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Lab 15

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1. What did you learn this week?  This week in lab, we took a deeper look at the relationship between baking soda and vinegar. In order to do this, we were instructed to design an activity with the people at our table, and our goal was to be able to explain the outcome of the activity and why the two materials react the way they do. To model this reaction, we poured equal parts of vinegar and baking soda into a ramekin. We put the lid on and shook the container before observing what happened. We noticed that after we did this, the mass of the materials actually changed. This was incredibly interesting to us, because theoretically matter is not supposed to be able to be destroyed. We guessed that this was most likely due to a tiny amount of air escaping when the lid was screwed on.  2. How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future?  I think this experiment would be really interesting to do with my students. I remember doing this when I was an element...
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Lab 14

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  1. What did you learn this week?  In lab this week, we revisited a topic that we started to discuss earlier in the school year. In our groups, we were instructed to discuss why a plunger works the way it does and why it works differently on specific surfaces. We found that once there is less space for particles, it creates a greater suction. Additionally, we found that condensation does not occur on the outside of drinks that are not cold.  This has to do with the amount of particles on the outside and how quickly they are moving.  2. How can you apply what you learned to your future teaching?  I really like how we were able to explore our thinking on white boards as a group and then were instructed to share with the table next to us. It felt nice to be able to "teach" each other what we found about the information. It was also a really great way to get ideas from the other group that we hadn't thought about in our discussion time.  3. Which parts did you...
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Lab 13

  1. What did you learn this week?  This week I was absent from class due to a surgery, so I asked many of my peers around me what the content was that I missed out on. This lab's content was surrounded by density and how it can be effectively taught to elementary aged students. Particle models were introduced as a way to show visual understanding on the content that is being described. To help make some content connections, the M&M experiment from the beginning of the year was revisited. This experiment results the way to does because once the M&Ms are placed in the water with some sugar in it, the color seems to spread much slower than without sugar.  2. How can you apply what you learned to your teaching in the future?  This week, the content of the class showed me truly how important it is to let students be curious and to let them freely explore. This is incredibly important for students to be able to critically think about how they want to go about comp...
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Lab 12

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  1. What did you learn this week?  This week we began by discussing our Week 11 Homework assignments with the people at our table. We talked about the things we learned, the things we found interesting, and any remaining questions we still have. Then, we continued our discussion on matter that we had started last week. This week, we talked about matter and its properties. To do this, we tested numerous objects to see if they would sink or float, conduct electricity, and if their masses and volumes changes when broken. We recorded our findings in a data table and then discussed some things we found interesting as a whole class.  2. How can you apply what you've learned to your future teaching?  I think the activity that we did in class was a really great way to test so many different objects and their components of matter. I think doing something like this in my future classroom would be a great way for my students to understand what kinds of things have different k...
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Lab 11

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  1. What did you learn this week?  This week during lab, we took part in six different stations where we practiced predicting, observing, and making scientific conclusions. The first station we visited was called "Coke Float." We were instructed to drop two small cans of coke into a bucket of water and then two larger cans of coke. I was surprised to see that the only can that did not sink was the larger coke can. My partner and I concluded that it is most likely due to the amount of sugar in that can compared to all the others. The second station we visited was called "Baking Soda & Vinegar." We were instructed to add baking soda and vinegar to a zip-loc bag and observe what the reaction is. When we did this, the mixture started to fix and even got cooler in temperature. The third station was called "M&Ms in Water." We were instructed to put an M&M of each color onto a paper plate with water. We observed the color slowly start to leave each...
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Lab 9

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  1) What did you learn this week?  This week in lab, we began discussing Charles Darwin's evolution and natural selection. To do this, we conducted a simulation with our table mates, so we were able to see the dynamic between predator and prey relationships. We used three different groups of colored beans and forks, spoons, and sticks to try to emulate how predator relationships would work in an ecosystem. In addition to this, we shared out findings on the "Homework 8" assignment, which deepened my thinking of the NGSS standards.  2) Are you able to relate what you learned to what you already knew?  In many of my high school classes, I have learned about key concepts we discussed in class, like evolution, natural selection, and predator and prey relationships. I was able to recall some of the information I had learned then when it came time to discussing it today in class.  3) Which parts did you find clear or confusing?  At the beginning of the activity, ...
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Lab 8

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1) What did you learn this week?  This week in lab, we started off by taking a look at our fast plant to observe if they were growing seeds or not. Unfortunately, my plant is not looking as good as it once was, and there are no seeds present. Next, we revisited the baby-making activity that we began last week. I enjoyed seeing my classmates' babies and learning about the kinds of dominant and recessive genes they carry.  Additionally, we took a look at codon charts and practiced reading them. We also learned about mutations and did an activity with a partner where we took a look at RNA and DNA strands and then decided if there was a mutation in the person.  2) How can you apply what you learned to your future in the classroom?  I think the superhero worksheet that we did in class to get a grasp on mutations would totally be something I would want to incorporate into my future classroom. I thought it was a great way to learn about DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. It w...
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