Blog Archives - Button's Place

Day 30

9/30/2013

Did a lot of you watch the final episode of Breaking Bad last night? I didn't. I never could get into it. I was out of town today at a conference regarding adding Medical Chemistry to West Valley's science offerings in the future. So, we had subs in my class.
The chemistry students did a review assignment on molar mass and calculating the number of grams of a substance given the number of moles or atoms/molecules.
The AP Biology students viewed 2 Khan Academy videos on ATP and Cellular Respiration, the subject of our next lab activity.

Day 29

9/27/2013

Think an elephant is big? How about a dinosaur? Check out the picture below and marvel at the majestic blue whale, the largest living creature ever to be on this planet.

Amazing, isn't it?
The AP Biology students took their quiz on Chapter 6 and the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab. And it took all period!
The chemistry students finished the Periodic Table activity today. There was a little class time left so we talked about what it takes to get into a college like UCLA. UCLA is the most-applied to university in the country. In 2012, 72,000 high school seniors applied to go there. 72,000!! The average GPA on those applications? 4.25. Wow!

Day 28

9/26/2013

Glenn Seaborg is credited with being the discoverer or co-discoverer of these elements: plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium, californium, einsteinium, fermium, mendelevium, nobelium and his namesake, seaborgium. Jeez, did the guy ever just watch TV? I bet he would have liked Breaking Bad if he did.
The chemistry students worked on the Periodic Table activity and were introduced to the idea of periodicity, the way the Periodic Table shows trends among and between groups of elements. Congratulations to Jacob Funk who did a fine job explaining Rutherford's classic gold foil experiment.
The AP Biology students reviewed material for their quiz on Chapter 6 and the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab, which will be given tomorrow. We also saw examples of videos at khanacademy.org and bozemanscience on youtube and how they can be used for review on a variety of subjects.

Day 27

9/25/2013

Today was a Collaboration Day and I wasn't in class. I was in an on-campus meeting and missed out on my classes. But here is what they did with their substitute teachers.
The chemistry students worked on construction of their own Periodic Tables. They probably began answering the post-lab questions. They will complete this lab by Friday of this week. Hey chemistry students!!! check out that video below on Rutherford's experiment. If you can explain it tomorrow in class, on the board, in front of everyone, you get a prize!
The AP Biology students used the class period today for their last "in-school" time to work on the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab. This is due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Day 26

9/24/2013

Interesting science-type picture of the week:

No, it's not my Uncle Henry although it kinda looks like him. It's a blobfish, a deep sea creature recently named the ugliest animal on the planet. I bet a female blobfish finds him attractive though.
The chemistry students continued the activity of constructing their own Periodic Table. We will work on this tomorrow as I have a meeting on campus but will not be in class. We'll talk about a college on Thursday.
The AP Biology students were introduced to meiosis, the process by which the chromosome number of a cell is effectively divided in 2, thereby guaranteeing that sperm and eggs (gametes) will have 1/2 the "normal" chromosome number. Humans have 46 chromosomes in every cell of their bodies with notable exceptions being sperm and egg. They have 23. If they didn't, children born in the next generation would have 92 chromosomes and a myriad of physical problems one could only describe as "freaky". The Mitosis and Meiosis Lab is due at the beginning of class on Thursday.

Day 25

9/23/2013

Darth Vader once said, "If I had only known more about chemistry I could have avoided all this trouble."
Then he killed a guy with his light saber.
The chemistry students began an activity whereby they construct their own Periodic Table using the characteristics of 31 different elements and 1 mystery element. The students examine a variety of characteristics including some they are familiar with like density and atomic mass and some they are just being introduced to like electronegativity and ionization energy. The students will work on this activity tomorrow and finish it later this week.
The AP Biology students compiled the class data on the count of cells in different phases of Mitosis. This will enable the students to calculate the length of time each phase takes given that the cell cycle for an onion root tip takes approximately 24 hours. The lab should be finished in its entirety by Thursday at the beginning of class. Maybe.

Day 24

9/20/2013

Here's an interesting science fact. Well, just a fact really. It doesn't have to be identified as a "science" fact because if something is a fact it is a truth about the world. Like Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain on earth and Hey Arnold is the best cartoon ever. You know what? I forgot the interesting science fact I was thinking of.
The chemistry students took their quiz on molar mass, isotope identification and mole to gram and gram to mole conversions.
The AP Biology students continued the lab on Mitosis and Meiosis. They observed sections of onion root tip cells and counted the number of cells in different phases of mitosis. By knowing the cell cycle of a root tip cell is 24 hours and how many cells are in each of the different phases, you can calculate the time each phase takes. We will compile our data on Monday.

Day 23

9/19/2013

I had a golf tournament today. Ah, the great outdoors. Sunshine and the clear blue skies of the north state. That and the screams of teenage girls when they see a rattlesnake. Very relaxing.
The chemistry students reviewed a few different things:
1. Identifying a particular isotope given 2 of the following 3 things - mass number, number of protons and number of neutrons.
2. Calculating molar mass given the formula of an element or compound.
3. Calculating the number of grams of a substance given the number of moles of the substance.
4. Calculating the number of moles of a substance given the number of grams of the substance.
Quiz tomorrow!
The AP Biology students continued their work on the Mitosis and Meiosis Lab. We reviewed the different phases of mitosis and discussed its importance which is to maintain the appropriate chromosome number, and therefore DNA content, of 2 new daughter cells after cell division. We continue tomorrow.

Day 22

9/18/2013

Have you seen the tv show, Broadchurch? You haven't?? Oh my. Watch it immediately, but start at the beginning.
The chemistry students had a group activity today. We used white boards and solved simple problems using the Periodic Table. We solved isotope problems and problems involving the calculation of molar masses of compounds. We did great! We'll continue that tomorrow.
The AP Biology students reviewed the Chapter 6 notes on the Cell. It's a lot of stuff but not to worry, we'll spice it up with witty repartee about mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. We also continued the observation of cells undergoing mitosis as part of the lab on Mitosis and Meiosis.

Day 21

9/17/2013

Shakespeare once wrote, "methinks thine light shine upon all and in doing so sheds its own truth on the world." He was writing about gold, a cool element. Actually, I made that up. Pretty good, huh?
The chemistry students had some practice questions about the Periodic Table using the ActiVotes. They also received their graded exam and we went over it in detail. They have a homework assignment tonight! Measure the circumference of a basketball. Calculate the radius. Assume the radius of an atom is 100,000 times greater than the radius of the nucleus. If the nucleus of an atom was the size of a basketball and that nucleus was at West Valley High School, draw a circle on a map of the Cottonwood showing how big that "basketball atom" is.
The AP Biology students got their exam back. Some students were happy and some weren't. If I was a kid who thought they did better than their exam grades showed, this is what I would do:
1. Talk to Mr. Button if I didn't understand a question or why a particular answer was given a perfect score and others weren't.
2. Talk to students who were successful on the test and ask what they did to prepare for the exam
3. I would make sure I knew the perfect answers to all the practice questions that Mr. Button always has available.
4. I would read all the chapters that will be covered on the exam. And I mean read.
5. I would go online and look at all those activities on the text website and do them.
6. I would read all the lab material very carefully and I would not rely on others when actually doing the lab.
That's a start.
We also started the new lab on Mitosis and Meiosis.

Day 20

9/16/2013

1/9th of the way done with school. I love math!
The chemistry students received their updated grades today. So far, so good. The students got a lot of information about the Periodic Table. Really, the coolest table ever and I'm including the table that the Declaration of Independence was signed on. Know what else is cool? UC Berkeley is generally credited with the discovery of 16 elements! Go Bears!
The AP Biology students were subjected to a technical snafu (a funny, albeit profane word) that limited learning today. We were able to see our own cheek cells which not everyone can say. This marked the introduction to using the microscope as a tool to observe cells, living and otherwise.

Day 19

9/13/2013

Heading to Cal this weekend to check out the Cal - Ohio State football game. Hopefully, all the grades will be updated by Sunday night but it will depend on what time I get home on Sunday.
The chemistry students had their first exam on the year today. They now have completed 15 Learning Objectives and should be quite knowledgeable but chemistry stuff.
The AP Biology students began their next unit of learning, The Cell. Their were some initial notes today and some discussion about how the cell is studied microscopically. That's a cool word. Microscopically.

Day 18

9/12/2013

Day 18. I think that means that we have just completed 10% of our school year. It's going too fast!
The chemsitry students reviewed the Unit 1 Learning Objectives because the first exam of the year is tomoorow! I have put some hints on this website - you should be able to find them easy.
The AP Biology students took their first look (is that right? took a look?) at the AP Biology Exam. We looked at questions associated with our first unit of study, The Chemistry Of Life. Perpare for the exam now - it will be that much easier in May.

Day 17

9/11/2013

You know what I think about every time this year? It's not about the horrible day 12 years ago. It's not about the great things this country has done. It's not about the bad (and there is some!) in this country either. It's about family and friends and doing good while we are here. And having fun, too. Love the ones closest to you. Do good things. And have fun. That and good food and you are set for a great life.
The chemistry class today observed two interesting phenomenon; one physical change in a substance and one chemical change. It was cool. We also reviewed several examples of physical and chemical changes and practiced using the Periodic Table to identify elements. Finally, we saw several examples of elements, compounds and mixtures.
The AP Biology students were busy taking their first exam of the year. I didn't think it was too tough but you never know.
And now, a chance for a prize. A king has 3 sons and he wants to find out which one is the smartest. He sits them around a table and he blindfolds them. He says, "Sons, I am going to place a crown upon your head. It is either made of gold or silver. I will also place into your hand a stick. When I remove your blindfold I want you to tap your stick upon the ground if you see a single gold crown. You will, of course, not be able to see your own. The first one of you to correctly tell me the color of their own crown and be able to explain your logic correctly shall win my kingdom." The king places a stick in each of his sons' hand and places a crown on their heads. ALL THE CROWNS ARE GOLD. The blindfolds are removed and the sons immediately start tapping their sticks on the ground. Soon, the youngest son, Mortimer, announces "I weareth a gold crown upon my head, Father! The kingdom is mine!" Mortimer was correct and so was his logical answer. What was his explanation?

Day 16

9/10/2013

Well, it looks like the fire is out but it did some significant damage to the Happy Valley area. A lot of West Valley kids missed school today after it was reported in some media outlets that West Valley was closed. I even heard that school was closed on KQMS radio this morning. I cheered and made fun of my wife but then I found out it was open. She then made fun of me. I'm proud of my students who showed up when it would have been easy to stay home. Knowledge is power!
The chemistry students completed the Metal and Nonmetal Lab today by answering a few questions regarding the characteristics of the elements we observed on Monday. We also observed the amazing characteristics of sodium metal. That stuff is crazy! We are almost done with the first unit of study and we will have an exam soon.
The AP Biology students continued the review for the exam we will have tomorrow, the first exam of the year! I will be gone during first period tomorrow but Mr. Schwerdt will cover for me during class. I will be at West Valley around 8:30 until the end of the day.

Day 15

9/9/2013

An unusual day at West Valley. This is the day that the Clover Fire started. Hopefully, it will be the day it ended, too. My thoughts are with the people effected by the fire.

The chemistry students began a laboratory activity on Metals and Nonmetals. We took samples of 7 different elements and examined some of their physical and chemical characteristics. By knowing these properties, we can determine whether a substance is a metal, nonmetal or metalloid. We'll finish this up tomorrow.
The AP Biology students are reviewing material in preparation for the first exam of the year which will be on Wednesday, September 11th. We went over an exam from a couple of years ago. 56 students should be studying biology tonight!

Day 14

9/6/2013

The end of the third week. Only 33 more. I think.
The chemistry students saw some chemical reactions today that they will get to do themselves later in the year. Here is one of the reactions: H2+ O2 ------- H2O + heat. Doesn't look like much, does it? Look up footage of the Hindenburg blowing up. Same reaction we did in the classroom only no screaming. Too soon?
We also talked about physical and chemical properties. We will begin a lab activity on Monday regarding the properties of some different elements.
The AP Biology students finished reviewing Chapter 5 which is an overview of biomolecules; proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The first exam of the year is on Wednesday. 9/11. We are going to review the material from the first unit of study on Monday and Tuesday.

Day 13

9/5/2013

Here's a quote: "Honey, have you seen my calculator?" Einstein said that. Probably.
In chemistry today, we did a couple of things. You know that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indy replaces that gold statue with a bag of sand and it turns out to be a big disaster? You don't? Well, scroll down and watch it. So here is what we did: assuming the statue is solid gold and everything would have worked out if the sand and the statue were the same weight, how big should the bag of sand been? Some groups figured it out. All you have to do is compare the density of gold (19.3 grams/mL) and sand (2.8 grams/mL) and you would see the bag would have to be about 7 times bigger than the statue. It would weigh about 42 pounds. So, what is that statue worth? Figure it out. By the way, Indy is supposed to be a big hero, right? Well, in that scene, he destroyed ancient artifacts just to get a statue. What a jerk!
We also defined some terms having to do with chemical reactions and we saw a cool reaction involving hydrogen peroxide and a catalyst.
In AP Biology, we continued our discussion of biomolecules. We spent the majority of class time talking about proteins and their structure. The idea of the 4 levels of proteins structure was introduced and, boy, is that important. We are almost done with the first unit of study. That must mean the first exam is right around the corner and it is. The exam date will be announced tomorrow.

Day 12

9/4/2013

Stephen Hawking once said, "I would know what time it is if I could find my stupid watch!" If you say this out loud in a weird robotic voice, it's super funny.
Today was our first Collaboration Day and that means we talk about college. We did this in both chemistry and AP Biology. We discussed what makes college so unbelievably better than high school. We also looked at what it takes to get into the University of California, Berkeley, the preeminent public university in the United States. No West Valley student has matriculated to Cal since 2007! I think it's time for someone to get into that place.

Day 11

9/3/2013

Time marches on and so do penguins.
The chemistry students had their first assessment today, a short quiz on unit conversion and the Measurement Lab. Hopefully, everybody did ok - we'll find out soon. The students also got their first Periodic Table and we went over some very basic stuff. I also mentioned how important it was not to memorize it. Why you ask? Because no one ever asked a chemist, "Hey, what's the atomic number of Berkelium? And no looking at the Periodic Table!" That has never happened. And hey, life is an open book test, isn't it?
The AP Biology students were once again subjected to a lecture on material that should be review from chemistry. We talked about large biomolecules like carbohydrates and lipids. We will continue our discussion on Thursday with proteins and nucleic acids.
Tomorrow is a Collaboration Day and it's a minimum day! Hurray!

Labor Day 2013

9/2/2013

Hey Chemistry students!! Check out the video below. First, sorry about any weird sound sync problems. Second, using your vast knowledge of all things, tell me what's wrong with Indy's solution to this problem. Let's make one assumption: that statue is solid gold. Figure it out! First one with an answer wins.