How do you handle sick days?

Update:  Today, three of the kids stayed after class to make up labs.  Zach led the labs because he’s awesome!  His mom, Sarah, watched the kids so I could teach Brit Lit and monitor James, who is working on passing his Periodic Table test.  Honestly?  Sick days are rough on all of us.  But, I’m checking off missed assignments!  Another kid is coming tomorrow.  We’ll be back on track in another week.  By then, we can expect a blizzard.

Absences are tough.  All kids miss class.  I have my Co-op kids stay after class or come Thursdays to make up missing work.  Thursday mornings Anna comes for Human Biology class.  Usually, Lacie comes for the day for lessons, too.  Thursdays there are many people.  Tomorrow, Lacie is sick, Andrew needs help with metric conversions, and another family is out next week.  Tomorrow, I have an enzyme lab for Anna making yeast spheres to test.  I need to teach inorganic nomenclature to Gen and graphing calculator exercises to Andrew for Stats.  How?  We will all meet in the basement.  I’ll get Anna started on her lab and series dilutions.  At the same time Andrew will start conversions.  I’ll give Gen some nomenclature to see how she does with ionic compounds.  I have more nomenclature notes.  When we do make-up or get ahead because someone’s going to miss class, I carve out time on Thursdays.  I have a ham and chips; we may break for lunch and resume after to finish covering material.

After class, Tuesdays and Fridays, kids stay to finish, catch up, or retake a test.  I have Brit Lit after class.  I’ll give a kid a timeline or test to work on while I teach Brit Lit.  Yes, there are frequent disruptions.  The key is to keep a list of missing work or an excel sheet with assignments.  I like to keep extra copies of materials and Mark the kid’s name on them for make up.  I try to keep the kid after class—often for hours.

Lacie is sick tomorrow.  When her dad called, I gave him Bible readings for next week’s Theology lesson, a rough draft of the Robinson Crusoe paper, and Oliver Twist.  In other words, if Lacie can do some time consuming work tomorrow, I can focus on Algebra, History, Latin, and Grammar Friday.

One student in Brit Lit was out Tuesday.  I emailed Angel with an update and an assignment.  Do whatever it takes to keep the kids up to date.

Nursing Prep

I just got off the phone with a young friend interested in Nursing.  He asked for free resources to brush up on anatomy and chemistry.  I prepared a list of free materials and thought I would share them here.

1. Human Biology Mader. https://epdf.pub/human-biology-12th-edition.html
2. Anatomy and Physiology https://www.rcc.edu/departments/mathsciencedepartment/lifesciences/2B%20Lab/Anatomy%20and%20Physiology-OpenStax%20College-with%20EDITS.pdf
3. Fluids and Electrolytes Linkhttps://dl.epdf.pub/download/fluids-and-electrolytes-with-clinical-applications.html?hash=cb745edddeb334492054d5c5d6302870&captcha=29a4ce51121ce3ebb0db26ce8a366990
4. Anatomy and Physiology escience lab Manual http://goodwinmedia.org/eScienceManual.pdf
5. Chemistry Review for Human Biology https://www.biologyjunction.com/02_lecture_animation_ppt.ppt
6. Medical Microbiology textbook http://moscmm.org/pdf/medical-microbiology.pdf
7. College Introductory Chemistry https://web.ung.edu/media/Chemistry2/Chemistry-LR.pdf
8. Putting the Ions in Their Hands https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/90e51c17ac2247deac18267398b102c9
9. The link directly above is an introduction to ionic formula writing and naming.  You match the ions.  It has an ion chart and an answer key.
10. Introduction to formula writing and naming http://www.genevaschools.org/Downloads/Chemical%20Bonds%20Review.pdf
11. Nomenclature tutorial and worksheet with answer key. https://www.saddleback.edu/faculty/jzoval/worksheets_tutorials/ch3worksheets/compound_names_and_formulas_tutorial_and_worksheet.pdf
12. Nomenclature worksheet and answer key http://www.ocvts.org/classroomconnect/classrooms/kzatta/documents/Nomenclature%20Practice%20Problems.doc

Apologia Young Explorers Human Anatomy: Links

I taught the Apologia Young Explorers Human Anatomy a few years ago.  I was just preparing a list of my favorite anatomy lessons and links for a home-schooling mom.  I thought I would share them here.  Some of the resources, such as the organs and skeleton are excellent for all levels of instruction.

1. Apologia Young Explorer’s Science: https://www.apologia.com/product-category/science/elementary-science/?a_cid=11111111
2. Human Body Systems: http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/human-body-systems.pdf
3. http://media.openschool.bc.ca/osbcmedia/bi12/etext/SCI_BodySystems.pdf
4. Free Human Body Printables. https://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/free-human-body-printables/
5. Brain hat http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/homeschool-freedownloads/lifesciences-games/documents/BrainHatIndividualDownload.pdf
6. Life size skeleton printout. http://eskeletons.org/sites/eskeletons.org/files/files/resources/000646791.pdf
7. Human organs https://iteachly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HUMAN-ORGANS.pdf
8. Skeleton in parts https://iteachly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HUMAN-BONES.pdf
9. Human Body Project https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/unit-plans/teaching-content/human-body-project/
10. Another Human Systems Body Project (source of skeleton and organs, has lessons). https://iteachly.com/human-body-project/?gclid=CjwKCAjwndvlBRANEiwABrR32CRwG4GK0m-LSnVQLkiykplvMj5jFdQQzRfOukgxzD5QZze0VX2ezRoCm7kQAvD_BwE
11. What is in blood: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/what-is-blood-made-of/
12. Heart model for kids https://www.steampoweredfamily.com/activities/heart-model-heart-stem/
13. Lung Model for Kids. https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_human_lesson09_activity1
14. Diy Stethoscope. https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/diy-stethoscope-tutorialscience-experiment-for-kids.html

Apologia Chemistry: Module 3 Nomenclature

This week and next week, the Chemistry class is working on nomenclature.  Dr. Wile covers inorganic nomenclature under the heading of Classifying Matter as Ionic or Covalent (pp 87-92, 2nd edition), Module 9, Polyatomic Ions (pp285-289, 2nd edition), and acid names in Module 10 (p. 328, 2nd edition).  We are including the stock system and Latin system.
We began with Putting the Ions in their Hands; today the kids did an ionic impounds and formulas lab.  Make extra copies of the Ion Formulas Chart. (A copy is in the Putting the Ions in their Hands documents.). Next are notes—-loads of notes.  Then, I break it down into sections.  I start with ionic compounds worksheet and this worksheet.  (They include answer keys.) I begin with naming and then go on to writing formulas.  I use loads of worksheets to practice.

Then, I review covalent molecules and covalent molecules with names and formulas.  Then, we learn the stock system, polyatomic ions, and acid and base nomenclature.  This Friday is loads of notes followed by many worksheets and quizzes.  As a long tenured teacher, the kids need load of practice to learn nomenclature.

Apologia Chemistry: Ionic Compounds and Formulas Lab

Update:  The lab went well.  The lab report includes the title, purpose, materials, and data table.  The data table includes the cation, anion, formula, and name. Yes, the lab took one hour and 15 minutes without writing the lab report.  The lab reinforces the Putting the Ions in their Hands activity. Photos are below.

I love having Chem class in my basement.  I can set up stations, pull equipment, and procrastinate cleaning. The Ionic Compounds and Formulas Lab follows these instructions.   The difference is I use the chemicals I have on hand.  The chemicals form precipitates.  Be sure to have lead nitrate and silver nitrate.  Yes, lead nitrate alone will react with many chemicals.  I have several chloride salts from a kit.  This flame test kit has four chloride compounds,  (We use these chemicals again for Flame tests when we discuss atoms and electron configurations.).  In addition to silver nitrate and lead nitrate, calcium chloride (Driveway Heat), copper sulfate (I buy quite a bit for labs; one pound is about $10 on Amazon.), magnesium sulfate ( Epsom salts), and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in solution react with both lead nitrate and silver nitrate to form precipitates.  Make one or two percent solutions.  Mix one or two grams of each chemical in 100 mL of distilled water.  I use dilute solutions for labs initially in  Chemistry class.                                                          

The materials are wooden coffee stir sticks, reaction plates (I’ve used these plastic palettes with dilute solutions.), pipettes, dropper bottles, and craft sticks.  A sheet of white paper makes it easier to see a reaction.  (The table top is black, which makes it easy to see white reactions.). The kids are going to write the names of the ions on to the craft sticks.  They’ll use the coffee stir sticks to mix liquids and pipettes for solutions which aren’t in dropper bottles.  I’ll post more photos during lab Tuesday.  I buy tons of craft sticks, wooden coffee sticks, and pipets.  The kids are in the habit of disposing of the sticks and pipettes after use.  It minimizes cross contamination.  We save clean craft sticks to reuse.  Pipets and stir sticks are tossed. When in doubt, toss it out.

Apologia Chemistry: Ionic Compounds and Formulas Lab

Next Tuesday is another DIY lab.  (Today, the kids tested solutions with conductivity probes.  I thought they could create a data table and lab to test solutions with a probe independently.  I was wrong.)  For the Ionic Compounds and Formulas Lab, I'm making it up, too.  I have several dropper bottles with chloride solutions (mostly.): potassium chloride, calcium chloride, lithium chloride, etc.  I have bicarbonate and hydroxide solutions, too.  All of these are anions (-).  I made up barium and lead solutions for the cations (+).  The kids are going to mix different cations with anions.  If a precipitate forms, the kids are going to name the ionic compound.    I'll post the data chart, chemicals, supplies, materials, and photos next week.

Apologia Chemistry: Why all of the detail and photos?

I'm sure you wonder why many of these posts are so detailed.  The blog serves several purposes.  One reason I post is for students who miss lab.  Ideally, the kids look at the blog and Google Classroom to check on missing assignments.  The second reason I post is for the parents.  If the child is struggling with a concept, it's helpful to look at the blog to see if I posted answer keys to check the child's progress.  Sometimes, parents want to understand what material is covered.  The third reason I post is to document labs, quizzes, and activities for several home-school academies: Mother of Divine Grace, Kolbe, and Seton.  I have kids enrolled in all three academies.  The blog and the classroom are evidence we completed the entire Chemistry course with labs equivalent to the experiments in Dr. Wile's Chemistry textbook.  The last reason is for you.  It can be tough to teach Chemistry at home.  It's helpful to have different fun labs to try in addition to Dr. Wile's experiments.  If you have a Co-op group it's nice to check on pacing. 

I tell the kids to keep lab reports.  The lab reports or lab notebook is evidence the child completed the labs described.  Take photos and save them on Google Classroom with test grades.  I have not had trouble documenting my class for Kolbe, Seton, or Mother of Divine Grace.  The photos and blog-journal serve as evidence we completed a high school level chemistry lab course.  Really.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 3 Ionic or Covalent Lab

Apologia Chemistry, Module 3 has Electrical Conductivity of Compounds Dissolved in Water experiment. (This blogger has a nice description.)  My kids did a similar lab today.  I had hopes of finishing two labs after the metric quiz; the kids finished one.

I bought four conductivity meters or probes. First, we went over the instructions for this lab.  I had several solutions to test: vinegar, ammonia, citric acid, denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, tap water, and salt water.  (We also tested acetone.  Don't use acetone!  It corroded the plastic on the conductivity meter.  I should have thought of that.  Instead I thought about what a good organic or covalent solution acetone is.)  We designed the lab together.  The lab is testing solutions for their conductivity; if it conducts it's ionic.  Covalent solutions are zero with the conductivity probe or meter.

We created a data table together, too.  In the data are the solutions, prediction (ionic or covalent, plus or -, charge, and ionic or covalent.)  The purpose was to learn the difference between ionic and covalent solutions; one produces a charge and one does not.

The kids set up a beaker for waste solutions and one with distilled water.  It's important to rinse the conductivity probe each time between measuring conductivity of each solution.  We discussed cross contamination of solutions.  I reminded the kids not to pour solutions back into the containers: it's possible to contaminate the entire container.

After the kids tested and recorded their results, they wrote the lab reports at the end of class and submitted them.  The reports include the following: title, purpose, data table, materials, and procedures. 

(Here is a similar lab.  Calcium chloride is Drive Way Heat.  Substitute sugar for corn sugar.)

Distilled water, denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia are covalent molecules.  Tap water, salt water, citric acid, and vinegar are ionic compounds.  Below are a number of photos. 

Apologia Chemistry: Metric Quiz

Below is the metric make-up quiz for the kids who missed classs.

Make-up Quiz
Identify the metric prefixes:
1. One one hundredth
2. One thousand
3. One hundred
Convert
4. 4599 mL to L
5. 96 Kg to g
6. 456 mm to cm
7. 8994 m to Km
8. 87 L to mL
9. 670 g to Kg
10. 650 cm to m

Apologia Chemistry: Stoichiometry

I’m putting together several resources I need for the Can You Make 2 Grams lab.   I have the Teacher Notes and student pages (Scroll down.) for this lab because I used this lab every year.  The kits for Flinn were the same price as the individual chemicals.  Ignore this lab until we do Stoich.

Human Biology: Osmosis

Anna is working on Osmosis and concentration units.  She cut up sweet potato cubes and made up different concentrations of saline and dextrose solutions.  Tomorrow, before class, she is going to weigh the cubes.  The idea is to connect concentration and osmosis.  More on the topic later.  Below are pix of the experimental design.  Anna is going to write a formal report.  I'll add it later.