Chemistry: the balancing act

This post has been in my draft box since July ... but I thought I'd still publish this in case it's of use to others. Sorry it's taken so long!

I've finally caught up with Maestro in his Apologia Chemistry (2nd ed) book.  He had slowed down quite a bit once he hit module 4, where he began working on balancing chemical equations.  Just prior to applying the algebra part to his work, there is a quick list of elements he must memorise as they never appear as single atoms.  It's a bit like remembering the spelling rule that some letters need to be doubled when put after a short vowel ... they need to be memorised.

This list of elements which are NOT composed of single atoms are called homonuclear diatomics. The list (for our reference as much as for others) is as follows:

Hydrogen (H2)
Nitrogen (N2)
Oxygen (O2)
Fluorine (F2)
Chlorine (Cl2)
Iodine (I2)
Bromine (Br2)

I also pulled out an atom molecular kit, similar to this available on ebay. It really helped to physically make up the compounds and redistribute the atoms required to balance the formulae in the book (where it was possible to do so).

Here are some websites which allows one to practice balancing of chemical equations.  These are a few we've tried:
- Stinks and Bangs!  takes you step by step
- Jefferson Lab
- PhET's similation program ... great for visualisation with the balance scale (I think this is my favourite of the three  )
- Battleships .. if you have the right co-ordinates, the bomb only activates if you balance the equation correctly
- Rags to Riches

If you're doing chemistry with your children this year, I'd love to hear how you're getting on!  This is one subject I'm having to sit and learn WITH my son, as I only remember doing it in part until it became an elective and I dropped it in favour of Biology.

Update .. we're well and truly through half of this chemistry book now.  An update will be forthcoming. (smile!)

Until next time!
Catherine

TOPS Electrical circuits

TOPS lessons about electrical circuits are now all a 'go' here.  What a fun way to experiment with how to make a very simple circuit, using a battery, torch bulb, and strips of foil with masking tape on the back. Maestro enjoyed doing this Sonlight Science level a number of years ago, and now it's Mariposa's turn.

It starts off simple enough.  You provide the tools (after they make their own foil strips) and then they have to figure out how to get the bulb to light.  It can take a little longer than first expected.  I think I heard more than once, "I don't think this bulb is working!"

THEN          ......     O LOOK!

Motivation then set in. It was time to try some of the suggestions in the TOPS Electricity book.

Using two batteries was even more impressive!

If there was going to be a science unit study I'd recommend, this would be near the top of my list. 

This TOPS book is well explained and lots of fun to do.

Until next time!

Catherine

June 21st Wrap Up - It's Officially Winter

Beautiful sunny days, but very cold cloudless nights; this is how our winter was heralded in this year.  The sunshine has lifted our spirits considerably, though.  We've found seats by sunny windows to perch ourselves during the day, then we snuggle up in dressing gowns and under quilts in the evening.

It felt like we slowed down a little this week, probably because the children worked a little more independent of me and I could potter around the house a bit more.  I've been organising bookshelves and preparing used books to sell on.

At home ...

Outside, in the garden, I've not worked at all this week.  I need to remedy that next week and get the staging shelves set up in the greenhouse so I can finally use it to start my greens.  Oh yes, and I need to order my asparagus plants!!

 It took two full days to get this kit greenhouse assembled.
Now the staging shelves need to be put up and we can use it!

Our hens are at the end of their moult and I'm really hoping they'll start laying again soon.  It's been tricky rationing eggs.  I know I needed to store up at least 4doz more than I had put away for this winter.

Socially speaking ...

The week started with a full day of dance competitions on Sunday.  Maestro was involved in four routines and Mariposa in one.  They didn't collect any firsts, but both received 2nd placings, and a 3rd.

Funny girl.  

New false eyelashes required for competition.

Mariposa has been the centre of attention regarding extra activities this week.  Her horseriding lesson went extremely well.  She was invited back to learn a few other horsecare skills on Thursday night, involving feeding and rugging up for colder nights.  Her teacher also asked if she'd like to come back and be a helper to beginner students during term break.  Of course, when asked to come and work with horses, Mariposa is most willing, so she's clocked up about 6 hrs at the riding school there this week.

Such a lovely sunny day for riding!

In our homeschool ...

Maths seemed to be one main focus this week.  Mariposa continued practicing her long division based on the strategy we set up last week. (I'm so glad she has that visual to help her.  It's made it so much easier!!)  Maestro is learning more about quadratic equations, working through Algebra 2.  The dvd episodes are a little longer in explanation, and I like to watch them with Maestro to make sure I understand the same method.

The other main focus has been our reading.  Maestro has finished off Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and has now gone straight on to read The Red Baron by Manfred Van Richtofen.    Mariposa is reading Black Beauty, with her read-aloud being Freedom Train.  I'm finding the latter quite interesting, especially as a book I'm reading, called The Runaway Quilt, is on a related topic.

Our science lessons have been most inconsistent this week.  Maestro's been working through his Chemistry book, learning about ionic and covalent compounds.  He didn't get to do his experiment this week, so we'll be doing that first thing next week.

Mariposa will begin working on her TOPS Electricity (Sonlight's Science E) module next week.  I had planned to start this week, but with her doing extra horseriding activities, we couldn't schedule enough time in.

Next week is actually our last week for the term, then we'll take a two week break.  The weather promises to be as sunny as it was this week gone, so that will be great to keep the motivation up and propel us into our break with enthusiasm to organise some things around the home (that being the gardening mainly).

Until next time!

Catherine

(The Late) Mar 8th Weekly Wrap Up

Hello again everyone!  Don't the days just go by so quickly when you're having fun, hey?!

We've had a long weekend with some fun pottering about and outings, so I got a little distracted from the blogging again, but I'm back now!  (smiles!)

Well .. we've been enjoying some of this extra warm weather that's been here in Melbourne for just over a week.  Today was just a bit too hot, though .. 37degC here.  Thankfully it's cooling off and only 30degC now (at 9:30pm).

We have a new arrival in the chicken run.  Little 'Freeman' hatched last Sunday.  Unfortunately not all the other little hatchlings made it, but we're still waiting on two more eggs ... so we'll see!

In our homeschool ...

We've had a few topics finishing off for both the children.  

In maths, Maestro began and completed the trigonometry part of his Geometry work, which has completed MUS Geometry.  The next level would be MUS Algebra II, but I'm thinking of first taking a slight diversion to reading String, Straight-edge, & Shadow: The Story of Geometry by Julia E.Diggins.  It will be a good break for Maestro on completion of Geometry, and also a nice book to share with Mariposa as she begins her geometry exercises in her Singapore Maths book after completing decimals (especially all those word problems!!)

In history, Mariposa is still slowly working her way through Carry On, Mr Bowditch with me.  We've had Papa join in with this and he's really enjoying the story.  We've had talk of acquiring a sextant .. but I'm not so sure about that one! :)
Maestro's been learning about the Agricultural and Industrial revolutions. He's starting Oliver Twist (and I think I'll have to download the unabridged version from Audible so I can catch up with him!)

An introduction to atoms and the periodic table started Maestro off into his science module last week. We've been playing with this site called 'Build an Atom', where we can test our understanding of how atoms work. (Yes, I'm relearning all this with him!)

This simple video from BrainPOP gives a summary on atomic structure with a quiz at the end.


Socially speaking ...

We've had another relatively quiet week, except for an outing on Sunday.  The children went to visit with friends whilst Papa and I took a trip into the city to preview a film called Performance.  I received the invitation   c/- the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which was lovely.   :)  This was a very moving film, and definitely one for those who enjoy the finer details of music, but more so about the dynamics of friendships in such a close knit group.  


That's about it for now.  I'll have some more to share at the end of this week, with another excursion lined up for Friday (yay!)

Until next time,

Catherine

Mar 1st Weekly Wrap Up

Autumn is definitely making it's appearance known.  Our car has had to go in for repairs, so on my walk back home I was enjoying the cooler morning, noticing the beginnings of leaf fall along the pavement.

Another sure sign of a change in the season is that the hens have begun their moulting. The chook run had a scattering of feathers everywhere the other day; it got me a little concerned hoping that a cat hadn't tried harassing the girls, but they were all safe and accounted for.   It's funny how both the black frizzles have started by losing their feathers under the chin first.

Moulting also means fewer eggs, so I'm going to start putting as many away as possible ready for winter.  Sorry neighbours, that's it for this season!

Let's take a quick look at what's happened this week.

In our homeschool ...

Maths for Maestro is a continuation of ways to prove triangles, and he'll finish this week's work with a review page of all that's been covered so far in this MUS Geometry book. Only a few more lessons and he'll have finished this book .. but that could take a couple of weeks still.  Mariposa's been practicing dividing decimals.  The use of large grid graph paper has been a wonderful help!

Our science lessons have revolved about safety and survival for Mariposa.  She's almost ready to read the first aid section, so I'm planning on pulling out some bandages so we can practice some simple techniques for making a sling and a splint.   Maestro's continued through with his early physics work and worked on friction.

We are reading Carry On Mr. Bowditch together, as well as completing the readers What's the Big Idea Ben Franklin and Phoebe the Spy with Mariposa.   Maestro's been learning about the Russian revolution, and has started reading The Trumpeter of Krakow which is set in Medieval Poland.

Mariposa has continued with her horseriding and is preparing for her Level 2 certificate now.  She's started learning about all the various horse colours, but after some discussion with the teacher, she now knows she needs to do a lot more research than she first thought.  A very creative picture presentation has begun.  I don't know if Mariposa's decided on making it into a poster or booklet yet, but I'm so glad she's just jumped right into this researching.  I've not had to give her any writing projects this week at all as this has been plenty for her to do.

Socially speaking ...

We've actually had a much quieter week!  No outings this week, except for those visits to nearby friends which the children have organised.  Eg: Mariposa's taking a walk with the dog with another homeschooler now and should be back by lunchtime.

A few friends have been discussing getting a girls sewing circle organised, so we're hoping to start that next term.  Meanwhile, I've scheduled an initial gathering for the middle of March where the girls can try out some flower arranging (similar to what I've done with Mariposa in 2011).  We just need to organise an alternative activity for the boys.

At home ...

Our broody hen we had back in December 2012 didn't end up hatching any eggs because they were 'duds'. She obviously wasn't happy about not having any little ones to raise as she's started sitting again.  I've ordered some incubated fertile eggs to pop under her, which Mum has graciously offered to bring over for me (thanks Mum!)  Once they arrive this afternoon, we'll put them under Miss Broody.  We should have chicks again soon!

The vegies are growing nicely in the pots too.  I went out and picked a nice bunch of silverbeet to cook up with some tomatoes for our breakfast.  Mmmm!

Also .. have to tell you quickly that we've started using water kefir!  It's been great for Mariposa's eczema.  I'll do a separate post on that soon as I've found out lots of information and had a month to try out favourite techniques.

I hope you all had a great week and have a lovely weekend.

Until next time,
Catherine

Dec 16 Weekly Wrap-up

How's your past week been?  Most homeschoolers here have been finishing up for the year, but we're going to push through a few more days next week before calling it quits for the Summer break.

In our homeschool ...

Maestro has made further roads into learning about physics.  He began working through Newton's laws and will continue to finish this module (10, from Apologia Physical Science) in the next week.

Mariposa's science has introduced her to nutritional labels.  Her interest in cooking will help encourage her through as we learn about reading the labels on foods, but she was rather overwhelmed with the terminology of carbohydrates, proteins and fats as each was broken down into different groups.

History is still taking us through the early American times.  We also found that our library stocked the Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman dvd series, so we've been watching some of those.  I think they'll tie in nicely to what we've been learning and the children can enjoy viewing some episodes during our break.

Maestro's been learning how to prove triangles in Geometry, while Mariposa learned a little about Pythagorus in Mathematicians are People Too.  I have a copy of What's the Angle Pythagorus, so we'll read that next week, along with some paper craft to make some 3D shapes.

Socially speaking ...

We had LOTS of things happening here this week!  As I mentioned in opening this post, many homeschoolers were finishing up at the end of this week, so we had a break up party at rollerblading on Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the week, Mariposa's friend came to stay the night, and then both girls went to horseriding on Tuesday morning.  We're going to have a repeat of that again next week.  It's been lovely to see their friendship developing and shared interests encouraged. :)

Maestro has also been planning his summer break outings with his friends.  I know one of the ideas on his list includes a trip to the cinema to see "The Hobbit" when it's released.

Then today we had a relaxing lunch with friends, with a pleasant visit to a park for a walk around the lake, play on the equipment and shooting a few basketball hoops.

At home ... 

Our back sliding door has arrived!  It was installed on Tuesday morning.  We need to stain it, but it was raining during the evenings this week and we haven't yet done it.  It's not going to be a big job, so should be finished during the week if the weather stays fine for a few days.  After that job's complete, we need to make the back steps, then the pergola can go up.

If you remember, we had to tighten our budget even further to help save up for this sliding door.  It's been going so well!  It's a bit of a pain having to write down absolutely EVERYTHING we spend and check against our weekly allowance, but the diligence is paying off.  I'm absolutely amazed at how well we can manage, and how creative we can be in the kitchen when we just have to make do.  The key has been that little envelope I keep in my purse, where I write down all the grocery spending for the week and only purchase within our limit.  We even had a couple of dollars spare this week!

We also have a broody hen; the first one for this season.  We were kindly given a dozen fertile eggs (from the horseriding instructor), so we've put eight in the nest.  We daren't put all of them under the hen as they'll be too many and we'll probably have breakages.  But we're excited! New chicks are a possibility in early January.

AND .. we found that a little nest has been occupied by a thrush.  She's been there before in October, when we first spotted her flying in to the tree to feed her three chicks. They were already quite grown when we discovered them the first time.  Mama thrush is obviously comfortable there, so has gone back for a second clutch this year.  No photos of her now, as she's nestled down tight, but we'll keep a careful eye out without disturbing her too much.  Here's a photo of October's chicks, only a couple of days before they flew the nest.

I hope you all have a great week this week!!

Until next post,

Catherine

Read more Weekly Wrap-Ups at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
and It's a Wrap at Hammock Tracks

Newton's First Law

Maestro has just started learning about Isaac Newton. Yes, we're really into early physics now!  This is where I think I was going to start panicking about teaching a teen (I don't remember the little physics I did in High School too well). However, I plan on keeping my cool and learning along side him, which means having fun looking for online links.

picture from here

Today was about Newton's first law, also known as the "Law of Inertia". I found a great support site to help us with the information: The Physics Classroom.  There are some basic animations there which help demonstrate the concept really well.

Apologia's experiment in Physical Science is with a coin balanced on an index card, which is all placed over a glass, is very similar to this fun demonstration on You Tube.  Here's one experiment you CAN try at home! :)

AND ... (just editing this in 14/12/12) ... I just came across this fabulous site which has HEAPS of science demos: Steve Spangler Science. Have a look at this fabulous demonstration of Newton's First Law with raw eggs going into a glass of water:

We'll be reading some more about Isaac Newton on this biography from Michael Fowler.  This will give some background and whole lot more scope to what Maestro's studying now.  At this stage, I don't have a book to share, but will probably be checking for some on our next library trip.

Here is another really well put video on inertia:

Should be spelt "Centripetal Force".

And for those who enjoy learning their facts through song {grin!} you can learn this song: "Newtons Laws" to the tune of Feniculi, Fenicula by Luigi Denza. (I don't think Maestro will be too keen hearing this version, but it'll certainly help ME!  I'll just make sure I start learning it and singing it whilst he's around.)

Until next post!

Catherine

Dissection: joints, tendons and muscle

Our biology lessons turned into a practical in the kitchen today.  We've been using the Sonlight Science F books to learn about how our bodies work, and we've especially been enjoying the experiments set out in the book Blood and Guts by Linda Allison.

I set both children up to do this, even though Maestro had done this before.  If you have an older homeschooler, then it's a great way for them to share their knowledge and test if they do remember what they've learned a few years before.

To start with, take the thigh and leg (Maryland cut) from the chicken.  Notice the feather bumps on the skin.

Carefully pull off the skin, and you can see the underlayer with fat and capillaries.  There is also some thin connective tissue.

We flexed the leg to notice how the muscles contracted and relaxed, then found where the tendons connect the muscle to the bone.  The ligaments are the pearly white sheets surrounding the muscles.

Next, the children very carefully cut between the thigh and drumstick.  There were a few 'eeww's from Mariposa when hers made a loud 'click' and squelch sound.

Maestro shows the joint exposed, but not yet fully separated:

Finally separated:

Here's the book to show you what we followed for instructions.  This has been a great book for simple explanations and fun experiments which can be done at home.

The experiment over, the children washed up thoroughly and we then turned those chicken pieces into a delicious crockpot curry.


Until next post!

Catherine

Quince results

Well, I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that the quince has cooked up beautifully and tastes wonderful. ( ** I added the juice of 1 lemon after a taste test a couple of hours after cooking. It needed some sourness added as it was too sweet.) We tried it out after 8hrs of cooking in the crockpot and found it was a lovely ruby red, but more like jam than the thick texture to put into molds for 'cheese' (or quince paste, as it's sometimes called).  So, some of it was taken out and put into some jars before turning the crockpot back on the try and get a thicker consistency.

The bad news is that the remaining quince jam still didn't get thick enough.  In fact, I had to turn it off as I was getting very concerned that it would develop a burnt taste.  I've ended up with a thicker version of the jam with a stronger flavour, which is still edible; I just didn't get to the really thick stage.

Here you can clearly see the difference:

On the left, the thinner 'jam',

and the thicker result on the right 

... which the children have already been

enjoying with cheese & crackers!

Maybe next time I'll just try making this in a regular stove-top saucepan.  An open saucepan and a higher constant temperature may remove more of the moisture, giving me a thicker consistency.

*   *   *   *   *

Whilst I was experimenting with this interesting fruit, Mariposa was working on her science experiment.  She has been learning about the digestive system, using Sonlight Science 5.

Here Mariposa has been seeing the effect of detergent (the emulsifier) on oil and water.  It was set up to show how bile breaks up fat molecules as food passes into the small intestine.

Of course .. who can resist the urge to make bubbles afterwards!

Thank you for dropping by!

Brrr! I'm waiting for the Solstice so we can warm up again!

Cold temperatures outdoors, and now the Winter Solstice is here. Actually, it's the solstice at precisely 9:09am this morning!

We may be 'turning the corner' and heading toward warmth, but we still have our coldest month, July, to enjoy first.  We experience a seasonal 'lag' because it takes time for the Earth's land and oceans to absorb and then release the Sun's energy.  

Our house front faces south and the shadows have grown over 1/3 of our front yard, as they usually do during the approach of Winter.  We don't have a sundial to check how the sun 'stands still', which is where the name Solstice comes from (Latin: "sol" = sun, "sistere" = to cause to stand still).  These shadows do, however, clearly give us a good indication.

picture courtesy of Wikipedia

I've found myself already pulling more gardening books from the library shelves, getting some inspiration to get more of the planning done for our Spring plantings.  We definitely need more strawberry plants to get started.  Those put in by Mariposa last year were nowhere near enough for what the children like to consume.  Actually, my Dad had a great setup with his strawberries last year: all in pots and a netted frame around them to keep the birds away.  It was a very simple setup, so we're going to have a go at doing that this year.

Meanwhile, my garden is quite dormant.  We have kale growing, self-sown silverbeet, some potatoes still in, and a little parsley. Lemons are in good supply on the trees, also. I'm very grateful for the supply of fresh produce I'm now receiving from the local Organic Co-op.  A huge box of selected fruit and vegetables come in every week.  My first order arrived last week, and I'll pick up my second later today!

I'm in the process of making a list of some local winter activities we can be involved in.  Staying home on bleak days is not anyone's idea of fun.  Usually we have dance competitions for most of the winter break, but this year they are spread over several weekends (the first was last Sunday).  

Here are a few ideas we've already listed:

- learning to play inline hockey at the nearest roller rink. Going to the rink is already a regular activity, but the owner is willing to show us how to play properly! 

- Maestro's learnt of a teen gathering at IMAX, as well as the Short Film Festival he's recently entered.

- if we visit my Mother-in-law, we may also organise a trip to visit the State Coal Mine whilst over that side of Victoria.
- a visit to a cheesemaking factory which isn't too far from us.  We hope to go there with some friends on a tour, but if we're short on numbers we'll just go for a tasting treat!  (I'm told they sell organic milk, too!)

...but mostly, I want to put to prune some trees and clean out a few garden beds to get ready for Spring.  Yes, it's three months away, but I know how quickly they can go!

Interesting sites to check out regarding the solstices and equinoxes:

Museum Victoria

Bereau of Meterology

Sydney Observatory

National Geographic

Enchanted Learning

Keep warm everyone.

Thank you for dropping by!

More Marine Discovering

Our recent interest in marine biology roused me to make enquiries for a few more
excursions at the beach before Summer's over.

We had completed an outing at the Dolphin Research Institute last year, and early this year we joined up with a small group to visit the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff. The planned activity was to go snorkelling, but with rough weather coming in, snorkelling wasn't going to be safe. 

 Instead, we enjoyed a session at the centre, where all the children could participate in 

feeding the marine life. Then, we headed to the beach for a beach combing session. 

 Here's a summary of our day:

Two volunteers fed these fish.  One dropped food in for the fast swimmers,

whilst the other made sure the slower swimmers got their share

A discussion of shellfish and their exoskeletons.

This was a lobster's exoskeleton, showing where it 

emerged from the centre of it's underside.

A taxidermied exoskeleton of a puffer fish.

This one had died whilst in fright.

The seahorses literally 'snapping' up the brine shrimp.

(Apologies for the exposure problem!)

 Then it was Mariposa's turn. 

She firmly held onto a prawn while the puffer fish came to feed from her hand.

With the puffer fish fed, it was safe enough to feed 

the abalone their sea lettuce.

Finding their mouths required lots of calling out from the viewing side:

"left" "your left!"

"down" "now right" ... 

This was made even funnier when one didn't want to eat!

I wasn't quick enough to photograph this starfish eating

before it was place back in the pool right side up,

but we did see it's stomach come out of the body and 

grab the food it was handed.

Once on the beach, we found lots of interesting things washed up.  

This was actually helped by the fact that the sea was quite rough.

Herbivorous sea snail

... there were a few of these found.

Sea urchin exoskeleton, with most of the spines already fallen off.

Cute little periwinkles.

If your hands were damp, they'd come out of their shells.

The staff were wonderful and kept the children's interest all day.

We're looking forward to a time when we can come back and try out snorkelling

... weather permitting. :)

Thank you for dropping by!