Blog Archives - Button's Place

Day 156

4/30/2015

Another week is almost over. The summer......it beckons.
The Chemistry students worked on some new structures that include oxygen. They learned about alcohol and ethers, those special structures.
Here is something that is really going to help the AP Biology students:

review_answers.docx
File Size:	79 kb
File Type:	docx

Day 155

4/29/2015

Our last Collaboration Day! We talked about how to plan for college and what 10th graders and 11th graders should be doing over the next 3 months. Everyone should read a book, for God's sake! Also, do some writing. Start a journal. And get a job while you're at it.

Day 154

4/28/2015

I can feel the end of the year in the air. Can you?
The Chemistry students completed the Combustion Lab today. They calculated the amount of heat, in joules, given off by a candle using a simple calorimeter system. Of course, a lot of heat was lost to the classroom as our calorimeters are made from soda cans.
The AP Biology students made their initial observations of isopods, you know, rollie-pollies, for the beginning of the Animal Behavior Lab. And we have a quiz/exam on Friday! Yay!

Day 153

4/27/2015

153 school days. That means the school year is 17/20ths of the way done. Only 3/20ths left to go. Our year is 85% completed!
The Chemistry students did a little prep work for the combustion lab which will happen tomorrow. We learned that a calorie is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1.0 gram of water 1 degree Celsius. You're welcome.
The AP Biology students reviewed the remaining free response questions that we had started on Friday. The AP Exam is 2 weeks from today.

Day 152

4/24/2015

Another Friday! After today we only have 5 Fridays left. That's not much.
The Chemistry students learned about 2 new types of hydrocarbons; alkenes and alkynes. Alkenes have double bonds and alkynes have triple bonds. We also discussed saturated and unsaturated fat as it relates to those double bonds.
The AP Biology students worked on some practice free response questions as it applies to the upcoming AP Biology Exam. We worked on the first 2 questions of an actual exam. These are somewhat lengthy and deserve more attention than the other 6. We'll work on those on Monday.

Day 151

4/23/2015

This weather is awesome minus the drought stuff and having brown lawns.
The Chemistry students finished the work on modeling alkanes today. It was that 2 worksheet thing that had 11 questions about alkanes. We also did a quick review of naming hydrocarbons.
The AP Biology students discussed and read an article on lactation and why men do not do this. Truly fascinating stuff from an evolutionary point of view.

Day 150

4/22/2015

Day 150! That means that we are 150/180 or 15/18 or 5/6ths of the way done with the school year. That means only 1/6th more to go!
The Chemistry students continued their work on alkanes and isomers of pentane, hexane and octane. A lot of students are getting pretty fast especially with the naming of stuff like 2,3,4 trimethyl pentane.
The AP Biology students discussed lactation in men (we totally did) and fetal development in humans which is really awesome. Obviously.

Day 149

4/21/2015

Stinky pee last night? I bet you ate asparagus!
The Chemistry students did a lot today. We learned why asparagus makes your pee stink. We learned about the structure of alkanes, the simplest of hydrocarbons and we learned how to name them too. The students started an activity using molecular models to make different structural isomers of different hydrocarbon molecular formulas.
The AP Biology students continued their discussion of human reproduction by learning about the complex interplay of hormones and physical "distress" associated with childbirth. We also talked about why my idea of having therapy dogs in OB/GYN offices where women who are overdue to deliver their babies can have a petting session with the dogs which will raise their oxytocin levels which could trigger labor. What a great idea!

the_female_reproductive_system_and_childbirth.pptx
File Size:	140 kb
File Type:	pptx

Day 148

4/20/2015

I wonder how many stupid 4/20 jokes the students heard today? I bet a lot.
The Chemistry students kicked off the new Organic Chemistry unit by eating asparagus. Eating asparagus? What the heck? Well, dear reader, there are many interesting chemical things about asparagus not the least of which is having (or not having) stinky pee after eating it. I cooked really good asparagus for the students who then ate it happily. I wonder how many of them will have stinky pee? I wonder how many will admit it?
The AP Biology students began a discussion of human reproduction and the female reproductive system which is infinitely more interesting than the boring male reproductive system.

Day 147

4/17/2015

147 is not a prime number. Just thought you wanted to know.
The Chemistry students took the Unit 7 Exam today on Gases and the Gas Laws. Next stop, Organic Chemistry.
The AP Biology students wrapped up their discussion of the nervous system. We saw a video on brain surgery and how it is being used to help people with severe cases of Tourette's Syndrome. It was super fascinating and made everybody want to study neurobiology in college.