Fly Fishing and Star Lab

Although we have been working very hard to review all we have learned for the CRT tests next week, we have still been able to create high quality, inspiring instruction.  In PE, we have been learning the sport of fly fishing.  Last week we learned the basic knots associated with fly fishing and this week we learned the 11 basic steps to a casting.

In science today we blew up the Star Lab in our classroom and had private star shows. The focus was on some basic astronomy, but we also learned about our galaxy and universe and basic identification of some major constellations.  The Greek and Roman mythology always seems to entertain as well.

Chemical Reactions in Science

We are well into our chemical reaction labs in science.  Last week an introductory lab allowed students to test a variety of unknown liquids with unknown white powders.  After recording observations of reactions or lack of reactions, they used their data to determine an unknown sample.  The purpose of the lab was to not only introduce reactions, but also focus on physical properties.

Yesterday we became "tardy" leprechauns (as St. Patrick's Day was a week ago) and turned pennies into "gold".  In reality, we learned about alloys. We first cleaned the pennies in Taco Bell sauce and through this inquiry learned that vinegar is an  ingredient in the sauce.  Relating this to the prior lab where we learned that acetic acid is vinegar, students quickly put it together that the acetic acid cleaned the penny.  When Lane asked why we didn't just clean them in vinegar I responded that this was more fun.  He replied, "Yes, and I now know taco sauce can clean pennies."  Next, we plated the pennies in zinc. Students really enjoyed seeing a silver looking penny.  Finally, we applied heat and allowed the copper and zinc to bond at the molecular level, creating brass.  This brass gave the pennies a "gold" appearance.

We have two more labs, a heat lab and a light stick lab coming up later this week, which will conclude our chemical reaction labs.  Astronomy will begin after the break.

UNR Fieldtrip

The weather for our excursion to the University of Nevada, Reno couldn't have been better.  Our learning began with an hour and forty minute tour around campus.  We had eight students from our class who had not ever even been on campus before. Even those who had learned something new.  I heard lots of discussions from students regarding how neat college will be to attend.  A few students were 110% energized about attending college, as the energy level regarding what they were taking away from this tour really showed me how important it was.  After our tour we sat outside the Joe Crowley Student Union and ate lunch.  Following this, a challenge was set for the 85 students to calculate the height of the J.C. Student Union.  After some practice using clinometers on trees and lamp posts, and after a quick lesson on the geometry of a 45-45-90 degree triangle, students put their new knowledge to use.  Measurements came in from 80 to 91 feet tall from the groups.  Not too bad for using a straw, a string, a washer, and a paper copy of a protractor!