Blog Archives - Button's Place

Day 100

1/29/2016

Today is the 100th day of the school year! That means there is only 4/9ths of the school year left to go!
The AP Biology students received a couple of different items today that will aid the students in their pursuit of excellence. Simply, the students got an old Evolution Exam and a review sheet for the exam that will be given next Thursday.
The Biology students found out about the unusual circumstances surrounding the murder of Deven Hernandez. Who woulda thought that Jedi skills were involved? See the video below to find out why Kyle and Faith were driven to this horrible crime.
The Chemistry students began the Nuclear Chemistry Unit today. We did this by checking out recently declassified footage of nuclear weapons testing from the 40's and 50's. Weird and frightening stuff.

Day 99

1/28/2016

I remember this day 30 years ago. The Challenger Accident was one of those events during your lifetime that you never forget and you remember little things like where you were sitting and who was in the house with you when it happened.
The AP Biology students discussed the mind's big bang. That means we discussed the explosion of human intelligence which probably began around 50,000 years ago. I know one thing. We sure got smart fast. Geologically speaking.
The Biology students wrapped up the murder investigation. The teams turned in their hypotheses on what happened to poor Deven Hernandez and what happened that fateful January day. We will find out the whole truth and nothing but the truth tomorrow.
The Chemistry students took the Acid and Base Exam today. Next stop, Nuclear Chemistry!

Day 98

1/27/2016

I know someone who was born on this date. Do you?
The AP Biology students finished the discussion on the evolution of disease-causing microbes and how are blind devotion to the power of antibiotics has created a marauding population of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that threatens our very existence. We also talked about the evolution of human intelligence and culture.
The Biology students are almost finished with the murder investigation. They did some gels today too. The groups are also finishing up a formal report on the different aspects of the murder like the crime scene itself, the video evidence, the handwriting samples and the DNA evidence.
The Chemistry students finished their review of the Acid and Base material in preparation of the exam which is tomorrow!

Day 97

1/26/2016

Ask your teachers how much money they have in the bank right now. I bet not a lot.
The AP Biology students discussed how organisms can evolve together in interesting relationships like Nemo and sea anemones. That's called mutualism. We also discussed commensalism and parasitism. It looks like the Natural Selection Lab is not going to work this year. The stupid sea monkeys refuse to hatch.
The Biology students continue to work on the crime scene investigation. A lot of student groups completed gel electrophoresis today. I wonder who did it?
The Chemistry students continued their review of the Acid and Base Exam material. I have decided, because of a rash of student illness, that the exam will be postponed until Thursday of this week.

Day 96

1/25/2016

Happy Monday. Let us continue the march to June. Together.
The AP Biology students checked in on the brine shrimp and either the brine shrimp eggs are dead or the package of eggs got replaced by brown cream of wheat. Still no action.
The Biology students received their final instructions on the Murder Investigation. This week, they will be endeavoring to solve the mystery of the murder of Deven Hernandez by checking gel electrophoresis results against the evidence they gathered last week.
The Chemistry students began a review of Acid and Base stuff in preparation for the Unit 5 exam that will be later this week. The Acid Base Power Point from earlier in the unit can be found here.

acidbase.ppt
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Day 95

1/22/2016

Another Friday and another impending weekend. Awesome.
The AP Biology students checked the brine shrimp for hatching viability and it doesn't seem like the brine shrimp want to join the rest of us in the active world. We'll see what the weekend does to their spirits. The students also had their first quiz of the second semester.
The Biology students discussed the Science of Crime video, took a quiz on forensics, DNA and crime stuff, and we discussed grades and the accumulation of warrants to be used for the gathering of evidence. Help the memory of Deven!!
The Chemistry students wrapped up the Titration Lab. All groups got through 5 different unknowns of HCl of varying concentration. The first exam of the year is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th.

Day 94

1/21/2016

This week is going by fast. I wonder if that's a good thing. And I wonder what Stephen Hawking would say about that in regards to relativity and Thursdays in general.
The AP Biology students checked out the brine shrimp after their first 24 hours in different solutions of salt water. Here's a question: what do you call 0% salt water? Give up? You call it water. We also discussed extinction and man's impact on that biological inevitability.
The Biology students completed their discussion of the science of crime by checking out polygraphs (that means many graphs) and how criminals might be able to hack into a car and slam on the brakes while you're driving the thing down Interstate 5 singing old Grateful Dead tunes on your way to Corning for your stupid cousin's 8th grade graduation. How he made it I'll never know.
The Chemistry students continued the Titration Lab today. You know what? About 80% of them work pretty hard. The other 20%? They didn't. They ate well, though.

Day 93

1/20/2016

Wednesday? That means Advisory!! Yay!!
The AP Biology students began the Natural Selection Lab today. Basically, they are raising sea monkeys. Sea monkeys you ask? Yes, sea monkeys or brine shrimp, as they are commonly known. We're gonna lay some natural selection very soon.
The Biology students discussed the science of crime and how a certain university in the south has what is known as a body farm. They put dead bodies out in this field and watch what happens to them. It's pretty cool. They also continued their murder investigation.
The Chemistry students continued the Titration Lab today. Actually, they continued it in earnest. That means the groups really got after it. That means the groups concentrated on finding out the concentration of 5 different samples of hydrochloric acid.

Day 92

1/19/2016

I really could into 4-day work weeks. Not that I don't want to work or anything like that. How about going to school for 13 hours a day for 3 days a week?
The AP Biology students discussed extinction and how the loss of one organism can impact others which can impact others which can impact others which can.......you get the idea.
The Biology students discussed how the grading will work during this murder investigation that has taken over the class. We also saw some cool ways the FBI and other authority-type people can find you when you least expect it.
The Chemistry students began the Titration Lab despite the absence of 12 students!!!!! What the heck?? Get to school!!!

Day 91

1/15/2016

Fridays are good especially if you live on an island with Robinson Crusoe.
The AP Biology students turned in the Population Genetics Lab while they explored the evolution of whales which is really interesting when you consider most ancient whale ancestor skeletons are found in a desert which is true.
The Biology students discussed the murder solving stuff and also checked out how the FBI uses a variety of science-y stuff to solve crimes.
The Chemistry students looked on in awe as Mr. Button showed off his math skills as he solved titration problems. Those are incredibly easy though especially if you have done them for 143 consecutive years.