Jimmie's Collage » chemistry

Joy of Science Experiments

Jimmie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:05:01 +0000

This is probably the main reason I love doing science experiments with Sprite:

Look at that face. The wonder, the joy of discovery. This is hardly work. This is science play!

So although it’s sometimes a hassle to find the supplies, set it all up, and then clean up afterwards, it’s so worth it.

Not all experiments are so glamorous. Here is one where Sprite built a simple scale and measured the weights of various objects.

But this one about density and miscibility was very, very impressive! In fact, Sprite asked if she could duplicate it for fun. This is the second time she did it.

[Visit At Home Science for more details about the experiment.]

The yellow is water. The blue is rubbing alcohol, and the bubbles are oil. Nothing mixed up. It was fascinating, and I admit, we both stared at if for many minutes. Sprite injected more and more oil into the bubble to see how big she could make it. It was mesmerizing.

Then I let Sprite play around, devising her own experiments, “I wonder what happens if I ….”

I love that kind of scientific play. I suppose I should use the word “experimentation” versus play. But what’s the difference, really? She’s enjoying interacting hands-on with the concepts we’re studying in her chemistry curriculum.

I was very impressed when Sprite used the word viscous in talking about pancake syrup a couple of days after an experiment. For Sprite, the activities really cement the ideas. So they are worth the preparation and clean up.

I’ve already bought a steel file in preparation for our rocks and minerals study. Can’t wait for that one.

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The Elements Lapbook

Jimmie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:00:38 +0000

Sprite with Elements Lapbook

We assembled another lapbook this week. We’ve been collecting these minibooks for several months now. Sprite does a few minibooks each week, usually after a science lesson as her narration activity.

We took pics outside when we went to free our latest nature study object — a grasshopper.

For the cover, Sprite made a drawing of Mendeleev working on the Periodic Table of the Elements. We loved her drawing so much that I scanned it and printed it out rather than use the original on the lapbook.

The whole set of pics can be found at Flickr.

Elements Lapbook

Super Long Accordion Book

Some of what we used can be found linked at Chemistry Lapbook.

But the vast majority of the minibooks came from blanks that I prepared beforehand. Sprite chose whichever one best suited the information she wanted to record. I find that lapbooking in this way is really the simplest and most creative method. I don’t have to spend a lot of time creating or printing out fancy templates with clipart and such. I just offer blank books to be filled in by Sprite.

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The Periodic Table

Jimmie — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:00:44 +0000

We’re studying chemistry! And what’s a chemistry study without a Periodic Table of Elements? You know that simply printing out a copy is not enough for us. Oh no. Instead, I had Sprite make her own wall chart.

Working on Periodic Table Chart

We actually started adding elements during our reading of The Mystery of the Periodic Table. (I highly recommend the book. You can read my review of The Mystery of the Periodic Table at The Curriculum Choice.) Many elements were known to ancient scientists and alchemists, and we filled those in first. Of course, those elements are ones that most of us are very familiar with such as gold, silver, iron, and copper. When we studied hydrogen, we added it in. Then we took a more systematic approach and filled in the gaps group by group.

Chemistry

Filling in the Chart

I bought the periodic table chart as a PDF template from Etsy for only $3.

(For a one page, much smaller, but free version, visit this PDF blank printable periodic table.)

It’s finished now and hanging in a place of honor right above the new world map. I’m sure we’ll refer to it many, many times as we continue our study of chemistry.

Completed Periodic Table

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Vinegar Chemistry

Jimmie — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:13:12 +0000

You all know the wonderful reaction you get when you mix baking soda with vinegar. Well we took it up a notch and created a full fledged experiment with it! Part of our chemistry curriculum is studying the scientific method and performing an experiment. Sprite wanted to test three types of vinegar and see which one would create the greatest reaction.

We used our graduated cylinders to measure out equal portions of vinegar

and baking soda

We did a few trial runs to determine exactly how to measure the reaction. We ended up timing the bubbles and measuring the distance of the foam.

Although her hypothesis was wrong, she did learn more about vinegar’s reactions. We also made the red cabbage litmus test to compare the acidity of each type of vinegar.

This was a really easy and practical experiment for us to do! I consider it a success. She took detailed notes and wrote up a nice lab report.

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Hydrogen and the Hindenberg

Jimmie — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:11:56 +0000

In our Chemistry study, we were studying hydrogen and came across the story of the Hindenburg. So we did the Disaster Diorama of the Hindenberg! (Not an easy model, BTW.)

Then Sprite added hydrogen and all of the noble gases to a large periodic table that we’re making. I’ll blog more on that later.

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Chemistry Equipment

Jimmie — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:37:40 +0000

We recently started a new science curriculum — Noeo Science Chemistry. To kick off our first experiments, I decided to buy some “fancy” lab equipment.

So I did some investigation and found the name and address of a place that supposedly sold test tubes. The taxi stopped at an ancient looking drugstore selling Chinese medicine and wheelchairs. In the back, were glass cases full of beakers and graduated cylinders. We brushed away the cobwebs and dead spiders to find several acceptable pieces — various test tubes with measurements marked on the glass and their own pedestal base so that a rack is not even needed (those are called graduated cylinders, I later learned) . I tried to bargain, but the shopkeeper was adamant about his marked prices. He pulled out out a huge abacus to figure our total. I was totally confused about how he added it up, but his apparent skill at using the abacus convinced me that he wasn’t cheating me.

Now we feel like real scientists when we do our experiments. No more empty jelly jars for us! We have real lab equipment. My hope is that these more professional pieces will motivate Sprite (that worked!) and also show her how the importance of precision in scientific experiments.

We’ve started a lapbook about Chemistry. But so far we’ve only made a few minibooks. I’ve been collecting chemistry links for over a year, and I’ve already organized them at Chemistry Lapbook.

I discovered that the level of curriculum I purchased is actually too low for Sprite! (I bought this well over a year ago! And we didn’t get to it as quickly as I thought. In the meantime, she’s matured!) I bought level one but really should have bought level two. No matter. We will adapt what we have by moving quickly through the material; we’ve already done 7 weeks worth of work in two weeks’ time! And I bought some supplemental material about the Periodic Table to make it a bit more appropriate for her. As you know, levels are often very arbitrary and are only general guidelines. So it doesn’t really matter, especially if we beef it up. Good books are good books regardless of their level.

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