Apologia Chemistry: Review

One suggestion I have for you is to do constant review.   For example, give the kids two reactants and ask them to predict the products, write the formulas, and balance the equation.  This reviews nomenclature and balancing equations.  Then ask them to determine the number of grams of each reactant needed to form five grams of one or both of the products.  As often as possible, write compounds and molecules in words and have the kids write the correct formula.  It's the only way to keep these skills fresh.

Apologia Chemistry: Module 6 and Module 11 Solubility

Tomorrow I am doing at least two labs: Limiting Reactants (Stoichiometry) and Metal Reactivity or Activity Series Lab.  We may be able to do the Precipitates and Solubility Lab.  Why?  The kids took the stoich quiz Tuesday.  The results indicate I need to do more work on the ratio concept.  I want to introduce the idea of limiting reactants, but not belabor the concept.  At the same time, the quiz I gave them yesterday was single reaction predictions.  The reactions were based on metal reactivity.  (Here is an activity series for metals.)  I want the kids to do the lab and revisit the single replacement reactions from yesterday.  Which reactions would take place? 

The kids are also going to make their own solutions of 0.2M copper II chloride dihydrate solution and the solutions for the Precipitates and Solubility Lab. (Here is a chart of the solubility rules.)  I find that if the kids get in the habit of making their own solutions, they gain a good understanding of molarity.  I like to introduce molarity with moles while their minds are on moles.  I will post later this week with an update as to how far we got with the labs.

Science Articles

My chemistry posts are redundant this time of year.  We are in the midst of moles and Stoichiometry. So I have been trying to think of other topics until we switch gears in Chemistry and tackle more interesting topics.

Home-schooler often read more than private, public, or parochial students do.  When I taught in private and public schools, the teachers were strongly encouraged to increase the number of reading and writing assignments.  I like ‘lessons in a can’: an article, a short writing exercise with a prompt, and a lab.  One example is Tatoos: Thinking About Tattoos? article or What Chemicals are in Your Tattoo?, Should you get a tattoo writing prompt, and Making Ink Lab.  (I have completed this lab successfully without the gum arabic or acacia.). Before I assign the writing prompt, we do a risk analysis as a class.  A Risk-Benefit Analysis is easy; the class makes a list of the risks and benefits—much like a list of the pros and cons.  Then I ask the kids to weigh the risks versus the benefits.  Do the risks outweigh the benefits or vice versa?  Finally, I ask if they should get a tattoo?

Another good topic is Counterfeit Currency. Countermeasures (2007) is a good place to start.  This is a good article to use with the strategy, Claim, Evidence, Reasoning, CER.  I ask the kids to identify countermeasures to counterfeit currency.  Do the countermeasures work?  What is the claim?  What evidence supports the claim?  Finally, explain your reasoning.  It is a more thoughtful exercise than writing a paragraph summary. One easy activity is to get out new bills and foreign currency.  Let the kids look at the bills with microscopes—especially digital microscopes which attach to laptops.

The third idea is Fireworks.  What is in fireworks?  Do the Flame Test lab.


Here are recent free issues from ChemMatters.  I’m renewing my print subscription.  I took a year off and miss the issues.  ChemMatters has Videos relating to the monthly topics, too.  The Dec 2019 ChemMatters issue has an article about Vaping.  This article is pretty balanced.  Ask kids to discuss whether flavored e-cigarettes should be banned.  Should the age for all cigarettes be raised from 18 to 21?  Do they think these measures will reduce e-cigarette use?  What are the risks of black market e-cigarette liquids?  No, I do not have an e-cigarette lab.  I am betting kids will write volumes on the topic.

Apologia Science: Materials

Children should come to class prepared.  All types of teachers agree, regardless of the class setting.  I am solution oriented.  I taught class in private and public schools.  Not one class was entirely prepared.  Ever.  At the beginning of the school year, I buy composition notebooks, spiral notebooks, reams of lined paper, graph paper, pencils, etc.  when it is on sale.  I have caddies with both graphing and scientific calculators.  I keep other caddies with markers, staples, high-lighters, tape, rulers, pencils, etc.  In other words, necessary supplies are available.  In this manner, my focus is on teaching.  The kids know where the supplies are located.  I do not waste time reprimanding them for being unprepared.  Yes, I make extra copies of all of the assignments for the same reason.  My husband has extra copies and pencils out on the table for the kids.  He and I know someone will forget something.  I just want to teach.

Apologia Chemistry: Stoich Quiz

I gave the kids two different single replacement equations to predict, write, balance, and determine the number of grams for each reactant.  It took all of the class period.  Here are pix.

DIY Science Kits for Ages 7-10

My friend, Jen, asked  me about Chemistry kits, like this one.  I do not think these types of kits are a good value.  Instead, make your own kit: plastic beakers and cylinders, test tubes and rack, craft sticks to stir, medicine droppers, a thermometer, safety goggles, and household chemicals.  Save small plastic containers.  Have your child write the chemical name on the container and fill them with baking soda, table salt, etc.  I use plastic coffee containers to hold chemistry kits for kids.

  ACS has Inquiry in Action chemistry lessons for Grades K-5.  The fifth grade lessons have simple experiments which use household chemicals: isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, salt, detergent, Epsom salts, baking powder, and baking soda.  ACS has middle school lessons, such as Forming a precipitate.  This lab requires ammonia, Epsom salts, sodium carbonate Washing soda, and copper II sulfate crystals.  (Check Amazon to compare prices.). Here is another lab which uses copper II sulfate and peroxide.  Use the copper sulfate to make crystals. 

Red cabbage or red cabbage powder can be used to test the pH of washing soda, detergent, peroxide, baking soda, etc.  Frugal Fun has more ideas of household materials to test.  If you want to buy one kit, buy Fizz Wizard & Jammin Jelly.  Kids love these experiments!  I save and refill these small containers.

When you look for science experiments, stick to safe sites: Steve Spangler, ACS, Frugal Fun, or Science Bob.  Be sure to follow their instructions.  Have a blast!

Gadgets

Last week, my husband, Rob, needed devices for The Candy Machine applet for Statistics.  I pulled out and charged several devices.  Our WiFi is robust and transmits to the basement.  Occasionally, we need devices for the kids to do an app, use as stop-watches, or do some research.  Last week, my kids were filming with my iPad.  I have collected several devices.  Many of the teens are not permitted to bring cell phones to class.  I bought several used iPods from Good Will. (My target price is $5 each.). I bought a Kindle Fire for $30 before Christmas last year.  We have an old iPad and three older laptops.  The laptops are useful with USB digital cameras.  The kids use them with microscopes.  After the image is clear, they take a screen shot of the microscope slide and sketch it.

The iPads and iPods are the most versatile devices.  We use the Kindle Fire strictly for research; it seldom interfaces with other devices, such as Pasco’s Sparkvue interfaces.  The iPod touch is surprisingly versatile; some models have a camera.  I like tech; it supports education—it does NOT supplant education.  Below are a few ideas.

1. Teaching Newton’s Laws with an iPod Touch
2. Video Physics (I have this on my iPad; it can be downloaded to an iPad touch.)
3. Stop Watch
4. Graphing Calculator.  (I have GraphNCalc83 on my iPad.  It operates a bit differently than the TI 83/84 graphing calculators.  However, this app is much cheaper!  I have not found a good, free, graphing calculator emulator.)
5.  The Chemical Touch Lite. Most of the time, the kids use paper copies of the Periodic Table.  However, when the kids make 3-D Periodic Table Trends, it is useful to have boiling points, electronegativities, etc on hand—in an app.

Science Camp: All Ages!

Today, after Mass, Jen and I were talking about Science Camp.  Three of us are planning the camp for this summer.  Jen has extensive early childhood experience.  She is developing sensory bins and other cool ideas.  I did science camp at our church in West Virginia, St. Leo’s for several years.  We would have around 50 kids, aged from 4-17.  The teens helped man stations, do snacks, and lead teams.  We tried to have activities everyone would enjoy.  Sometimes, it helps to have extra fun.  When the little ones get tired, they may go play outside.  Happily, we have a tot lot down the street.

Here are some ideas kids of all ages can enjoy.
1. Slime
2. Play dough
3. Chalk
4. Find It Bottles
5. Tornado Tubes
6. Cartesian Divers
7. UV Beads—on pipe cleaners to make bracelets
8.  Grow Crocodile (combine with Lyle, Lyle, the Crocodile)
9.  Rainbows and Color Change (combine with Mouse Paint and Hello, Red Fox)
10.  Roto Copters (airplanes, alka-seltzer Rockets, balloon launch—anything that flies.)

I like to take a theme, such as Color Change, and have loads of activities: Magic Colour Changing Potions, Optical Illusions, Flip Sticks, Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime—thermochromic pigment, Photochromic Color Changing Slime (photochromic or UV Beads), and 3-D Chalk.

Just as a warning, my lessons at camp are open-ended.  I like to let the kids experiment and show me their findings.  I let the kids teach each other how to achieve the best results.  The teens often run a tight ship and insist everyone follow detailed instructions.  Absolutely fine.  Add games, stories, funny songs (O Tom the Toad or Great Green Gobs if Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts), Charades, or
Minute to Win It Games.  Won’t Camp be fun?

Calculators

Update: Here is another good value—provided the listing’s bids are less than $15.  Check the shipping costs!  Five of the calculators are useful for high school students.

Update:  Here is a good example of a fair-priced listing.  There are four calculators in the lot priced at $18 including g shipping.  One calculator does not power on.  So, essentially, you are buying three Calc for $6 each.  That is a fair price for TI 30 models.  The TI 30 models are rugged.  I used these at a large public school for years.  The math and science students exposed these calcs to hard wear.

I scan Good Will and eBay frequently for deals on calculators.  My husband, Rob, uses graphing calculators for Stats; he will need them next year for Algebra II, also.  I use graphing Calc occasionally in Chem—generally as digital thermometers or Gas Law calculations.

I like to have a set of TI 30 calculators for Chem.  I try to buy these in lots for about $5 each.  They retail new for $12-$13.  The TI 30s are useful for scientific notation and pH calculations.  These calcs  are durable.  It is helpful to have the same types of calculators when instructing kids.  I have lost track of the number of times I have shown the kids how to enter scientific notation on a TI Calc.  I have a caddy with calculators for the kids to borrow or use in class.  It is SO much easier to teach if they all have similar calculators.

Rob and I use TI83/84 calculators.  Some of the newer TI 84 calculators operate a bit differently.  He and I do Stat exercises in advance with both calcs to make notes for the kids.  Most of the time, TI 83/84 operate in the same manner.

The Casio graphing calculators are easier to learn.  Do you want to teach kids how to use Casio, HP, AND TI calculators for each new exercise?  I do not.  When I was an adjunct for a local college, my students brought their own calculators for Chem class.  What a chore explaining pH scientific notation, or conversions to a large class using five or six types of calculators.  No thank you.  Keep an eye out for deals on TI 30 calcs.  Don’t forget to factor in shipping!

Polymer Labs

We are in the middle of winter; typically that means flu season.  I like to have extra labs on hand to do when several kids are ill or far ahead of their peers. I keep a large polymer kit on hand.  One suggestion is Polymer Labs: Bouncing balls, Instant Snow Powder, Slime, Jelly Marbles, Heat Sensitive Slime, Magic Sand, Oobleck, Four More Slime Recipes,  Earth Friendly Plastics. Edible Water Pods,  and Wonder Science Polymers. 

First, give the kids a bit of background with The Science of Slime.  I like to set up lab stations.  I put out instructions and the materials.  Then I encourage the kids to vary the ratios and observe the results.  This approach may be too open-ended for you.  If you like more structure, this lab from Cornell measures viscosity between three types of polymers.

This Junior Achievement STEM Summit has instructions and materials for polyurethane foam, Heat-sensitive worms, and magic sand.  The kids color the polyurethane foam and fill plastic gloves.  Fun! Below are specific labs for each type of polymer.

1. Plastics Analysis Lab. The Hands-on Plastics Kit has the different plastic resins specified for the Plastics Analysis Lab.
2.  Bouncy Ball Lab. The kids may want to design a drop test to compare the three recipes.
3. Instant Snow Lab. Vary the temperature of the water and observe the results.  Compare tap water and distilled water with the instant snow.  The lab also suggests adding salt.  Record observations.
4. Slime Lab. This lab has great questions, especially if you want a bit more structure.  Ask the kids to make several types of slime.
5. Water Marbles. Flinn Scientific has this lab, too—a simple water marble lab.
6.  Thermoochromic Slime.  Use the heat sensitive slime with these instructions.
7. Mystic Sand.  Use corn oil and Magic Sand with Flinn’s instructions.

When my kids make polymers, they experiment extensively to make stretchy or bouncy slime.  I ask if they wrote down their procedures?  Can they replicate the results?  Polymers is an excellent opportunity to allow the kids to film.  Have them demonstrate with the materials and explain the polymer’s properties.  Today, my kids were filming.  They used iMovie with my iPad to edit and dub their video.  We post their videos to my YouTube channel and embed the videos into my blog.  Cool, right?

Apologia Chemistry Module 6 Limiting Reactants

Apologia Chemistry, Module 6, Experiment 6.1 is Limiting Reactants with baking soda and vinegar.  We are doing this lab instead.  The class will react aluminum foil and copper II chloride dihydrate.  On Monday, the kids are doing a stoich quiz.  After the quiz, I'm explaining limiting and excess reactants.  I might demonstrate the reaction between aluminum and copper II chloride dihydrate.  I like this lab for several reasons.  One, the kids have to predict the products for a single replacement reaction and write and balance the equation.  Secondly, it is a good choice for a formal lab report.  Generally, the kids hate to write lab reports.  However, many of the online schools require four complete lab reports.  The kids dislike (loathe) stoichiometry.  Therefore, I assign stoich. lab reports.  I want them to like lab.  I direct their distaste for lab reports to stoich.  I will post pix next week for this lab.