Where do you buy science supplies?

 I was talking with a home-school mom at soccer practice, yesterday.  She mentioned needing to order a science kit.  Unless I can find a kit on Good Will online or eBay, I don’t buy kits.  Let me share several science resources.  First is Home Science Tools.  They sell individual pieces of equipment, such as a glass thermometer.  This is where I order dissection specimens for Biology.  Amazon, Walmart, eBay are good sources for chemicals, pH paper, and lab equipment.  

Whenever possible, look for household chemicals to use for experiments.  Okay, they aren’t as pure as reagents sold from chemical supply companies, such as Flinn Scientific.  Most of the time these chemicals work well enough for lab.  Here is a list of common household chemicals with their formulas and scientific names.  Below is an example, Driveway Heat, calcium chloride, CaCl2.  I use baking soda and CaCl2 with phenol red (pool indicator solution) for Reaction in a Bag.  

Dollar Tree, the grocery store, and Walmart are excellent sources for science equipment: funnels, plastic, paint palettes (for chemical reactions), Epsom salts, washing soda, borax, and baking soda.  Be sure to shop your house!  Set aside a medicine dropper, plastic plate or bowl, craft sticks (to stir), a funnel, etc in a bin dedicated to science experiments.  Add balloons, index cards, binder clamps, and empty yogurt containers to use for solutions.  

Five Below frequently has simple science kits.  Look at the contents before you buy the kit.  Some small towns still have old fashioned hardware stores and pharmacies.  I have bought bluestone, Copper II Sulfate, a root killer, from local hardware stores.  (Usually, I just order it from Amazon.)  I’ve found water absorbing crystals from plant nurseries.  If you are lucky enough to live near an Amish or Mennonite hardware or general store, they carry all sorts of materials useful for science experiments.  Hope this helps!

Glassware for Lab!

Do you need glassware for Chemistry lab?  It’s nice to have a few Pyrex, Kimax, or  borosilicate glassware.  Borosilicate lab glass is safer when heated.  Ideally, have a few test tubes, two or three glass beakers, and maybe a glass flask.  I have several 250 mL beakers and 250 mL side-arm flasks, to filter or use for gas law labs.  Instead, I use polypropylene, plastic beakers and graduated cylinders for lab.  Why?  They don’t break.  I teach teens.  The best price I’ve seen lately for a basic set of labware is $12.99.  Below are screenshots of labware offered at Good Will online and Amazon.  Home Science Tools sells single units of polypropylene cylinders and beakers at excellent prices.  

Bowling for Density!

 The Chem Co-op class is still collecting density data. My husband’s Physics class is combined with my Chem class this week and next Tuesday.   Today, I checked that everyone had a hypothesis.  Four kids did. (There are 18 students.)  I’m glad I checked.   They must hypothesize which method to determine volume is most accurate.  In one group, the two kids had different hypotheses; one teen thought volume by displacement, the other said using calipers was most accurate.  They’re in the same group!  The kids will use their hypotheses for the lab report.  

Half the kids finished collecting loads of data.  They worked on Bowling for Density! (This link calls in The Floating Bowling Ball.). Below are videos about the activity.  I have several questions I ask when I do Bowling for Density.

1. Will a bowling ball float?  Maybe.

2.  What determines whether a bowling ball will float?  It must be less dense than water.

3.  What is the density of water?  1g/mL or 1 g/cm3

4.  How much does the bowling ball weigh?  Our balls are 10 and 12 lbs.

5.  The bowling ball weighs 10 lbs.  What unit will we use for mass?  Grams.

6.  How will you measure the volume of the ball?  Use the formula for the volume of a sphere and measure the ball’s circumference, which should be about 68 cm.

7.  Once you have the mass in grams and the volume in cubic centimeters, how will you determine whether or not the ball will float?  Divide M/V and see if the density is less than 1 g/cm3.

Density Cubes Set

 I bought two different density cubes sets.  The cubes of metals are two different sizes.  I use them both for density and specific heat labs.  If you teach Chemistry regularly, you might want to invest in a set.  The best price I could find was $9.99 on Amazon.  These are small cubes.  Be careful!  Several sites advertise density cube sets and sell individual cubes of metals.  

Digital Scales!

 Do you need a scale for class?  I use these mini digital balances for my Co-op Chemistry class all the time.  They are work horses.  I have only had to replace a few; my classes have 14-18 teens—large for Co-op classes.  We use the scales all the time.  Below is are screenshots from Amazon and eBay of digital scales under $10.  I just ordered two from eBay.  You might be more comfortable ordering from Amazon.  Take a look.

Chemistry Kit at SGW!

Good Will online has the the QSL microchemistry kit, right now.  This is an excellent deal.  I took a screenshot from the listing.  Note there is a digital balance, reaction plate, and some beakers.  It may have the microscale lab manual, too.  If the bidding doesn’t go too high, this is an excellent deal.

Chemistry class starts tomorrow!

 Tomorrow is our first Co-op class.  My husband, Rob, and I are combining the Physics and Chemistry classes to go over accuracy and precision, dimensional analysis, and how to calculate percent error.  Here and here are the websites we’re using for inspiration.  The kids are going to hypothesize which method of determining volume is most accurate.  We have calipers, measuring tape, and rulers available, as well as graduated cylinders to use to collect volume by displacement.  Rob and I are looking to see if the kids can organize their data, summarize data in spreadsheets, and write a lab report.  We know some of the kids will and others won’t. I’ll post pix tomorrow.

Wow.  Today’s class was enlightening.  The kids who took Chem remotely didn’t learn details about measuring volume or with calipers.  There are kids taking high school Chemistry as freshman, who look dazed.  We’re learning a lot.  I took a few pix to share.  So far, so good.

Apologia Chemistry: Plans

 Here is a spreadsheet with plans.  Take a look at the Day One sheet.  Some of the links are from AACT and unavailable to nonmembers.  Many of the links are from the web.  I hope this is helpful!  BTW, Day One can last a month.  It depends on the group of kids.

Conversions!

 Conversions are also called dimensional analysis or the unit factor method.  Here (answer key) is ‘No Problem I Can’t Handle’.  Here is a second POGIL worksheet with a key.  POGIL is process oriented.  It’s also designed for teams of four students.  In my experience, pairs work best.  Make sure each kid contributes.  Close the textbooks, computers and cell phones.  All the information they need is right there on the page.  One caveat: assign POGIL sparingly.  It was designed as a full year course.  I find that kids loathe this approach.  I love this approach.  I use this three or four times each year.

Happy Labor Day!

 You have to see this comic!  I’m sharing this Tuesday with Co-op!

Periodic Table Videos

This morning there was a Chemistry post on social media with this link.  Click on an element on the periodic table for videos.  Try K, potassium.  There’s a great video clip.  Select Al, aluminum to hear the prof pronounce aluminum.  There are lessons, too!  These lessons have the video clip, questions, fun facts, and links.  I can’t wait to share clips with my class!