The First Days of School

As we approach Labor Day, you may be enjoying the last few days of summer vacation, but you might also be going by your school and thinking about the first few weeks.  The book Chemistry on a Budget contains inexpensive chemistry labs that are useful, especially at the beginning of the school year
 
The early labs include topics of Significant Figures, Density (3 labs), the Separation of a Mixture (including coverage of Percent Composition), and Liquid Chromatography.  These are safe labs that cover essential information, giving you time to emphasize Lab Safety and get Lab Safety Contracts signed.
 
You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. It will take 1-2 weeks to get to you, so Order Now and you’ll have time with it and decide how to incorporate the labs into your class activities.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html
 
There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout. 
 
*Some of you have already purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !
 
Here’s a list of past blog posts that may be useful as you prepare for a new school year.  They are grouped in various topic “themes”:
 
Classroom:
07/06/2014              Decorating Your Classroom
07/27/2014              Classroom Ideas –Daily
                                   Announcements and Teacher
                                      Websites
07/20/2014              Classroom Grading Programs

Beginning Activities:
08/10/2014              Lab – Reaction in a Bag
07/13/2014              Chemistry Laboratory Safety
06/22/2014              Scientist Research


Course Organization:
08/27/2015             Outlines for Student Notes
10/15/2014             Unit Objectives
 
These entries may provide ideas and resources to help your beginning days.  It’s an important time to set the tone and expectations for your classroom. 
 
You may have heard the phrase, “Don’t smile before Thanksgiving.”  Think ENTROPY – you start controlled and establish your classroom routine because it will only loosen up as the school year goes by.  It’s very difficult to start “loose” and later try to get “strict” when your classroom is not as controlled as you like.  Don’t make that rookie mistake!
 
If you are new to a school, your students might not appreciate that you’re not the beloved teacher that has been there 25 years – stick to your style and work through.  You’ll be OK!

Talk to your fellow teachers.  Find out how they start the year, if there is a common lab experience or movie.   Share with them what you plan to start with -- you're bringing in new ideas as well!
 
I have listed links to various chemistry classroom ideas in the Teaching Resources of this blog.  Check them out!
 
Here is a song showing the various chemicals in various locations:
​

You might want to have the students try to list at least five chemicals mentioned in the song, gather the list as a class, write the chemical formulas.

​I noticed that some ionic compounds are shown in molecular model form – sort of cringed at that – it is your discretion if you want to point it out or not.
 
I will resume discussing current science topics in the next blog post.
 
*This Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom.  Check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.
 
Also, Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.
 
Remember, buying a copy of the lab book Chemistry on a Budget can be very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.

Good luck with preparing for the 2016-17 school year!