Dec. 20, 2012

Update on last week - Bethel College contacted us about using some of last week's post on their Facebook page. You might want to check it out.

Another week is almost gone. We have spent Mon-Wed. reviewing for the Chemistry Content Test which the students are taking today. I have it on my Moodle page and several students have commented that it is the first time to take an assessment using a computer in a Science class. 

 The students will get plenty of computer time in Science when we return from break, as we will be doing a research project for the State of Kansas Technology Assessment. The students will be researching one of the following topics - alternative energy sources; the environment; food, health & fitness; forces & motion; national security & safety (this topic was decided on in November); robotics; and technology.

Here's hoping that you have an enjoyable break with safe travels.
 

Dec. 14, 2012

It has been a busy week at PHMS. The band went to BHS on Monday morning for a workshop. We had combined chorus rehearsals three days this week with one at Memorial Hall where the performance was on Thursday evening. Math contest was on Wednesday and we did well winning several medals. Today the Cougar Singers are on tour and the Ag classes are judging cattle at the fair grounds. 

On Tuesday, Gary Histand, the Chemistry instructor from Bethel College, and three of his students came to class and did a variety of chemistry demos. The students enjoyed this greatly. On Wednesday we had a lot of "How did they do ....?" questions which reviewed a large amount of material we had covered in class this year. But because it was in a different format it had the students thinking. Speaking of what we've covered in class, we will be having the chemistry content test on Thursday, Dec. 20. The students already have the study guide for this. If you want you can get a copy by clicking here.

Here are some pictures from Tuesday, when Bethel gave the demonstrations.

Setting the "mood" for science.

"How did he do that?"

This was a "blast."

Let's see what happens when you add clear liquids.....

.... t becomes yellow ....

...then blue!

Water in two cups ...

put it over your head and move the CD ....

A valve, a balloon, ....

add a second balloon, then .....

Heating a penny.

This is one LARGE molecule!

Halfway point of turning a penny into a gold coin.

Waiting to see what happens next.

Elephant toothpaste.

Dec. 7, 2012

This week has been pretty quite, as we have been reviewing material for today's test over bonding and reactions (see last week's post for some learning activities.) 

We also had a fund raiser/spirit week going for "Pennies for Patients." We had PJ day (I wore my fuzzy robe), Super Hero day (I came as "Super Mom" complete with baby and the all inclusive purse), Hat day (one for every hour - the student's favorite was the "Krispie Kreme" during lunch), College Team day (go K-State!), and Teacher day (do/did you have one of these). The students met the goal!! so we'll be having an assembly next week for some teachers to get some pie (not in the sky but the face!) 

We have an activity filled week coming up. We have the Band going to the Dallas Brass Workshop at BHS, combined chorus rehearsals and an all day rehearsal for the Vocal Concert, Math Contest, Cougar Singers Tour, and an Ag Contest.  And as a special treat in Science on Tuesday - Bethel College will be sharing Chemistry demos in class. I'm told it is the most popular  convocation on the Bethel campus. I'll be sure the have photos next week. Until then, keep looking up - the last lunar mission was launched 40 years ago today. Click here to read an article about it.

Nov. 30, 2012

Well, I've been negligent. My last post had us learning about the periodic table. Since then we've learned about valence electrons,  Lewis dot diagrams, ionic and covalent bonding. This week we studied the types of chemical reactions. It seems to be easier to understand when we use students instead of symbols and chemical formulas in the bonding situations. So here are a few pictures from today. 

Sharing a pair of electrons to create HCl.

Aren't they the cutest Chlorine atoms.

Ionic bonding overcomes covalent.

Look at that single Copper atom

Sliver out on his own.

The same results from another class.

Two elements in two substances ......

....switch places.

Oct. 31, 2012

Last week took a test on Friday, so we had spent the days before completing a study guide and reviewing. Everyone studied hard and the work was evidenced on the test, as the class averages Bs and As. Great Job!

This week we are starting to study the Periodic Table of the Elements. We began this session by organizing some paint chips. We discovered that there is more than one way to do this. I created a PowerPoint to share several examples of how the chips were organized. Click here to see the PowerPoint or just check out a few examples below.

Are you sure these go together?

Pick a card, any card.

From darkest to lightest, but from which directions?

Any on the floor?

Everyone was involved.

Color wheel goes round in circles.

We need a longer table.

Divide the chips and each does his own organization.

Oct. 18, 2012

Sorry about not posting last week. I was at a STEM symposium on the Bethel College campus. I met some nice people and made new connections. Hopefully it will result in some fun at PHMS.

The last two weeks have been spent working on atoms. We created a pyramid shaped graphic organizer with information on subatomic particles. The students thought the organizers looked like hats - thus, the "Hats of Atomic Knowledge"!

Some students getting smarter thanks to the "hats."

One interactive periodic table showing the electron orbitals. 

Neutrons are what's left when you do subtraction.

Are you sure that's how many protons there are?

Neutrons and protons in the nucleus, electrons in the shells.....

I think I get it!

To watch one of the classes sing the Atom Song click here. 

A low pressure front came through this week and the classroom barometer did a great job of demonstrating air pressure.

We'll be studying the periodic table next. I always enjoy sharing a few alternate forms that appear on the web. So look for some of those in the next post.

October 5, 2012

Physical changes, chemical changes, mixtures, Goop and Oobleck.

We did two labs this week, added to our large graphic organizer on matter, did a mix and match review of vocabulary, and had a quiz. We kept busy adding to our knowledge.

I forgot to take pictures as we did a lab to demonstrate that mixtures could be physically separated. I gave the class small samples of a mixture of sand, salt and iron filings. They then used their knowledge of the physical properties of these items to separate them. A magnet removed the iron filings. Water put the salt into solution allowing the sand to filtered from the salt water solution. The water was then boiled away and the students were left with salt.

 Here is a pic of some students during the Mix and Match. The yellow cards had the vocabulary words and the blue cards had the definitions.

Verifying that the matches were correct.

We've been studying mixtures, so we made some this week.  Students enjoyed exploring the unique properties of Oobleck., a homogeneous mixture of cornstarch and water.

Materials for Oobleck.

It has the viscosity of water sometimes.

When you apply pressure it becomes solid.

 Students enjoyed viewing these videos from the website "Instructables" which show people walking on Oobleck and how it responds to sound waves.

We also made Goop, which is made from a white glue and water solution that is combined with a suspension of water and Borax. This mixture creates a new substance that stretches, bounces and picks up colors from paper and ink.

Measuring the white glue solution.

Mixing after adding the Borax suspension.

This is where you hear "Gross!"

Having fun.

We took a quiz over mixtures and colloids today. We'll be moving on to substances next week. Stay tuned.