My Science Homework

Day 65: Chemistry Test

Mr. G — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:47:01 +0000

Today we tackled the second Chemistry Test as we closed this unit. Grades will be compiled over the weekend and powerschool will be updated, as I’ve recently acquired a temporary replacement computer that will allow me to keep grades updated through the remainder of the semester.

No homework was assigned following the test - just have a great Thanksgiving Break!

Day 64: Test Prep

Mr. G — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:11:20 +0000

Today was spent organizing resources and completing the questions on the study guide in preparation for tomorrow’s chemistry test.

A large percentage of students (and parents!) were not pleased with the performance on the last chemistry test. I have fielded dozens of questions from parents and students alike asking “what can be done to raise the grade?” My first response: do better on the next test. Since tests are the single largest percentage of your overall grade (35%), doing well on one is the best way to raise the overall grade. The test will take the full hour tomorrow and no homework will follow.

Homework: STUDY for tomorrow’s chemistry test! Use the Chemistry Test Study Guide.

Day 63: Quiz Review & Current Events

Mr. G — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:23:38 +0000

Today we tied up many loose ends before next week’s test:

Reviewed the quiz from Tuesday by going through each question and correcting mistakes. This material will be on next week’s test
Completed the Chemistry K-W-L that we began back in October
Worked on the 5-W’s write-up on the “Science in the News” article about the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. This write-up is due on Monday

When the above list was complete, students had time to begin organizing their resources for next week’s chemistry test. Remember, the study session is scheduled from 3:15 to 4:00 on Monday after school and the test will follow on Tuesday.

Homework: Current event due Monday, study for test on Tuesday.

Day 62: Plasma

Mr. G — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:44:40 +0000

After turning in the Fireworks article response questions, today we discussed plasma. We started by discussing its definition as the fourth state of matter. We then talked about several examples of plasma both here on Earth (fluorescent lights, lightning, the Northern Lights, etc…) and in other parts of the universe (stars).

Following the discussion on Plasma, students began reading a news article about the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko - the former Russian spy. Remember: the assignment is to write five paragraphs: the who, what, when, where, and why of the article in your own choice of words. This assignment is due on Monday. Later tonight I’ll upload the article itself to this page.

Students were again reminded that the Chemistry Test #2 Study Guide is available in class and online. Tomorrow we will begin preparing for the test and on Monday we will review all hour. The after-school test study session is Monday afternoon from 3:15-4:00 during which time we will answer all of the short answer questions on the back of the study guide.

Homework: Current event write-up (Due Monday) and STUDY for the test!

Day 61: Fireworks!

Mr. G — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:02:16 +0000

By demonstrating the flame tests of six common elements (Calcium, sodium, barium, copper, strontium, and potassium) we were able to observe the color that is characteristic of each element (Red/orange, orange/yellow, yellow/green, green, deep red, and purple, respectively). It is different chemical compounds such as these that are used in fireworks to give them their color. We also talked about how and why different elements give different colors before observing the oxidation of Magnesium (bright!) in class. Image source

The Radium Dials projects were due today and most students turned them in on time.

The Fireworks Reading and accompanying Fireworks Response Questions were assigned at the end of class. The response questions are due at the start of class tomorrow!

Day 60: Radioactive Decay Quiz

Mr. G — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:25:26 +0000

The priority for today’s class was to tackle the Radioactive Decay quiz. This quiz consisted of four multiple-choice and three word problems for a total of 13 points. These will be graded by the end of the week and returned to students so that they may continue preparing for next week’s chemistry test.

The Chemistry Test #2 Study Guide has been made available online and on paper in class. The test will take the same format as the previous chemistry test. Many students did not do as well as they had hoped on the last test, thus more preparation is key this time around. We will review together as a class on Friday and then again on Monday. Also on Monday, I will host an after school study session from 3:15-4:00pm. In this study session, we will go through the answers to each of the 15 essay questions that are on the study guide - two or three of which will appear on the test.

Several housekeeping updates below the fold: (more…)

Day 59: Marie Curie & Radium Dials

Mr. G — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:04:33 +0000

Today’s class started with the viewing and follow-up discussion about a short 3.5-minute video clip on the life of the famous French chemist Marie Curie. You can see the video yourself here at youtube or view it below. Why did she face such an uphill struggle with her work on radioactivity? Don’t forget that her accomplishments, discoveries, and inventions are all fair game for next week’s test.

After the video, the bulk of the class period was spent working on the Radium Dials projects that are due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.

Homework: STUDY for tomorrow’s Radioactive Decay quiz - remember, there will be three word problems very similar to the daily questions from the last several days. Also - your radium dials projects are due at the start of class on Wednesday!

Day 58: Radium Watch Dials

Mr. G — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:59:43 +0000

Image showing a radium watch dial on the right and a second image on the left showing the areas of the watch that are the most radioactive (dark shading). Image source

Today we began the “Radium Dials” project. This project started with research from the Radium Dials Reading handout that focused on the Radium Girls of the early 20th century. This handout should be used to write at least one full page (double sided, or two single-sided pages) of notes on the topic. While you are working on the notes, keep in mind which type of project you’d like to do. You can read about the full details for each project type on the Radium Dials Projects List. (more…)

Day 57: Radioactive Decay Post-Lab

Mr. G — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:10:00 +0000

Yesterday was a frenzied day of data collection and analysis. Students were assigned to complete the data analysis and graph from the data collected in class. This graph was discussed in class today. Students gained a better understanding of why pooling the class data offers a more robust analysis of the half-life decay equation.

After completing the Radioactive Decay Post Lab in class, students compiled all four pages of the lab and turned them in today. Following completion of the lab, students began taking self-guided notes from the Radium Watch Dials information file.

Tomorrow we will continue note-taking and begin working on a project about the radium watch dials.

Homework: None. Bring your notes back to class tomorrow so we can continue them.

Day 56: Radioactive Decay Lab

Mr. G — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:03:09 +0000

After discussing the radioactive decay pre-lab from yesterday, students spent today tackling the lab: Sweet Simulation of a Half Life Radioactive Decay Lab. The primary goal of today’s class was to collect the data, add it to the class list, and then record the pooled class data.

Students were then to graph the class data on the Data Analysis page of the lab. This graph is due at the start of tomorrow’s (Thursday’s) class.

Homework: Complete the data analysis (graphing) for the Radioactive Decay lab.