Last Day of School!! Congratulations Class of 2014!!!! Free Bradley White!!
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Finals for Chemistry and AP Biology!!!!! Yayyy!!!!!!!!!!
Free Bradley White!!! Oh boy! Finals are here!! Both AP Biology and Chemistry students have their finals tomorrow. Yipee! And what about Day 178 you ask? That means the school year is 89/90ths of the way done. Only 1/90th left! All we did was review today. Valerie Smothers would be so proud. 
Yayy!! The last week of school begins! Not that you should be happy about ending your education for a couple months. We should probably be staying in school for at least 210 days, not 180. Day 177? That means we're done with 59/60ths of the school year. Only 1/60th to go!
The chemistry students did some review for the Final Exam. I spent a lot of time writing this year's story in yearbooks. So far, it's awesome. The AP Biology students checked out the disturbing and gross bacteria collections from around campus. We learned a bunch of stuff but the most important thing was probably never get into Maddie Robertson's car. We also spent some time researching the diseases we were assigned. Day 176? That means, let's see, school is 44/45ths of the way done. Only 1/45th of the way to go!
The chemistry students continued their review as we prepare for the Final Exam next Wednesday. We reviewed the Nuclear Chemistry unit today. We also ate some good stuff that students bought in for the Science of Baking Unit. The AP Biology students collected bacterial samples from around the campus. We are incubating them as you read this. Of course, if you're reading this in the year 2019, we're probably done with that. Day 175! That means the school year is 35/36ths of the way done. Only 1/36th left!
The chemistry students began the final exam review by checking out some titration calculations. That really was a long time ago. We also ate some baked goods that the students brought in. The AP Biology students did some research regarding their assigned disease. You know, Bobby is studying Ebola and Susie is studying Chagas Disease. Day 174? That means the school year is 29/30ths over. Only 1/30th left!!
The chemistry students got some info about the final exam. Yipee! We also talked about why flour does what it does chemically and physically when baking a cake. The AP Biology students got a ton of information about the final. Each student got a disease assigned that they will now research. Questions regarding each individual disease will be on the final. So it's an individual final for each student. Awesome! 173? 173 is a Sophie Germain prime number. First person to tell me what that means gets a prize.
I was off campus today at a vital meeting with Mr. Safford and Mrs. Williams. The chemistry students were given the period to plan their Science of Baking project. That will be the last class time available for the project. The AP Biology students were given the second part of the Nancy Jaxx story and they read it. Man, it's scary. What a Memorial Day weekend! My daughter's birthday in San Francisco - what fun! A survey Day 172! You know what that means?? We only have 2/45ths of the year left!! That's 8 days to all you non-Math majors out there.
The AP Biology students heard part of the story of Nancy Jaxx, an Army veterinarian who, well, I don't want to give anything away but it's not good. We also discussed the differences in fighting a viral disease and a bacterial disease. VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!! The chemistry students learned how proteins are made by combining different amino acids. We also watched me make chocolate chip cookies which, hopefully, helped the students with their Science of Baking Project. I made the cookies last night - we watched video. I did bring the cookies in though. Tasty! Single digits!!! 9 more days to go!!
A lot of students gone today in Chemistry because of the Academic Awards ceremony. Oh well, the students that were here had time to work on their science of baking project. Check out yesterday's post and look at the powerpoint for a reminder of what you have to do. The AP Biology students finished Outbreak today. Corny but decent science. And scary if that really happened. Now we are 17/18ths of the way done with school. Only 10 more days! The chemistry students were told today that the root beer making will have to wait until next week when weather and temperature conditions will be make the room a little cooler which, ultimately, will be better for the root beer. We viewed this PowerPoint - check it out:
The AP Biology students learned more about the current outbreak of Ebola in Guinea. Almost 200 dead with a mortality rate of around 77%. Scary stuff. We also watched more of Outbreak. Dustin Hoffman is a little too over the top for me.
Day 169?? Isn't that 13 squared? I'm pretty sure it is and I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean too much.
The chemistry students reviewed the structure of carbohydrates today and learned a little bit about the making of homemade root beer. They should know that yeast is a living organism that eats sugars and produces carbon dioxide as a result. Fizzy root beer! We may, depending on weather conditions and temperature, make root beer in the class this week. The AP students discussed the CDC's role in eradication of disease. We also watched a little more of Outbreak. Monkeys are gross! Day 168? That means we only have 1/15th of the school year left. Or 12 days!!! Yay!!!!
The chemistry students watched me make butter today but more importantly they learned why whisking cream continually will produce water and unsalted butter. It's the breaking down of those phosolipid membranes that surround fat that does it. We also talked about carbohydrates and their molecular and structural formulas. The AP Biology students watched a little of Outbreak, a movie showing what would happen if a hemorragic fever ever became airborne. Now that is scary. But you know what is more scarier? That people are choosing not to vaccinate their children because they think it causes autism. THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM THAT VACCINES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AUTISM!!! TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW. Only one more Friday! Wow, this year went by fast!
The chemistry students saw more of Food Inc. We watched how the struggle of farmers trying to do the right thing and grow healthy food is constantly threatened by huge corporation who don't care about us and are only concerned with $$$$$! The AP Biology students saw what a Level 4 hot zone was like in 1995 Zaire. An outbreak of Ebola kills rapidly and has a 80% mortality rate. Truly a scary disease. Only 14 more days of school!!!!! You know what my plan is for this summer? Me neither! Hahahahaha!!!
The chemistry students go their Organic Chemistry exam back today and we went over it. We also watched a little more of Food Inc. The AP Biology students discussed the current outbreak of Ebola in Guinea, the presence of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) in the United States and the outbreak of Ebola in Zaire in 1995. Super interesting. Today was a good day but then again I pretty much always have good days.
The chemistry students began their final unit today on Food Chemistry. We watched part of Food Inc., a movie everyone should watch. It didn't make me want to get a hamburger at McDonalds, I tell you that! The AP Biology students read the story of Charles Monet, a man who died in 1980 from the Marburg virus, which is very similar to the Ebola virus. Our final unit will be on infectious disease and plagues. It will helps us prepare for a zombie invasion, if that ever comes. The year is 41/45ths of the way done. We only have 4/45ths of the year left! Yayy!!
There was a bunch of AP students missing because of the AP Government Exam today so we just chilled. Tomorrow we will discuss the special project for the remainder of the year. The chemistry students took the Organic Chemistry Exam today. Today is the big AP Biology Exam!! How exciting! The AP students were invited to a pancake feed this morning and many showed up. There was some leftover stuff so chemistry students got to have pancakes too.
So there was nothing for AP Biology today because of the exam and most everyone took it. The chemistry students had pancakes and reviewed material for the Organic Chemistry Exam which is tomorrow. After today, we will be done with 90% of the school year. We will only have 18 more school days!
The chemistry students went over the condensation reactions that were completed in the lab on Thursday. We saw that we made 2 esters that have unique and yummy odors. The students also found out that the next exam is on Tuesday. We will review stuff on Monday. The AP Biology students finished the review for the AP Biology Exam which is on Monday. We discussed exam strategies and some last minute content stuff. We also thought it would be best to hug Mom on Sunday for about 8 seconds and get back to studying. We're gonna have a pancake breakfast on Monday at 7! Ask anyone right now: are you happy? If they hesitate or say no, don't hang with them. Surround yourself with happy people and your life is set.
The chemistry students completed the Condensation Lab today by taking a carboxylic acid and combining it with an alcohol. This reaction produces an ester. They usually have some pretty good odors associated with them. So we took methanol (smells like rubber) and mixed it with the notorious butyric acid (smells like vomited blue cheese and shame) and it ends up smelling like pineapple. The AP Biology students continued the AP Exam review by talking about key terms within the subject of Ecology. We watched Mr. Anderson from Bozeman, Montana talk about it too. Really valuable and special. Day 160? You know what that means? That means the school year is 8/9ths of the way done! Only 1/9 more! Yayy!
The chemistry students were shown a condensation reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid that produces water and an ester. I made wintergreen today that way. Tomorrow the students will make their own ester. More review for AP Biology students. Today was genetics, the chi-square test and some Hardy-Weinberg stuff. And the AP Exams begin..... I love academic pressure. Especially when I don't have to take an exam.
The chemistry students did a quick review on the structure of alcohols and combustion reactions. We then played a fun word cuz a lot of kids were gone donating blood. Supposedly. The AP Biology students did more AP Exam review by checking out some stuff on bozemanscience.com. This is a great resource for test preparation. Happy Cinco DeMayo! Is that how to spell that? I could look it up but that would require me caring.
The chemistry students did a couple of cool things today. First, we talked about having a diet of french fries and losing weight by drinking ice water. Is it possible? Yup, but it might kill you. Certainly you can use up energy by heating up that ice water to 37oC. That's body temperature. We also made some molecular models using 2 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. There are 2 possible isomers if we assume only single bonds form. The AP Biology students continued their review for the AP Exam by talking about every lab we completed in the course. Yes, I did a lot of talking. Friday's are great except when a bunch of my students are all stressed out because of the SAT on Saturday.
The chemistry students did the exact same thing as yesterday except instead of using a candle for fuel, we used a Frito chip. By using the same procedure as yesterday and changing the calculation slightly, we can determine, experimentally of course, the amount of Calories in a single chip. Most groups got an answer around 1 Calorie. In reality, there is about 5 Calories per chip. The source of error probably occurs during the burning of the Frito when too much heat is lost to the environment and doesn't go into heating up the water sample. The AP Biology students continued their review by working out answers to free response questions from a practice exam and by watching an AP review video which was super helpful. We are 13/15ths of the way done with the school year. That means we only have 2/15ths left. That's 24 days!
The chemistry students completed part 1 of the Combustion Lab by burning a known quantity of candle wax to raise the temperature of a known quantity of water. And if you know the specific heat of water (which is 4.18 joules per gram degree Celsius) and you can figure out how much thermal energy is produced by the candle. The AP Biology students continued the AP Biology Exam review by looking at and working on some free response questions. We will continue review-type work until May 12th, the date of the exam. |
Dan Button
Teacher at West Valley High School Archives
June 2014
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