Science

Bob and I began teaching the boys the Periodic Table two weeks ago. We started with electron configuration and moved into the reasons why the P.T. is organized the way it is. The guys seemed to enjoy it, especially with games like P.T. Bingo and Alien P.T. They really liked the logic questions. We tried to use lots of activities to keep them interested and by the end of the week they were doing quite well. Now we have moved into valence electrons, lewis dot formation, and bonding. Today I went over ionic, covalent, metallic and polar covalent bonds. They will need lots of practice with this, but I think I am definitely learning how to teach this a bit better. Hey, fourth times a charm.

Later this week we hope to do a lab testing the properties of ionic compounds vs. covalent molecules. Next week we are working towards a test on Chapters 5 and 6, right before the end of the term.

It has been awhile as I have learned that I can only seem to access the blog from home, my office is a blogging black hole. Even Beaver tried and his whole computer practically froze. I blame the breaker switches and excessive number of electrical outlets (roughly 50). I am likely growing a nice, big brain tumor due to my time in the 8th Grade Dean’s office.

Since my last post we have covered the following topics, the kids are going to be tested on them on Wednesday:

Phases and phase changes
Gas Lawes (Boyles, Charles, Combined)
Atomic Theory (Democritus, Dalton, Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr and Electron Cloud)
Components of an atom
Atomic number, mass and isotopes
Energy shells, excited and ground state electrons

Once they get past this test (and Bowman and I are trying to make it challenging) we will come up with some fun capstone activities for Thursday and Friday. Then, next week, we are moving on to the Periodic Table and then bonding. Fun!

Bob and I did our first lab experiment with the boys today and it went really well. They are learning about chemical and physical properties, chemical and physical changes of matter. They mixed Copper Chloride with water and then added a little aluminum foil….produced a gas, color change and percipitate—a very efficient lab indeed. The boys loved it and it was easy to do in one class period, no one had to rush.

We will go over it on Monday and then review for our first test on Wednesday (Chapters 1 and 2). We hope to begin States of Matter on Thursday.Chemical and Physical Changes Lab

Bob and I are off to a great start this year in Physical Science. We are trying to stay more or less in sync with one another, but with fire drills and convocation we have been “off” a few days–but not a big deal. I think we will end up right about where we want to be by our first test next week.

Last week we started with scientific notation and a review of the scientific method. The boys found articles that they had to bring in, along with a summary and a justification as to why it was “scientific”. It made for a great discussion about how they know something is “science” and we ended up reaching a consensus that science is defined as a process and that testable hypotheses, experimentation and revision are all critical parts of the scientific method. It was a good assignment because we quickly got a sense of the boy’s interests in science (topics ranged from bee hive failure to ADHD medications to black holes, in my class) as well as how they greet an assignment. It also got us through the scientific method efficiently because I know they dread starting on that each year.

Scientific notation, particularly addition and subtraction, has been challenging for them. Metrics was a good review and the ladder method helped the boys who were a little weak in this area. Boring stuff though so I was happy to get on to Matter and how classify it today.

Tomorrow we are going to do a little hands-on activity on mixtures, by the end of the period the boys should have a good understanding of heterogenous and homogenous mixtures, colloids and suspensions. We hope to get to a lab on chemical and physical changes for Thursday and Friday. Their first test will be next Wednesday.

I’ll let Bob chime in on this since he may be having a very different experience. I have to say, this is my 8th year of teaching but the first time I have team-taught a course…it is great. So nice to bounce ideas off of someone. Once I get a little more organized we will be able to map out a unit a bit better, but so far, so good.

This week we are just returning from our trip to DC and I have lost my voice. Should make for an interesting set of classes today. We will be going over their tests from last week in great detail as many struggled more than I was expecting. I think the beautiful weather the weekend before the Monday test did not inspire a great deal of studying. Oh well. Next time.

This week we are doing a brief tour of Thermodynamics, Specific Heat and Thermal Energy. The boys will have three or four days on this followed by a quiz. Ben Pagano is going to take the lead next Monday with our study of Optics. Should be fun. He and I will be meeting this week to get him ready for his lessons next week.

~amy

We are learning about potential and kinetic energy and using the appropriate formulas to solve problems. The boys did a mini-lab on mechanical advantage as an end to simple machines yesterday. Tomorrow they are working on their cars in class and putting the finishing touches to the vehicles for Thursday’s big race day. Ben Pagano will be in to help run the races. Friday we continue PE and KE before their test next Monday. Next week we are headed to Washington DC for a few days, but when we return Ben will lead the way with our unit on Optics. Should be fun!

Ben Pagano joined the 8th grade teaching team (which is me) this week for his senior project. He is busy helping the boys with their balloon race cars which they started on this week. Race day is April 19th! Should be ahilarious day and always signifies spring time to me. The racers conclude our study of Newton’s Laws of Motion and now we are starting our study of Work and Power.