Eldon Blood Typing Lab

 Today, the kids tested their blood.  (We did some genetic problems, debriefed the simulated blood lab,  and spreadsheet instruction, too.  Here is the Genetics test I wrote based on several problems sets we used.). We used the Eldon Blood Type Test Kits.  (Packs of five are available from Amazon and Walmart for $33-34.). Kids like doing blood tests.  Well, most of them do.  There is always one kid who is a bleeder.  I had gauze and tape ready.  I didn’t realize some Eldon kits come with one lancet and others two lancets. As long as the kids only use the lancet on their own fingers, it does not matter.  We had to do a complete clean-up because my husband passes out at the sight of blood.

Candy Chromatography!

 I love candy labs.  Have you tried Candy Chromatography?  Here are chromatography instructions with background information about food dyes.  Try doing chromatography with water-based markers, M&Ms and Skittles, Food Dyes, or  Black Ink Pens.  Use thicker coffee filters to make the strips.  Later this year, the Bio class is going to do this lab, Plant Pigment Chromatography, with fresh spinach leaves.  

Blood Testing Part One: Simulated Blood Tests

Today, Biology class met in person!  We did two simulated blood tests.  The first was homemade.  Here is another homemade, simulated blood type lab.  This sounds obvious.  It isn’t.  The kids need to see what agglutination looks like.  I made up home-made Type A and Type B blood with Anti-A and Anti-B sera.  The kids need to see what agglutination or clumping looks like.  Next we used Innovating Science Simulated Blood Typing lab.  The kit is $45.  It pays to do the homemade lab first.  We had some trouble with the Anti-B sera in the kit?  I had an older refill kit and a new Innovating Science lab kit.  The Anti-B sera in the older refill kit did not clump.  Next time, I will buy the kit just before we do the lab, or a month before we do the lab.  The kids must write out the Punnett squares for each combination of possible parents and explain who the father is and why.  This is so much fun.  Thursday, we are doing the real blood tests.

Family Science: Science Tricks!

 Let’s start with the water trick.  Here is another description of the trick with an bit of an explanation of surface tension or intermolecular forces.  I like to use the water demo when I broach the topic Why is water wet?  

Another good trick is the Straw through Potato trick.  Try it through an apple, too.  Here are ten more science magic tricks.  Let your kids test the tricks and plan a magic show.  A nice finale is Kid-Friendly Elephant Toothpaste.

Many of you and your families are cooped up inside.  Add a little magic to your science plans.

Snow Day!

 I am forging ahead with Biology Co-op class despite the snow and ice.  This year, Biology meets in person.  However, almost every class has one person meeting remotely.  We’ve been hit hard with COVID.  We have large families; sometimes siblings are ill, making it difficult for mom to drive.  Happily, remote learning is in place.  I use it for Snow Days.  I sent the links in advance and loaded screenshots of the worksheets to this Jamboard.  Here are the worksheets: #1, #2, and #3.  Here are the slideshows I’m using for class: #1,   #2, and #3.  Not ideal.  We’ll make it work.  (The image below is from the first snow storm.  I took the photo the night after we returned from Florida, the day after I95 was closed and the power had been out for two days.)

Centrifuge and Digital Microscope at Good Will

 Good Will has this listing with a centrifuge and digital microscope.  There are pipettes, glass beakers, microscope slides, goggles, etc in the kit.  I have had a centrifuge in my classroom and never used it—even for AP classes.  However, if your kids do expanded AP Biology level experiments, this listing may interest you. The pix are from the listing.

Star Wars Science Kits

 Good Will online has several listings for Star Wars Science kits.  Below are a few pix with kits.  We like the Jedi Force trainer, a static electricity toy.  My husband, Rob, teaches Physics and uses these toys for demonstrations.  Paul, eleven, likes to play with them, too.  Good Will has these kits listed frequently.  Don’t forget to check the shipping costs!  Good Will online represents Good Will stores across the nation. Some stores inflate the shipping weight and tack on hefty handling fees.  My target price for these kits is $20 with shipping.

Genetics Update

The Biology Co-op class just resumed.  My husband, my son, and I visited family in Florida before my son was deployed as a priest chaplain to the Arabian Peninsula.  We returned to an ice and snow storm which had knocked out power for three days.  Several of the families contracted COVID; some are on their second or third COVID infection.  So, we just resumed class today.  Six kids met remotely owing to COVID.  We went over this Mendel slideshow and worked through problems on this Punnett Square worksheet.  (Here is a more complicated genetic crosses worksheet.  Here is another set of practice problems and the answer key.). We’ll be working on the problem sets, terms, such as homozygous and heterozygous, and start dihybrid crosses.  The western forecast next week calls for more snow.  Sign.

Free Lab Activities

 One of my favorite science resources, Flinn Scientific, just posted these Free Science Activities.  Take a look!  Some, like Glue Slime will be very familiar.  I find there is always a new idea to try.

Family Science: Marbling ideas!

 I was watching a craft competition.  Two contestants sprayed paint on the surface of a basin of water and dipped wood to make tie-dyed tree shapes.  Here are detailed instructions for marbling wood, glass, metal, and paper with spray paint on the surface of the water.  Here are instructions and background information to marble paper.  Here is an article with a bit of science background for marbling rocks with nail polish.  Here is the blog post about marbling paper and rock.  Here is an article from Scientific American which explains a bit more about marbling paper.  Hydrophilic means water loving.  Hydrophobic means water fearing.  Polar molecules attract other polar molecules and repel non polar molecules.  Water is very polar.  Spray paint and nail polish are nonpolar; they are also less dense and remain on the surface of a basin of water.  Feel free to skip the science lesson and have a blast with your kids marbling objects, such as glass jars.  We buy glassware from Good Will and make Christmas presents. (BTW, use large recycled containers for the water basin.)  Have fun!  Merry Christmas!

Metal Ornaments

 One of my favorite ornaments to make with Chemistry classes is Ornament Making from Flinn.  Here’s the rub; the lab calls for 6M hydrochloride acid.  When I do this lab I dip the metal ornaments in HCl myself.  (Below is a pix with instructions from a Facebook post.). Here is Foiled Again.  This lab uses aluminum foil.  The discussion thread mentions buying aluminum blanks, also pictured below.  The author suggests covering the aluminum blank with adhesive vinyl and carving out the design.  My teens cover the blanks with masking tape before carving the designs.  I’m going to keep my eye out for inexpensive aluminum blanks and try this with copper sulfate.