Ali Craig science methods

  Week 14 Guiding Questions: Why does ice melt faster on metal than wood? Why do water droplets appear on cold drinks?   Today in lab, we explored what melting is, and described it as a phase change from solid to liquid. We also revisited our tests with the sink plunger and drew a particle model. We described that when we see the plunger get pushed down air particles escape and leave fewer particles in the plunger creating a vacuum. To explore why ice melts faster on metal compared to wood we completed simulation activities. We found that metal is a conductor and wood is an insulator. Metal being a conductor allows energy to pass through it faster, hence why the ice melts faster on metal. We then completed another simulation activity where we explored why when you place a cold drink in a warm place, water droplets appear on the outside of the glass/can. We found out the explanation is condensation, the cold water evaporates into the warm air, and when the air around the glass ...

  Week 13 After we discussed our previous homework we were asked to define density. We talked with our table groups to come up with a definition and then presented it to the class. I found this interesting because each group had something different, yet accurate. Following defining density we defined matter and properties again. I have liked revisiting what matter and properties are because each week we've gotten more precise definitions.                       Then we redid our M&M and water experiment but with more direction this time. Our only variable for this was the water each group used. We had one table as the control group of just typical tap water, another with salt, and one with sugar, and our table used hot water. We also decided we wanted to compare the M&M dye spread at the beginning, one minute, three minutes, and then finally at five minutes.                ...

  To start lab we reflected on our previous homework assignment. Our group said we learned the different endpoints for each grade band, that the weight of a substance doesn't change no matter the reaction, and that we should introduce vocabulary before the concept to aid in teaching the content. We found it interesting that matter can form new properties through chemical reactions, and that all substances are generally made up of 100 different types of atoms. A question we had remaining after our homework was which concept is typically most challenging for students to understand? Then we completed a series of experiments and recorded our observations:                Will it sink or float?                    p enny: sank                       cork: floated                ...

Week 11       In lab today we started chemistry! We first refreshed by thinking about the question, "What is matter?" Our table described matter as anything that takes up space.                                                                                   We then started a rotation of five experiments.                            The first experiment we completed was testing to see which Coke cans would float and which would not. We had a regular Coke, a small can of regular Coke, a Diet Coke, and a small can of Diet Coke. Our group hypothesized that the large cans would sink and the small cans would float. We were very surprised to see that all of them floated, but the regular Coke. After seei...