Lesson 1 - Monday, Oct 7 (45 minutes)
Today in science: After making sure that every period has now formatted INV#2 in their science notebooks by recording both a Research Question and the nature of the different ‘trials’ performed (and their results), Dr. M then asked each period to do slightly different tasks:
B period began writing their Conclusions and suggested some topics for the Discussion section.
C period performed each of their six trials (A-F) over again so that they could make more careful observations of both single and combined bath bomb ingredients.
H period was asked to cut-and-paste 2-D molecule models (cutouts) of water, citric acid, and baking soda into their science notebooks and then to create a new Glossary section at the back of their notebooks in which to record key science terms. They then used the (blue) Activate Science 1 textbook to define the following key words: molecule, atom, element, substance, material, mixture, properties. We also briefly discussed the word “quality,” which was use in the properties definition, and then came up with some synonyms for it (e.g., trait, characteristic, attribute, feature).
Homework: B & H period students have no science homework tonight.
C period students have been asked to prepare for Tuesday’s science lesson by copying all of the INV#2 results into their science notebook. He has put these results into his online science notebook on p. 9.
Lesson 2 - Tuesday, Oct 8 (45 minutes)
Today in science: After insisting that we prove the combination of water, baking soda, and citric acid creates carbon dioxide gas (and not some other gas), B period came up with an idea for a new investigation today involving the evaporation of the leftover/remaining bath bomb water to see what substance(s) is/are left when the water molecules have all evaporated into the surrounding air (INV#3).
B & C periods finished cutting-and-pasting their 2-D molecule model (cutouts) into their science notebooks and entering the following key words into a newly-created Glossary section at the back of their notebooks. In this glossary they were asked to define the following terms: molecule, atom, element, substance, material, mixture, properties.
H period began ‘stacking’ new knowledge about molecules, atoms, molecular formula, and elements for the three required bath bomb substances (water, citric acid, and baking soda).
Homework: There is no science homework tonight.
Lesson 3 - Wednesday, Oct 9 (45 minutes)
Today in science: B & C period began ‘stacking’ new knowledge about molecules, atoms, molecular formula, and elements for the three required bath bomb substances (water, citric acid, and baking soda). We also practiced writing chemical formulas and saying how many total atoms, atom types, and elements were contained within particular molecules.
H period was asked to label their already-glued water, citric acid, and baking soda molecules as “Reactants (What we start with)” and to create a new 3-column organization in their notebooks called “Products (What we end with).” In this new section, we added cut-and-glued two new molecules, carbon dioxide and citric acid, and then added additional information for each new molecule such as chemical formula, number of total atoms present, number of atoms types present, and number of elements needed. At the end of the lesson, we practiced applying our new knowledge about atoms and elements and formulas on a large molecule found in plants.
Homework: There is no science homework tonight.
Lesson 4 - Thursday, Oct 10 (35 minutes)
Today in science: B & C period students added the sub-title, “Reactants” (or, what we start with)” to INV#2 and a new section in which to record the “Products” (or, what we end with) when the gas-producing bath bomb reaction is finished. To this section we added “carbon dioxide gas,” which we provided was a product in INV#1, and then added our ideas about what other products may have been produced during the reaction. We then used our uncertainty about the substances produced to brainstorm ideas for INV#3, which we will begin (or continue) planning after the 4-day weekend.
H period students were asked to build 3D models of all of the molecules we know–or suspect–to be involved in the bath bomb reaction. This activity was meant to help students see more clearly both the reactants AND the products involved in the bath bomb reaction.
Homework: There is no science homework during the 4-day weekend.
Friday, Oct 11 (No classes - Parent Teacher conferences)
Today in science: —
Homework: —
Announcements...
The DRIVING QUESTION of our current unit is: How can we make something new that was not there before?
#1 - There is no school for students on Friday, 11 Oct & Monday, 14 Oct due to the annual TASIS Family Weekend.
#2 - ...