Blog Archives - Button's Place

Day 139

3/31/2014

The last day of a long month. Doesn't it seem like March lasts forever? I guess it doesn't 'cause tomorrow is April.
The chemistry students went over their quizzes from Friday. I think a lot of people did pretty good and those that didn't will have a chance to do better tomorrow. The students know that the Unit 7 Exam is on Friday. We started going over a practice exam today. They'll be ready.
The AP Biology students were notified that their next exam is on Wednesday, April 9th. It's on Animal Structure and Function. We also started the next Reading Guide on Chapters 48 and 49. It's all about the nervous system. We also checked out a real interesting video on the brain and what can happen to it when it's injured. Really, really interesting. Oh yeah, the homework is due on Thursday.

Day 138

3/28/2014

Friday! Hooray! You know something cool? We only have 8 Fridays left of school!
The chemistry students took their Gas Laws Quiz today. Remember this important fact when it comes to the Gas Laws: Always bring food for yourself on a balloon journey and not just for your pet monkey Frederick the Second.
The AP Biology students finished up the Animal Circulation Lab despite the sudden demise of the Daphnia. Poor Daphnia!

Day 137

3/27/2014

Today I was gone 2nd and 3rd period because of a golf tournament at beautiful Tucker Oaks in lovely Anderson, California.
The chemistry students took a practice quiz in order to prepare for tomorrow's quiz on the Gas Laws. I bet they know they shouldn't buy a balloon from a balloon vendor on the beach in Hawaii because the vendor might be disgruntled. How could someone selling balloons on the beach in Hawaii possibly be disgruntled. You would think he or she would be totally gruntled.
The AP Biology did the Inquiry portion of the lab today and we should be done with it by the end of class tomorrow.

Day 136

3/26/2014

Today was the last Collaboration Day of the year. We talked about campusexplorer.com, a cool website that has tons of information about any college or university you can think of. We used it to check out Sonoma State University, UC Santa Cruz and a couple of other places.

Day 135

3/25/2014

The golf match was pretty fun yesterday. We wen to Hula's in Chico. Its this asian-y food place where you pack a bowl full of meat, noodles and veggies and some guy cooks it on a huge griddle thing and it's real good. I bought a couples' dinner for them just to freak them out and be nice at the same time.
The chemistry students reviewed gas laws so that they may be ready for a quiz we're having this Friday. I think people are getting it. We'll find out!
The AP Biology students observed the Caspar fish, so called because you can see right through them just like Caspar the Friendly Ghost, a crappy cartoon that you watched when all the other good stuff was over. We're almost done with the lab.

Day 134

3/24/2014

I had a golf match today in Chico so I was gone all day.
The chemistry students reviewed some gas law problems and the AP Biology students continued their work on the Animal section of the Physiology of the Circulatory Lab.

Day 133

3/20/2014

IT'S MARCH MADNESS!!!!! I LOVE IT!
The chemistry students, who are now back to full strength, got their colleges today. They get 2 colleges and will be rewarded if they do good in the tournament. We also talked a little about the Gas Laws but not much 'cause we watched the beginning of the tournament. It was great!
The AP Biology students finished up their work on the Chapter 46 Reading Guide and we watched the games too. We also began the next lab on the Circulatory System of Daphnia and Casper Fish. I predict this lab will be fun! I love this time of year.

Day 132

3/19/2014

Man, this is a weird week. CAHSEE testing has decimated Chemistry and Friday is a day off. Not a lot going on.
Again, no chemistry class really (there was only 7 kids here today) because of testing.
The AP Biology students continue their totally serious study of Animal Reproduction. The Chapter 46 Reading Guide is due tomorrow by the end of 3rd period.

Day 131

3/18/2014

It's Day 131 and you know what that means? Yep, it's March Madness!!! Every student is assigned 2 or 3 teams in the NCAA Men's basketball tournament. When they win, the students win. Some students even sing the fight songs from the college they are assigned. It's great! Who are you rooting for? I think I'm going for Virginia.
The chemistry class just kinda hung out today. Why you ask? Because it was CAHSEE testing today and I was missing 17 students! That's gonna happen tomorrow too!
The AP Biology students got their teams today (which was fun) and we began a discussion on the human reproduction and the female reproductive system. Awesome stuff.

Day 130

3/17/2014

Day 130?? Only 50 to go!
I was at a golf tournament today at Gold Hills. It was pretty fun. I played OK and so did the boys on a tough course.
The chemistry students completed a review assignment on the Gas Laws.
The AP Biology students began their next Reading Guide on Chapter 46: Animal Reproduction!

Day 129

3/14/2014

It's Friday and I'm goin' to Shrek tonight!
The chemistry students wrapped up the work on the iPads by taking a short survey regarding using the iPads for learning about the Gas Laws. I bet it's a combination of direct instruction and using cool apps to learn about new and challenging material.
The AP Biology students finished the "human" part of the Physiology of the Circulatory System lab. Next week, we're going to look at some different animals and see how their circulatory systems function under a variety of conditions.

Day 128

3/13/2014

Hurray it's Thursday!!
The chemistry students used the iPads exclusively to learn about Boyle's Law and Charles' Law. Mr. Button didn't say much the whole period! It was great! The app we used directed us to graph the changes that occur in pressure and volume changes of a gas when subjected to experimental tampering, so to speak.
The AP Biology students worked on the Physiology of the Circulatory System lab. A lot of blood pressure and pulses were taken today.

Day 127

3/12/2014

The year continues to fly by. Next thing you know, it's gonna be June!
The chemistry students were introduced to Boyle's Law today. You know,
P1V1 = P2V2. Check this out:

The AP Biology students continued to pretend to be doctors. They worked on the Physiology of the Circulatory System lab. Check this out:

Then there's these 2:

Day 126

3/11/2014

Hey! The weather is getting better! Spring is great. March Madness, Giants Opening Day, golf, flowers, love. It's all good!
The chemistry students listened to me drone on and on about air pressure and the effect of changing air pressure on a volume of gas. Atmospheres, millimeters of mercury, pounds per square inch. All that stuff. We also learned more about pressure = force/area.
The AP Biology students watched and then practiced taking blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. Have fun pronouncing that. We start the official lab tomorrow.

Day 125

3/10/2014

I was gone today for the first golf tournament of the spring boys' golf season. We went to Table Mountain Golf Course in Oroville. I shot an 82 with 2 birdies. I did good for the first time out.
The chemistry students did a review assignment on air pressure and the perils of scuba diving.
The AP Biology students began the Reading Guide from Chapter 42.

Day 124

3/7/2014

Hi. Your hair is on fire. Just kidding. I wanted to make sure you're paying attention.
The chemistry students (at least the ones that were in class today) saw a bunch of explosions that were caused by chemical reactions. It was cool watching how you can make a explosion using a candle and some flour. DON"T TRY IN AT HOME!
The AP Biology students got the college stuff today because they wanted to work through some Chapter 42 stuff on Wednesday. We talked about FAFSA and UC Santa Barbara.

Day 123

3/6/2014

Man, did it thunder and lightning today. No golf practice unless we want to get electrocuted which would be bad.
The chemistry students began a discussion about pressure and why it's easier to chop wood with an axe as opposed to a pipe. Less surface area means more pressure!! Why do you think swamis lie on a bed of nails instead of a bed of nail. Think about it.
The AP Biology students finished their discussion of Animal Nutrition and most turned in their homework on Chapter 41 which is due tomorrow. Onward to the muscles and nerves!!

Day 122

3/5/2014

Hey, hey Collaboration Day! Sing that at the top of your lungs while at your Aunt Marge's Sunday brunch and see what happens.
The chemistry students learned about the upcoming changes to the SAT and some other college stuff like the FAFSA.
The AP Biology students decided to work on the Chapter 41 assignment and hold off on the college discussion until Friday. So more stuff on the digestive system.

Day 121

3/4/2014

Check it out: Would buy this hen?

Looks good to me!
The chemistry students spent the period reviewing the last exam on Nuclear Chemistry. Hopefully, I'll see some students come in this week to try to improve their grade. Only one student, Alexa Flagg, came in today. Good job Alexa!!
The AP Biology students really got into Animal Nutrition. It's pretty interesting when you think about it. Starvation, snakes eating crocodiles, birth defects, rigor mortis in corpses, maggots. We talked about all of that today. It was great!

Day 120

3/3/2014

Let's see: 120/180 = 2/3. The year is 2/3rds of the way done!
The chemistry students wrapped up the Explosion/Rocket Lab by answering some questions regarding the gaseous mix, the reactions that produced the gas and just what, in general, they thought about it. We also spent a lot of time talking about grades and how to improve them. Tomorrow, we will go over the last exam in detail so that students can be ready for a make up exam.
The AP Biology students were given there updated grades and were also given direction as to how to raise their grades. We also began our initial discussion on Animal Nutrition. More on that tomorrow.