The days are finally getting cooler – I hope your school year has been great so far!
The book Chemistry on a Budget contains inexpensive chemistry labs that are useful with easy to obtain materials.
The early labs include the 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.
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.
You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. It will take 1-2 weeks to get to you -- Order Now. It’s a great resource!
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
*Some of you have already purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !
Past blog posts that may be useful right now include:
09/19/2014 Element Symbols & Intro to
Chemical Language
10/08/2014 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
03/05/2014 Heat and Energy
03/02/2014 Heating and Cooling Curves
Over the past few years, there have been various water safety concerns that have been highlighted in this blog. These include:
07/15/2015 Abandoned Mines
08/13/2015 Colorado Mine Accident
10/08/2015 Current Event - Contaminated Drinking
Water
11/13/2015 Sewage in Lake Champlain
12/17/2015 Current Event -- Lead Poisoning
01/13/2016 Doce River Mine Accident (Brazil)
03/19/2016 Microplastic Polluting Our Oceans
Recently, after the news reporting of the lead-contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan, there has been the same issue discovered in Portland, Oregon schools and other U.S. schools.
From a June, 2016 L.A. Times article, “[a]…USA Today analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data found almost 350 schools and day-care centers failed lead tests 470 times from 2012 through 2015. All tested above the EPA’s lead “action level” of 15 parts per billion. One Maine elementary school came in 41 times higher.
If the action level for lead is exceeded, the EPA says, extra measures must be taken to control corrosion. Children are at particular risk for lead exposure to their central nervous system and have “no safe blood lead level,” the agency says. Exposure can result in reduced IQ and attention spans, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, behavioral problems and impaired growth.”
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-portland-water-20160613-snap-story.html
Here is a PBS Newshour report about lead contamination in school drinking water from 4/16/2016:
The book Chemistry on a Budget contains inexpensive chemistry labs that are useful with easy to obtain materials.
The early labs include the 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.
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.
You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com. It will take 1-2 weeks to get to you -- Order Now. It’s a great resource!
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
*Some of you have already purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !
Past blog posts that may be useful right now include:
09/19/2014 Element Symbols & Intro to
Chemical Language
10/08/2014 Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
03/05/2014 Heat and Energy
03/02/2014 Heating and Cooling Curves
Over the past few years, there have been various water safety concerns that have been highlighted in this blog. These include:
07/15/2015 Abandoned Mines
08/13/2015 Colorado Mine Accident
10/08/2015 Current Event - Contaminated Drinking
Water
11/13/2015 Sewage in Lake Champlain
12/17/2015 Current Event -- Lead Poisoning
01/13/2016 Doce River Mine Accident (Brazil)
03/19/2016 Microplastic Polluting Our Oceans
Recently, after the news reporting of the lead-contaminated drinking water in Flint, Michigan, there has been the same issue discovered in Portland, Oregon schools and other U.S. schools.
From a June, 2016 L.A. Times article, “[a]…USA Today analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data found almost 350 schools and day-care centers failed lead tests 470 times from 2012 through 2015. All tested above the EPA’s lead “action level” of 15 parts per billion. One Maine elementary school came in 41 times higher.
If the action level for lead is exceeded, the EPA says, extra measures must be taken to control corrosion. Children are at particular risk for lead exposure to their central nervous system and have “no safe blood lead level,” the agency says. Exposure can result in reduced IQ and attention spans, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, behavioral problems and impaired growth.”
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-portland-water-20160613-snap-story.html
Here is a PBS Newshour report about lead contamination in school drinking water from 4/16/2016:
The EPA estimates that about 90,000 public schools and half a million child-care facilities are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act because they depend on water sources such as municipal utilities expected to test their own water. That means parents have no assurance lead isn't seeping into children's water from a school building’s pipes, solder or fixtures.
In fact, many schools that have tested for lead voluntarily have found it, hinting at the true scope of the problem.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/03/17/drinking-water-lead-schools-day-cares/81220916/
Here is an EPA link that provides the drinking water requirements for states and public water systems (in the left margin:
https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities
Another EPA web-page the provides information regarding various water safety issues:
https://www.epa.gov/science-and-technology/water-science
Currently, with the great concern of parents, many school districts are posting the water testing schedule and results online.
Why is water so important? Some past blog posts include:
03/12/2014 Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
03/16/2014 Dipole-dipole forces, etc.
03/19/2014 Properties of Solutions
An interesting project for your classes is investigate this concern about lead levels in your own schools, to investigate the current testing in your school’s water, or test your own school’s lead levels in the water.
*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.
Have a great weekend!
In fact, many schools that have tested for lead voluntarily have found it, hinting at the true scope of the problem.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/03/17/drinking-water-lead-schools-day-cares/81220916/
Here is an EPA link that provides the drinking water requirements for states and public water systems (in the left margin:
https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-facilities
Another EPA web-page the provides information regarding various water safety issues:
https://www.epa.gov/science-and-technology/water-science
Currently, with the great concern of parents, many school districts are posting the water testing schedule and results online.
Why is water so important? Some past blog posts include:
03/12/2014 Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
03/16/2014 Dipole-dipole forces, etc.
03/19/2014 Properties of Solutions
An interesting project for your classes is investigate this concern about lead levels in your own schools, to investigate the current testing in your school’s water, or test your own school’s lead levels in the water.
*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.
Have a great weekend!
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