.  My kids have a bag of nuts and bolts in their Chem kits I made and sent home.  Thursday, they are using the bag of nuts and bolts, a digital scale, and printed copies of Nuts and Bolts of Matter and The Laws of Def and Mult Labs. We’re doing the two activities by Zoom.  I made a Slideshow with examples and practice.  Wish me luck.

Apologia Chemistry: Graphing

 My kids are learning how to graph with the TI 83/84.  I have GraphNCalc83 on my iPad.  I have been graphing with the app and taking screen shots for my kids.  I put the screenshots into a slideshow for the next Zoom class.  Here is the slideshow.

Apologia Chemistry: Heat Up Some Cool Reactions

Update: This lab and graphing exercise has gone better than expected.  I have had to Zoom with kids individually to review how to enter and graph the data.  Today, I was going over instructions with Fiona, when it occurred to me I could take a screen shot of her work.  I’m saving submitted assignments in a file online as part of a digital portfolio.  We have been testing different regression models to see which fit the data they collected from the lab.  I just added the video about graphing a linear regression.  If you want to test other models, such as Quadreg, after entering the data, calculate Quadreg instead of Linreg.  Then proceed according to the video.  

My kids are completing  Heat Up Some Cool Reactions, creating data tables, graphing, and calculating the linear regression.  I asked the kids to send in pix.  Yes, we are going to review different math models for data tomorrow.  Take a look.

Apologia Science: How are you testing remotely?

 My Bio and Chem classes are held remotely for the foreseeable future.  So how are we grading?  I’ve been doing short quizzes.  The kids scan or take a photo for me to grade.  Some of the kids post their photos or scans directly to Google Classroom.  I tend to do short quizzes the kids may correct or retake.  I want them to understand the concepts rather than fixate on grades.  Take a look.

Family Science: Elephant’s Toothpaste

 Have you seen the World’s Largest Elephant’s Toothpaste video?  Did you wonder how to make Elephant’s Toothpaste?  There are two basic types: a kid-safe version, and a Chemistry version.  Here is the kid-safe version to try as a family.  The instructions require 3% hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, yeast, and food coloring.  The yeast breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.  The glasses are trapped in foam and ooze out.  The Chemistry version requires 30% hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst,  sodium iodide or potassium iodide, Dish soap, and food coloring or tempera.  Stick with the kid-safe version.  I only do the Chemistry version in a lab, on a lab bench, with lab coat and goggles.  30% hydrogen peroxide is also expensive.  3% hydrogen peroxide isn’t.

Walmart: Water and Candles with Physics Girl

 Who knew Walmart had a camp?  Okay, you probably already knew.  In case you didn’t know, look at Water With Physics Girl or Candles with Physics Girl.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 2, 3, and 4 Slideshows

 Here are the slideshows I've prepared for Chemistry this year.  Hope they help: Module 2, Module 3, and Module 4.  I saved these as pdf files and allow anyone to open the links.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 1 Slideshow

 I've been using slideshows to teach Chemistry Co-op by Zoom.  Let me share them with you.  Don't look for professional slideshows.  Most of the time, I use my iPad for Zoom meetings because the Whiteboard is better than on an laptop--unless yours is touch sensitive.  There are several slideshows for Module 1:  Module 1, More Module 1, and Even More Module 1.  I think the links are live.  They were when I checked. Hope these help.

Discrepant Event: Ghost Crystals

 Ghost Crystals is another discrepant event.  Clear water absorbing spheres or polyacrylate gel crystals work.  Put clear spheres or crystals in water and watch them disappear.  Ask the kids to explain why they disappear.  Here is an explanation.  Activities like Ghost Crystals make kids think.  I bought a variety of grow spheres, cubes, and spikes.  Below are pix.  The spikes are still visible.  Use crystals or spheres instead.

Density Bottle: Discrepant Event

 I like discrepant events to get kids to think.  I made a short video of the Poly Density Bottle for my kids.  When I introduce  discrepant events, I do the demo and ask for an explanation.  Here is a detailed explanation.  The density bottle is an opportunity to use CER or Claim-Evidence-Reasoning.  Really, it’s a chance to make kids think.

Apologia Chemistry: Graphing Calculator Lab

 I’m in the middle of teaching ten kids in my Co-op Chemistry class how to graph with graphing calculators by Zoom.  Really.  My kids are going to do  Heat Up Some Cool Reactions, graph, and complete the linear regressions.  The lab collects time and temperature data.  My kids are using Celsius, not Fahrenheit temperature scale.  The lab grade is the data tables and photos of the graph in the graphing calculator.  Why teach kids how to use a graphing calculator?  Most kids will use one in college.  Public and private schools often use graphing calculators in math classes.  I make a point to expose the kids to graphing in Chemistry so they won’t be intimidated in college.  Below are graphing videos for entering data, creating a graph, and doing a linear regression.