Teach with G-Suite

G-Suite has Google’s apps: Gmail, Drive, Sheets, Slides, Docs, Classroom, Meet, YouTube,  and Jamboard.  You can get a primer at Google for Education.  I use Google apps because they all integrate.  If I make a slideshow in Slides, it’s saved in Drive.  Then, I can open Classroom and insert the Slideshow right to Classroom.  The same goes for YouTube videos.  Once I load a video it links to Classroom with one click.  I know there are a billion educational apps.  I want one source for apps which all integrate—even awkwardly.  So, if I want an image in a slideshow, I can take a screenshot, save it to Drive, and insert the image into the slideshow.  I can shift from one device, such as my iPad, to the laptop to work.  I plug my ears whenever someone tells me about another app I should try.  Nope, I’m using Google.

National Chemistry Week and Mole Day!

 It is going to be an on-going challenge to teach Co-op remotely.  At least, it should be fun.  National Chemistry Week overlaps Mole Day, October 23rd.  Mole Day is a bit like Pi Day.  What does one do for Mole day?  One, the kids sew moles. (See screenshot below.)  Look here for project ideas.  Kids often make mole puns, such as ‘Holy Moly’, an angel-mole.  

The theme this year for National Chemistry Week is ‘Sticking with Chemistry’; one suggestion is making slime.  Here are more activities.  My plan is to ask the kids which activities they would like to do.  We may decorate Periodic Table cookies, too.  If you don’t like this year’s theme, use a theme from a previous year.  Download Celebrating Chemistry.  I’ll write a post when our plans for Chemistry firm up.

TEKS Gateway

 Texas Gateway has a substantial number of online resources.  Look at Periodic Table Families.  Look at the Search Page.  Teachers are posting these activities to their learning management systems, such as Google Classroom.  I’m impressed by the quality of the materials.   They do not substitute for instruction; they are another good source for ideas.

Density Color by Number

 Our household does NOT like any form of coloring—too much like crafts.  But many kids do.  Are you familiar with color by number?  Here is a color by number for density.  TPT has more density color by number activities for sale.  The prices are fairly low; I rather resent paying for worksheets.  TPT has Significant Figure Color by Number pages, too.  Take a look.

Apologia Chemistry: Density

Update: I made another video explaining how to do this density lab.  Sighhhhh.  This would be so much easier in person!

 This week my Co-op class is working through Module 1 topics with labs.  The kids are doing the The Floating Bowling Ball and It’s All About Density.  Well, surprise, surprise, I modified the lab.  The original Flinn Lab has blocks, cubes, and stoppers.  I gave the kids objects to use in their lab kits. (The photo is below.). My kids are using objects such as a die, wooden block, large marble, etc to measure volume directly or by displacement.  I bought fishing weights and added wine corks.  Some objects’ volumes can only be measured directly; other objects, such as the fishing weight, can only be measured by displacement.  The kids should include the density of water.  They may add other objects.  The class is creating data tables for the lab report.  

How to weigh water

 This week the kids are doing a bunch of labs; one of which is density.  I want them to determine the density of water.  This video explains how to weigh water.

Jamboard App

Update.  We can share Jamboard with students.  Some of our kids can not access Jam.  You can save the Jam (the work) to a pdf to Google Drive.  I saved the Jam to a pdf on to desktop on my laptop.  Then I uploaded the pdf of the Jam to Drive.  Don’t open the pdf with Google Docs; the result is a mess.  This process is easy!  You just need the patience of Job.

 ‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ In this case it’s the result of desperation.  My husband, Rob, is teaching Algebra 2 online while I’m teaching Biology and Chemistry remotely.  We are making YouTube videos, posting links and notes to Classroom, and using Google Slides.  But what can you do when a kid has a problem?  Okay, you can work out the problem and send a screen shot back and forth.  Another solution is a digital whiteboard.  The Jamboard app is a Google app.  You can share it, which means you can work collaboratively.  Here’s the rub; Jamboard requires a touch screen device.  The device needs to be fairly new.  I tried unsuccessfully to load Jamboard on two older iPads.  Some of our kids won’t be able to use Jamboard.  Those who can download Jamboard can get answers quickly.

As an instructor, Jamboard operates like a whiteboard.  You can insert a photo and write on it.  That means I can take a screenshot of a worksheet, insert it into Jamboard, and write on it to instruct the kids.  Below is a screenshot with an example.

This application alone will help me instruct directly from my iPad.  Hope this helps!

Take Home Chemistry Challenges

 Terrific Science has Chemistry Take Home Challenges.  Just like you I’m hunting for meaningful and safe home science experiments.  Take a look.

Family Science: Squishy Circuits

 Do you want an electric circuit activity?  Try Squishy Circuits.  Here are instructions for conductive and nonconductive dough to make.  You may want to use the conductive dough or Play-doh with MakeyMakey.  Start with LED lights.  This is fun!

Rocks and Minerals

 When you are a science teacher, often the principal thinks you can teach any science.   One subject I have taught several times is Earth Science.  One lab kids should do is rocks and minerals identification.  Buy a specimen set which is numbered and has an identification key.  All of the science course work I had in college was for Biology and Chemistry.  (Okay I had a little Physics.).   I had to learn Earth Science and Physical Science on the job.  I do not have enough background to identify unknowns.  

Rocks Rocks Rocks from Teach Engineering has instructions for rock and mineral labs.  These labs are designed for seventh grade.  Perfect.  Read through all of the material and assemble your tools.  I would add density to the rock or mineral tests.  (Measure volume by displacement  in a graduated cylinder.). HST  sells a mineral test set.  First check your house for a nail, magnet, and unglazed tile—the back of a floor tile.  Keep the key handy and confess your lack of background.  I muddle through the different tests for rocks right along with the kids.  It’s humbling.  

Microscope Slides at Good Will

 I know I go on and on about microscopes and slides.  But they are basic science equipment.  Too often microscopes and slides are too expensive for a family’s budget.  I look for good value.  Good Will has several microscope slides available.  This microscope slide listing is a good value—as long as it isn’t overbid.  A set of 50 slides retails for $42.  Amscope slide sets of 25 or 50 prepared microscope slides have a decent variety for  Anatomy, Biology, and Zoology classes—especially, if your goal is to expose kids to viewing microscope slides of specimens.  My goal is exposure.  If the kid becomes a biology major, she will get lots of experience with microscopes in college.  No I won’t go on and on about microscopes.  I will leave this link with affordable, digital options.  BTW a clip-on microscope with an old cell phone works well.