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.