Writing Ideas- Women in Chemistry: Kudos to Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

 Eight exclusive web videos 
celebrating the contributions of 
extraordinary chemists:

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
supports the Chemical Heritage Foundation's
Women in Chemistry series.

Source:  http://www.sloan.org/.  Accessed 25 Oct 2012

Here's the link:
http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/women-in-chemistry/

Thank you to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for supporting this educational chemistry series.

Have students write what they think chemists do, what kinds of careers they have, and have them name a chemist or two, or, tell who (what kind of person) is likely to become a chemist.  Then, watch the videos. Not all at once, but, over time.  After the videos, ask the students to write about the same points that they did before seeing the videos.  Bring out the first essays.  Have the students compare and contrast their before and after essays.  Feel free to post the essays here or to have the students write to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation or the Chemical Heritage Foundation or both.

(c) 2012 J S Shipman

Learn STEM with MIT

http://k12videos.mit.edu/content/the-colorful-chemistry-of-acids-and-bases
http://k12videos.mit.edu/

Sample Video on Acids and Bases click the links

THE COLORFUL CHEMISTRY
OF ACIDS
AND BASES   

http://k12videos.mit.edu/content/the-colorful-chemistry-of-acids-and-bases

Chemistry of Plastics Game from Nobelprize.org

http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/chemistry/plastics/game/index.html

About.com Chemistry Link

http://chemistry.about.com/od/generalchemistry/u/basics.htm

Help improve Science a Text Book

If you don't like science or if you do, you can write and be considered for publication in a WeBooks science book. You can join if you are interested in improving science education. You can join in if you home school, or go to a public or private school. You may write in any language as long as you include an English translation. You must be of legal age to submit work, however, a parent or guardian may submit for those under age. The entries will be edited prior to publication in a text. In a way, this is global, "brainstorming," for a new book. Your participation is welcome. What you post may also guide the development of interactive technology and laboratory exercises for science classes. Please do join in and improve science literacy.
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Metal [and other] molecules main concept of Paris Festival in November

Science Days this November (2008) will feature ideas about metals. Check the link here for more information: http://www.fetedelascience.fr/

For example, "Organometallic chemistry of transition metal used for life sciences," might sound like a mouthful, but researchers will be on hand to explain it, in terms simple or complex, depending on the needs of the listener. The École nationale superieure de chimie de Paris's Laboratoire de Chimie et biochimie des complexes moléculaires:, http://www.enscp.fr/spip.php?article96, will present ideas from their research.

However, such complicated ideas of complex molecules will be presented in an easily understandable format and with enjoyable family activities, for all ages, as found on the festival's program including:

1. cuisine[ cuisine],
   
2. molécules en bonbon [molecules of candy],
   
3. secrets de chefs [chefs' secrets] ...),
4. alliage à mémoire de forme [Shape memory of alloys],
   
5. piles à combustibles [combustible batteries],
   
6. corrosion [corrosion, rust]...
7. une exposition présentera quelques grands chercheurs européens. [An exposition of presentations of some great European researchers]
8. des animations pour les jeunes : [cartoons(?) for youth]
   
9. un coin pour les enfants, [infants' corner]
   
10. de la magie, [magic]
    
11. des jeux sur les couleurs [a game of colors]…

So if you are in Paris, or near by, for

Fête de la Science, samedi 22 et dimanche 23 novembre 2008

don't miss this exciting science festival.

Differentiating "Primary Sources" from "Stories about Science"

Here's a link to an article on fat genes.

Can you tell if it is a "primary source" or not?

Who did the research? Did the person or people who did the research write this article?

How can you find primary source articles?

Where can you find them?

What format do they typically follow?

Is any of your work generating primary source information? Which work?

(c) 2008 J S Shipman

Science Meeting Link

Here is a link to science meeting software. You may find it useful. I haven't had a chance to try it yet, so, if you are familiar with it, please leave a comment. Perhaps it is useful for arranging a science fair, or, keeping track of references for your research.

Thank you for any evaluations.

http://www.labmeeting.com/signin

Teaching Science? Where does your school stand?

Here's a video done by children for adults:

So, what can you do about it?
Teachers, please note, you can teach science and math at the same time, or, science and literature at the same time., or, science and history at the same time. You can teach science on the playground or when you go for a walk.

There are grants you can get to get equipment for your school.

Parents, please note, you can have an after school homework club where a group of kids are supervised by one or two different parents every day. You can check your child's homework. You can volunteer at school. You can take your children to museums, botanic gardens, zoological gardens and observatories. You can go for a walk at a national park. You can volunteer at school. You can talk with your chil and his or her teacher(s).

Youth, you can study. You can find something you are interested in and study science standards through that subject area.

You can all write to your polititions.

You can use resources in the left hand column of this blog.

Higher Order Thinking Workshop a Success

If you are a school teacher or are concerned at all about science education and you were near Vancouver, I hope you attended. Dr. J S. Shipman led a dynamic group of scientists and educators through activities leading to exciting science lessons...Lessons where students learn, under guidance, how to direct there own science learning. Why is that so important? Because during your lifetime, the world changes and keeping up with new developments in science, or even finding them yourself, can lead to your survival.
. . . TM
An updated version of Bloom's Taxonomy applied in a new way, the H.O.T. Skills Wheel is key to building student confidence in their own ability to think deeply about and be creative in sciences like botany and ecology.
. . . TM
Trying Shipman's H.O.T. Skills Wheel will lead to independent learners who can become great global citizens. Read more here. Contact Dr. Shipman through the, "Read more here," link and then clicking Dr. J's name at that link if you would like to find out more. You can send an e-mail.

Via the internet, participants were also able to connect with the ideas of Dr. Suzanne Kapelari. They had opportunities to try out Plants Cafe, too.

Computers, Proteins, Enzymes, Cheese

Computers, Proteins, Enzymes, Cheese
Watch this video, if you please.



Compare and contrast this video to the one posted yesterday. You might want to use a Venn diagram and write an essay on the comparison and contrast.

Cornstarch and Water Mixture

Water molecules go in between the starch molecules....
Vocabulary: colloid(s); suspension(s); solution(s); matter; molecules


Spangler does the "walk" across a cornstarch mixture tub on Ellen!
(Ellen Degeneres, February 13, 2008)

He tries to talk Ellen into it, but, a member of the audience does it instead...Ashley from LA.

Advice: Go fast. If not, you sink. (Spangler shows how!)

Ashley goes back and forth... She has fun and doesn't sink.

It's a lot of cornstarch!

So, what is the science?

Other "Cornstarch Science"



http://www.kidzone.ws/science/cornstarch.htm


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More Non-Newtonian Fluid Information:

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http://60secondscience.org/activities/cornstarchAndWater.html
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A related journal article:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V8Y-3WRBNP8-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=4313de27416a85d7f1143328ba3abab0
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Relate this "Cornstarch Science" to the Science Standards---Lesson Plan: www.nbtc.cornell.edu/education/kitlib/getlessonplan.php?id=51

"Cornstarch Science" teaches about nanotechnology!!!
www.bowlesphysics.com/nano/Nanotechnology.ppt
Note: Some of the videos have spelling errors. Did you catch them? Try to catch errors by proof reading whenever you do any work.

Alchemy, revisited

Alchemy is a pseudoscience that contributed to the development of the science of chemistry. Alchemy talks about creating gold. A newspaper article in the New York Times talks about making other metals look like gold by pitting their surfaces. Similarly, gold can be made to look black. Can you see an application for this science which falls into the realm of surface chemistry? Well, jewelry manufactures are very excited about it. Can you speculate as to why?

Write an essay comparing and contrasting alchemy and chemistry. Then, discuss ideas you find in the newspaper article telling what you think about them. Be sure to cite ideas from the paper. But, also include your opinions about the article and whether you think it is alchemy or chemistry.

Suggest a product you think would be made from the "new" gold. Then, summarize your essay and make a conclusion. Draw pictures if you like. A parent, guardian or teacher can post your essay in the comments, or post a link to it. Have fun writing!

Action Science

Have you thought of scientists in action? Here's a link to show that action:
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/scientists/

Gifted and Talented Connections:

1. Talent Search
   
2. Center for Talented Youth
   
3. Connections Academy
   
4. Graduate Certifications
   
5. No Child Left Behind
6. Verbally Gifted Youth

Things to think about...
All children, including gifted and talented, deserve education at their level. Please encourage legislators to treat all children equally. Gifted children need study skills and other skills, as do children of all abilities.

For example, a gifted fifth grader in math, should not have to wait to do fifth grade (or higher) math until classmates learn to count to 500. (This and similar events happened frequently in this (and many)students case(s).)

A gifted child shouldn't have to perpetually teach other children in his/her class that are behind, rather than being taught...parents' taxes are being paid to have teachers teach. On occasion gifted children can teach others. But, all children can have that experience. Each child has some talent. Why then do these tutorials happen in one direction, so often?

(c)2007 JSS used by read-about-it.blogspot.com with permission of the author.

You are What You Eat

Here's a great link (Your taxes paid for it!) to help you understand nutrients found in foods.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=9673

Another link you might find interesting shows how to prevent many birth defects.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/folicacid.html

Are you an inventor?

If you are an inventor, or want to become one, recordkeeping is important. Check out this website on logbooks for inventors:

http://inventors.about.com/cs/logbook/ht/Log_book.htm

From Tesselation and Fractals to Stretch Reading in Science

Here's a playful way to learn some advanced math that applies to science. Enjoy! http://wchow.home.znet.com/koch.htm

Here's a link to a pineapple fractal...Fractals are found in nature. This link goes to a photo taken by Dr. Ron Hurov who works in the botany of commercial pineapple production. http://www.geocities.com/wenjin92014/botany/pineapple.htm

One of Ron Hurov's papers is at this link. You can try reading scholarly works in botany and other fields as part of "stretch reading."

"Stretch Reading," invented by Dr. J, is needed in the sciences where vocabulary words are developed every day as we discover new things. First, just skim the paper and look at the graphs and pictures. Then, circle any words (on a photocopy) or list words in your notebook that you don't know. Now, just try to get the gist of the article in one sentence. This might be as simple as, "The article is about pineapples, whatever they are." As you look at more and more articles, you will find yourself more able to understand them. Do not worry about understanding when you first start. Even medical doctors and PhDs need to learn new words and especially if they switch their area of reading a bit. For example a biopsychologist may have to learn new jargon to read electrophysiology papers. So don't worry, even if every other word is one you don't know. You are getting yourself comfortable with the unknown. You are stretch reading. (More on that later.) When there is something that interests you enough, I have no doubt you will attack it to the point you understand it. And, you won't be afraid to tackle it. You might also like: Reading Science.

(c)2007 J. S. Shipman

Biotech for K-12: Insulin

On-line study of insulin
Animated U-tube Movie on insulin

Went through 80 loaves of bread brands...

To find bread without high fructose corn syrup. Please read the following article, submitted by a reader. Thanks for the post.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/341888_fructose01web.html