Blog Archives - Button's Place

Day 32

9/29/2017

What a day! Viral meningitis ruins Homecoming (and makes a bunch of people sick). Never had that happened in 30 years of teaching. Weird.
The Chemistry students saw the simplicity of ionization energy and electronegativity when it is explained via simple electron energy level diagrams. Totally easy to understand. I think. Students seemed kind of out of it today probably because of the whole cancelled Homecoming thing. We also saw what happens when you add sulfuric acid to ordinary table sugar. Crazy stuff.
The AP Biology students (which includes some disappointed football players) finished the data analysis for the Guided Activity section of the Cell Respiration Lab. We will work on the data analysis for the Inquiry section on Monday. This lab will be due on Tuesday, October 3rd.

Day 31

9/28/2017

Let's see...what did we do today? Well, I did dress up as a zombie gramma which would be cool if you knew one but bad if you knew them real well.
The Chemistry students got a blank Periodic Table today. A blank one, you ask? At least I'm pretty sure you would ask. Anywho, the blank table we did build upon thereby illustrating the power of electrons with regards to chemical reactivity. We also saw the real reason alkali metals react. It's that one single electron.
The AP Biology students completed the Inquiry section of the Cell Respiration lab by comparing the rate of oxygen consumption in a variety of different circumstances. We'll probably do the data analysis section of the Guided section of the lab tomorrow.

Day 30

9/27/2017

Day 30? Really? That means that the school year is 1/6th of the way done. Only 5/6ths left to go! It'll be over in a snap!
The Chemistry students finished up the Periodic Table activity by doing something.......oh yeah, they did some graphing of periodic characteristics of elements 3 through 20. That's lithium through calcium. We also looked at the emission spectra of a variety of metals which sounds super smart.
The AP Biology students completed the Guided section of the Cell Respiration lab by comparing the rate of cell respiration within germinating peas and nongerminating peas. I think most groups collected the data in an appropriate (which is to say correct) way. Tomorrow, we will complete the Inquiry section.
And look who showed up this evening:

The International Space Station!

Day 29

9/26/2017

Oh, these dress up days. Green face paint may not have been the best idea in the world.
The Chemistry students spent the period trying to figure out the identity of the "missing element". You know what it was? Selenium. Obviously. We'll finish this Periodic Table activity tomorrow.
The AP Biology students went over the procedure of the Cell Respiration Lab, in great detail. We also discussed the Inquiry portion of the lab where the students will design and complete their own experiment using the respirometers. Yay!

Day 28

9/25/2017

Another beginning of a potentially great week. I did say potentially. Oh yeah, it is Homecoming week. Dress up!
The Chemistry students began a journey through the Periodic Table. Now, as exciting as this sounds, we will continue this tomorrow. Oh yeah, we also talked about ionization energy and electronegativity which has 8 syllables.
The AP Biology students got a huge explanation of how a respirometer works which, I know, is pretty obvious but still, it had to be done. This, of course, was all done in preparation of the Cell Respiration Lab, one of my personal favorites. Oh yeah, we also talked a little bit about Chapter 6 and that Reading Guide that is due tomorrow.

Day 27

9/22/2017

Fridays are the Tom Hanks of weekdays. And today is another one.
The Chemistry students went to the library today to do some quick and easy research on their assigned element so we can make a new Periodic Table for the front of the room. A bunch of students were absent from 5th and 6th periods what with football in Yreka and cross country stuff and fake illnesses. That element thingy should be done by Tuesday.
The AP Biology students wrapped up the discussion on the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab. That thing is due next Monday. The Chapter 6 Reading Guide is due on Tuesday. Man, that's a lot of stuff. Busy week next week what with the Cell Respiration Lab on the horizon. Not literally.

Day 26

9/21/2017

This week is going fast! Sometimes I like that and sometimes I don't. Kinda the same thing with broccoli although I don't like it more often than not.
The Chemistry students watched in amazement as I, your intrepid guide through the wonderful world of cool stuff, boiled water without heating it up. WHAT? you ask... yup, I can do that. I also showed how to increase the volume of a marshmallow which doesn't make the marshmallow more appealing. We wrapped up the Identifying Isotopes worksheet and we (the students) were assigned an element so we can build a worthy Periodic Table in our classroom and make it (the classroom) a little less stark.
The AP Biology students reviewed meiosis which I hope was a review. It was pretty basic material. You know, meiosis is awesome. It reduces the chromosome number from a 2n or diploid number to a 1n or haploid number of chromosomes. Without this, our kids would be, well, whack.

Day 25

9/20/2017

You know what today is? It's the day that grades are due for the first progress report of the school year. What fun!! Make sure to bring it home for all to see!!
The Chemistry students did a couple of interesting things today. First, the students evaluated me, the guy that writes the blog that no one reads. Except you. I'm not mad at you. Then, we worked on a review activity that focused on identifying isotopes. While students were doing that, individuals met with the blog author to discuss their progress reports.
The AP Biology students did the data analysis section of Part B in the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab today. Tomorrow, the discussion of meiosis reaches a dramatic crescendo. Look it up.

Day 24

9/19/2017

Day 24?? That means the school year is now 2/15ths of the way done. Only 13/15ths left to go!
The Chemistry students reviewed some Periodic Table stuff today using those electronic messengers things that look like something out of Star Trek. Here's what's important: A mole is a real big number and that's it. Atoms and molecules are real small and that's it. If you know that and you're nice to dogs, that's a good start on being a better human.
The AP Biology students began Activity B within the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab. They looked at different fields of view within Allium root tip samples and counted how many cells were in the different phases of mitosis. in doing this, we can determine the time each unique phase of mitosis takes. We'll do Data Analysis tomorrow.

06_lecture_presentation.pptx
File Size:	168433 kb
File Type:	pptx

Day 23

9/18/2017

I wasn't here today. Not on the blog pages but in school. I went to the Cal Ole Miss game on Saturday (which was awesome) and then I went to a friend's wedding on Sunday which was decidedly out-of-town so Jamie (that person in the picture above) and I took today off.
The Chemistry students reviewed the molar mass and isotope notation stuff we did on Friday. They had to finish a worksheet and put it in their folder.
The AP Biology students continued with the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab by completing some observations of onion root tip cells.
I'll be back tomorrow!