3D Printers

 Rob and I were trained on the local library’s 3D printer.  We think this experience was akin to watching paint dry.  You might think differently.  If I ever want to do another 3D object, it’s free at the library.  Paul and his daddy are clamoring for a 3D printer.  One of our young friends bought a resin printer and has made and sold custom figures—enough figures to pay off the resin printer.  The newer resin printers are much faster than the older filament printers.  Many websites are running deals because Amazon has its Prime Days this week.  If you dream of making custom designs, start with a review before you shop models.  Try The Frog Dissection.  

Now is the time to get ready for fall!

Okay, in reality I’m leading a two-week camp.  But, I’m also preparing for fall.  I ordered graphing exercises to use with Algebra I.  I’m hoping to differentiate labs for Biology.  This post has links for the Ecology labs I want to add.  Let me share a few ideas.

1.  Make kits.  Take an idea, such as food web cards, print, cut, and mount the set on card stock.  I use large envelope marked with large letters to hold each kit.  Smaller sets are stacked on a shelf.

Larger kits, such as the DNA set below, is store in marked boxes.

 2.  Organize Google Classroom.  Here are instructions if you haven’t used Google Classroom before.  Make a different Classroom for each subject.  BTW Classroom is free.  Start with simple headings such as Quizzes and Tests.  I save loads of ideas in Classroom.  Just copy the link or upload the document. 

3. You have a bit more time in the summer.  Look for deals!  I stock up on glue sticks and index cards for Biology at Walmart.  See what you can find used.  Stop in weekly at the local thrift store.  If you want Apologia workbooks, stalk eBay for the best price on an unused copy—or slightly used notebook.  Today is Prime Day on Amazon.  Many other stores offer deals this week.  Make a list and see what you can find.

Apologia Biology: Ecology Labs and Activities

 Thank you, Social Media!  There was a group question about ecology labs in which kids write on their desks.  Below is one of the images posted to Facebook in the National Biology Teachers Group.  

You don’t need to write on the desks.  Here is a Carrying Capacity graphing exercise.  Early in the Bioligy course, we graph on paper; later we add spreadsheets and graphing calculators.  HHMI Biointeractive has several Ecology exercises,  such as Modeling Trophic Cascades.  One caveat: HHMI tends to offer hard material. I had to read to understand what was meant by a trophic cascade.  The cards would work well for a food web, if nothing else.  Creating Chains and Webs  also has cards to use to construct a food web or pyramid  for an ecosystem in Mozambique.  I like to focus on local ecosystems; but, the kids might benefit from some practice with interesting ecosystems, especially if I used printed cards.    

There are a number of AP Bio activities to try: M&M Chi Square Analysis,  Energy Dynamics, and APES  ‘Species’ Diversity Lab or parking lot biodiversity.  (When I taught APES, this was our first lab.)  I may need higher order labs this year to assign to individuals.  I know one kid is extremely bright.  If there are two or three kids similarly capable, I’ll need to give them more challenging work. My husband, Rob, is team-teaching and can help with the math.   I’m on the hunt for materials to use with a wide range of ability levels.  Fun!

Digital Portfolios

 I started blogging in earnest to document my science classes for Mother of Divine Grace School (MODG) The Co-op families wanted loads of photos of the labs.  MODG likes evidence of labs.  I’ve sent the blog address to online schools ever since.  In fact, the blog website can be part of a digital portfolio.

Here, here , and here are samples of digital portfolios.  I like to organize everything into a slide deck.  During Co-op classes, I usually take photos to post on the blog.  Kids also scan and submit assignments electronically, which are saved in Google Classroom.  Families can capture grades from Classroom in a spreadsheet.  Additionally, they can copy pix from the blog.  I try to make it easy for families to document their science classes into a portfolio.  Here are a few tips.

1.  I like a slide deck.  But you can scan everything into any type of electronic file or into Google Classroom.  When you set up the slide deck, add pix of the textbooks, notebooks, etc.  

2.  Do you belong to an online school?  Check their requirements.  Add the required number of work samples for each term.  I usually add both links to documents and scanned samples.  Many schools want lab reports.  I like to add lab pix and data spreadsheets to go along with the formal report.  

3.  Grade each assignment posted in the portfolio.  Some schools want a copy of the test and an answer key.  You can save time if you use Google Classroom.  Upload the test to Classroom and scan the key.  You’ll have a record of the grade with the test.  

4. Stay on top of your program.  Try to take photos of work often.  Get in the habit of taking a photo of the test immediately after grading the test.  Scan the answer key and save it with the test.  

5.  Save everything in one place.  Sure, you can stuff all of the child’s work into a large envelope to sort quarterly.  It’s easier to take photos and save them in Google Drive, Classroom, in a slide deck, or even in a folder on your phone.  The more you document, the easier it is to assemble the portfolio. 

Apologia Chemistry: Day One Measures, Accuracy, Density, and Observations

 Day One in Chemistry goes on and on.  Some groups fly through the introductory activities; others do not.  I have a list in my lesson plan with titles I check off as we work through labs or lessons.  Here is the list.

1. Start with Measures or Metric Measurement.  Here is Measuring with Metric, which has metric prefixes and a little instruction.  We use a mnemonic Kids have dropped over dead converting metrics. We add ‘many’ kids for Mega.

2. I have used this Accuracy vs. Precision lab.  It’s simple and requires only red, Solo cups, ruler, and sponges.  My husband usually has a spreadsheet lesson to help kids organize data.  Rob was a financial controller; he knows his way around a spreadsheet.  The kids also do a Koolaid lab. The kids convert a recipe for two quarts of Koolaid into one 3 oz serving.  This post has a video and detailed instructions.

3.   Next we do It’s All About Density. At the same time, we use calipers, ruler, determine volume by measurement vs. displacement, and drive home accuracy and metric measures.  The kids calculate Percent Error. 

4. Finally, the kids do several observation labs.  First is  Observations of a Burning Candle or this lab with better instructions and a reference to Michael Faraday’s famous observations.  Here is a 200 page guide.  Yes, really.  Secondly, we do Reaction in a Bag.   This version ties the observations to the scientific method.

Apologia Chemistry: Day One

 Day One for me can last for weeks.  It’s the period of time to complete a host of introductory activities, such as lab safety and equipment.  Below is a list of activities we usually complete the first day of Co-op class.

1. Distribute Flinn’s Lab Safety contract to take home, read, discuss, and sign.  Parents must sign the form, too.  

2. Discuss Lab Safety.  I have a safety DVD two of my chemistry classes created years ago, based on Flinn’s safety rules.  ACS has these safety resources, too, including a poster.  I have posters all over the basement classroom.  Your teen could design safety posters or make Lab Safety Bumper Stickers.  We conclude with a Safety test.  We also review the location of safety equipment and eye-wash station (utility sink).

3. The kids take a math pretest, which we review together.  The results are insightful.

4. Collect the Summer Assignment, the Periodic Table cards.  

5.  I drag out the lab equipment, many in this slide deck.  Here is the quiz and hand-out.

Basic Biology Lab Equipment

 What do you need for Biology class?  First, you can use many recycled and household goods for lab: yogurt containers, plastic cups, craft sticks, rulers, plastic bags, coffee stirrers, paper plates, to name a few items.  Think creatively.  While a mortar and pestle is nice, you can crush material with a hammer (or rock). Instead, buy the basics.  I shopped for good prices.

1. Safety glasses.  Goggles are fine, too.  My teens are better about wearing safety glasses, which are more comfortable.

2.  Buy a test tube rack and test tubes.  If you have an extremely small budget, buy borosilicate test tubes and hold them in a yogurt container.

3.  But a glass thermometer.

4.  Buy one 100-mL, polypropylene, graduated cylinder.

5.  We use a digital microscope for slides.  The microscope attaches to the laptop with a USB.  I have never been able to connect one with a cell phone or tablet.  They work with laptops.  However, not every microscope works with every laptop.  Buy one from Amazon or Walmart so it’s easy to return if it’s incompatible.

6. Since you bought the microscope, you’ll need slides.  This set of 30 has plenty of variety for Biology.  

7.  Dissection Specimens are pricey, but help ensure your child has an authentic experience. If you can only afford one dissection, buy a frog specimen.  Dissect it on a paper plate or recycled styrofoam plate with manicure scissors.  Really.

While a digital scale or dissecting tray are nice, they aren’t essential.  Below are some pix of equipment I use in lab.  Look for eScience or Labpaq lab kits to cannibalize.  Reuse the gloves and masks leftover from COVID.  Don’t feel as though you must invest hundreds of dollars for Biology.

How do you use MEL kits in Chemistry?

 I like MEL kits.  However, they aren’t a replacement for basic Chemistry.  Instead, most of the labs are interesting demonstrations I never have time for in my Co-op class, such as Tin Dendrites.  This year, I’m teaching Biology.  However, I suspect three of the kids will be miles ahead of the rest of the Co-op class.  I use kits, like these, as rewards.  When I’m slogging through Biochemistry for the fourth week in a row, and have exhausted every enzyme lab in my repertoire, the kids who understand the material  can play with MEL kits.  This type of reward often bolsters the entire class, all of whom want to play with the fancy kits.  We can do one demo as a reward for finally finishing Biochem.

MEL kits!

 Good Will has two MEL items.  One is a bargain.  Put MEL chemistry in the search bar.

When should your teen take Chemistry?

 Chemistry is tricky.  There is some Algebra required.  Math is a good predictor because Chemistry requires algebraic logic.  For example Stoichiometry is really applying ratios and solving for x.  However, kids who do not have a solid background in Algebra struggle.  When are teens generally ready?  Most college-bound teens in tenth or eleventh grades can handle Chemistry.  At that point, the kid can drag their math outside math class into Chemistry, even if it’s reluctantly.  Can younger kids succeed in Chemistry?  A few can.  I have had eighth graders take and thrive in Chemistry.  Usually, these same kids were taking Algebra II at the time, which means they took Algebra I in sixth grade.  I’ll allow a few kids in ninth grade to take Chemistry if they’re bright and willing to work hard.  My advice is to wait a bit and assign Chemistry later in high school.

When is your child ready for Physical Science?

 I was on the Apologia Facebook group site, when a mom asked about her 7th grader skipping General Science and just taking Physical Science instead.  First, here are the samples for Apologia’s third editions of General Science and Physical Science curriculae.  Compare their modules.  Did you use Apologia’s Elementary Science Curriculum?  If you did, your child may be well versed in many of the General Science modules already.  Will it hurt to skip some of this and charge into Physical Science?  Probably not.  The math in the Physics portion of Physical Science requires some Algebra. How is your child’s math?  Borrow a Physical Science textbook and start with the Physics module.  Can your child handle the problems.  Math is developmental.  Your teen might be ready in 7th grade, 8th grade, or 9th grade—when Physical Science is frequently offered at public high schools.  General Science is a bridge to high school -level, science subjects.  You are in the best position to decide if your child is ready.  Although I worked with one family who had their kids take Physical Science early and then repeat it for credit.  The mom thought the additional exposure helped prepare her kids for the rigor.  It’s up to you.