Blog Archives - Button's Place

Day 13

8/31/2016

I bet all the teachers were super happy today because it's PAYDAY!!! And most of us are probably broke!
The AP Biology students did a techy thing today. We went to the library and got all signed up for the Mastering Biology website. That took awhile but we all got it done. Then we worked on a couple of pretty easy practice assignments. I think I will use that website throughout the year.
The Chemistry students spent the whole period discussing chemical changes, physical changes, elements, compounds, pure substances and mixtures. We looked at a bunch of examples of a lot of those things. The presentation is attached here - see it below? Yup it's there.

classifying_matter.pptx
File Size:	6615 kb
File Type:	pptx

Day 12

8/30/2016

Day 12? That means the school year is 1/15th of the way complete. Doesn't it seem just like 1/17th? I think it does.
The AP Biology students discussed carbon chemistry and all the cool things contained therein. Like enantiomers, isomers that are mirror images of one another. A seemingly small difference wouldn't you say? Not so fast, Hendricks! It's a huge difference. For example, ibuprofen, that oft used pain-killer, has a mirror image that has no biological effect.
The Chemistry students did a couple of things today. We saw an oscillation reaction that, while complicated, is fascinating in its beautiful simplicity. We also re-took(?) the quiz from Friday. Hopefully, everybody improved. We also finished up the initial look at the Periodic Table, that denizen of elemental knowledge.

Day 11

8/29/2016

Sad news that Gene Wilder died. He, of course, was Willy Wonka. Next time one of your friends is bugging you, tell them, "You should open your mouth a little wider when you speak." Hahahahaha.
The AP Biology students ran through the material in Chapter 3 like Usain Bolt ran through Rio. We talked about the incredible abilities of water which are directly related to the difference between the electronegativities of oxygen and hydrogen. Chew on that for awhile.
The Chemistry students had a big review session/discussion about the quiz we had on Friday. The results were, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, 'not super-duper'. So here is the plan: we reviewed and practiced yesterday and we gonna re-take the quiz on Tuesday. Yup, that's what we're doin'.

Day 10

8/26/2016

Day 10 already?? That means that the year is 1/18th of the way done. Only 17/18ths left to go!
The AP Biology students completed their initial look at the AP Biology Exam. We went over some of the multiple choice questions from yesterday and we looked at a few free response questions as well. I think if the students approach this exam as something that can be conquered through preparation, they will have less fear and more success.
The Chemistry students had the first quiz of the year which is the first time to "get a grade". It only covered one single objective but it is important that the students get a look at what assessments will be like throughout the year. We also got our first periodic table and talked about some of the interesting facts regarding the table.

Day 9

8/25/2016

Abraham Lincoln once said, "As I look back upon this life and this nation, perhaps it would have been better served if I had been a chemist. Plus it's cool to blow things up."
The AP Biology students had their first look at the wonder that is the Advanced Placement Biology Exam. We did about 20 questions, ably read by myself. We will continue this preview of standardized testing on Friday when we look at free response questions from exams gone by.
The Chemistry students finished up the Measurement Lab data collection which is to say that they measured stuff and did some calculations. They also did this:

Yup, we blew stuff up which is a dumb way to say that we conducted careful chemical reactions which were definitely exothermic. The chemistry students also have a quiz tomorrow!

Day 8

8/24/2016

Tonight is Back to School Night. I miss going to those things when my kids we really young and seeing the work the did at their little desks and when the teacher talked you sat in their little chairs. I think I broke one in my daughter's kindergarten classroom.
The AP Biology students were subjected to a year's worth of chemistry in about 45 minutes. Frankly, I found it mesmerizing. By listening to me go on and on about chemistry, the students should have been able to successfully complete (or almost complete) the Chapter 2 Reading Guide. It's due tomorrow!
The Chemistry students did 4 important things today. One, they found out just what should be in their work folders by Friday and why it should be in there at all. Two, they found out about the second homework assignment of the year which really is trying to show why Indiana Jones was such an idiot in that one movie. Three, they learned a little bit more about density and temperature. And four, they made more measurements having been instructed to do so by Part 3 of the Measurement Lab.

Day 7

8/23/2016

You know what's great? When you find a new TV series on Amazon and there is like 40 episodes and you love the first 10 so you settle in for a good ol' fashioned binge watch which is a weird thing to say because I think to be ol' fashioned the thing has to be at least 20 years old and I don't think people have been binge-watching stuff that long.
The AP Biology students completed the data collection on the Diffusion and Osmosis Lab. We weighed sucrose-soaked potato cores which ultimately gave us the concentration of sucrose inside the potato core. Now, when someone asks an AP student, "Hey, how sweet are these potatoes?" we can yell back, "around 0.32 Molar of course!" That lab is due tomorrow.
The Chemistry students continued with the Measurement Lab. Some of the students worked their way into Part 3 which concerns Density and Temperature which doesn't necessarily need to be capitalized. With a little ingenuity, one can figure out almost anything, even the thickness of a piece of paper.

Day 6

8/22/2016

The start of another week. And it's still hot. Really hot.
The AP Biology students cored potatoes...oh, wait. I cored potatoes which is the hard part. Anyway, using potato cores, varying concentrations of sucrose solutions and time, the students will determine the concentration of sucrose within a potato. Actually, this is something you could do at home. Actually, if you're thinking about doing that at home, you probably need to make some friends or something.
The Chemistry students continued working on the Measurement Lab today. You know, I'm just realizing you probably could do some of the Measurement Lab stuff at home too. Of course, the friend thing would also apply in this case. Mass and volume, which all matter has, was the topic of the day.

Day 5

8/19/2016

One week in the books! Only 35 more to go!
The AP Biology completed the data analysis of Activity B within the Osmosis and Diffusion Lab. Intellectually, I think we have made great strides as we learn of the world of living things. Hahaha. That sounded great! We will continue the lab exploration on Monday.
The Chemistry students saw yet another interesting chemical reaction that actually had to be performed outdoors because of the dangerous nature of said reaction. I bet some of you have seen that same reaction on SnapChat or Facebook. The students also worked on the lengthy Measurement Lab. We will begin Part 2 in earnest on Monday. I have included some information regarding the lab in a Power Point below.

chemistry_day_2-1.pptx
File Size:	253 kb
File Type:	pptx

Day 4

8/18/2016

This week is flying by. They say that as you get older, time seems to move faster. I wonder who 'they' is? They seem to know everything! I hate them.
The AP Biology students collected data much like Jane Goddall did while watching chimps which was probably real fun compared to watching lizards. We finished up Activity B in the Osmosis and Diffusion lab, turned in the first homework assignment and discussed how we would work on labs throughout the year.
The Chemistry students also turned in their first homework assignment today. I made some nitrogen triiodide which is both dangerous and interesting. Just a little ammonia and iodine crystals and, whammo, a high explosive. So cool. We also started the Measurement Lab which can last for days and days which is to say a couple of hours. We will continue it tomorrow.