Periodic Table - Grade 9 BC Science

One of my amazing students managed to stick with our lessons on the Periodic Table of Elements and we both learned a lot in the process! Here are some of the things that we did:

1. Watched videos from the Ted-Ed Periodic Table and each lesson we were together three were chosen and reported on: Including what the uses of the element are, interesting facts and where it fell in the periodic table.

2. Each week we used the element cards from Quick Six to learn more about the elements. What type of element they were, some of the uses and interesting facts. Thank you to Ellen McHenry for the amazing resources you share!

3. We then had a poster-sized Periodic Table of Elements on the wall and were able to create our own colour coded table with the Quick Six element cards. 

4. Finally, we did this puzzle to once again solidify the learning of the types of elements. 

Despite the sheer volume of elements, this whole unit wasn't as onerous as one might think. The facts about the elements made it interesting and engaging. 

I hope you enjoy your own study of the Periodic Table! 

Blessings, Natalie

Chemistry and Chemical Bonding Fun!

First I had Elizabeth watch several videos from Actions and Reactions on Ted Ed, including this one.

I then had Elizabeth make a variety of chemical formulas with different coloured marshmallows and toothpicks. She started out with easier molecules and then worked up to more complicated ones. This was an excellent visual for how elements bond together! 

This brought a great discussion about the infinite amount of combinations of elements there were and how God could create such variety in life!

We also discussed covelant bonding and ionic bonding and I had Elizabeth draw them both out just to solidify the concepts.
This was a great hands on lesson! Blessings, Natalie

Hunting the Elements - Chemistry for Grade 9

I am going to catch up on some Science posts that have been waiting in the wings...

We started the fall working on Chemistry. As our constant Elizabeth continues to work through BC Science and then we supplement with a variety of activities.

For this unit Elizabeth worked on the Hunting the Elements App. This free Ipad app has a variety of videos as well as exercises in building elements from the number of Protons, Neutrons and Electrons. Elizabeth went through the Periodic Table building the elements. The video clips helped us to understand more about the element itself - things like what it is used for, where it lays in the Periodic table and how it reacts to other elements or things like heat or cold.

There are several resources on the website for your use. We went over the different forms of elements.  I ran off two periodic tables and then cut one up and had Elizabeth build the table based on the completed one. I also had her use the colouring page Periodic table and colour it. 

This was a great addition to our Chemistry study! 

Diabolical Chemical Pursuits!

This month we have started the hands-on portion of our chemistry unit. We have invited a friend of “Little One’s” along to join us in our diabolical chemical pursuits! 

I started by taking a look at the Teams Chemistry Unit in Discovery Education (you will need a subscription to Discovery Education). Though it is definitely “old school” I really like the way that it breaks down the steps of each experiment, tells the student where to pause the video and go and do it on their own. When the teacher is leading, he gives the student all of the information as he is showing the students the techniques and outcomes of the experiments.

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 01: Observing Matter and Changes

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 02: Properties of Matter

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 03: Mixtures and Solutions

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 04: Chemical and Physical Change

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 05: Rates of Change

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 06: Vitamin C Testing

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 07: Density

(Full Video)

TEAMS: Chemistry: Part 08: Concept Using and Assessment

(Full Video)

There is a PDF that goes along with each lesson with all of the materials that you will need as well as the student worksheets and lesson plans.

Back in the summer I asked other home educators in our area if anyone would like to partner with us in sharing the chemicals for the experiments in these units. Two other families were willing and so I made a list and ordered the chemicals from New Horizons Scientific. They were very helpful as some of the names weren’t the same but they knew the chemicals that we would need. I have included the list as a here as a jpeg so that you can quickly save it if you would like to do this unit. It ended up costing a little over $20.00 per family. 

Some of the other supplies needed are household items like baking soda, cornstarch, vinegar, sugar, fruit juices, steel wool, food colouring, bleach etc. One of the other families is just wrapping this Chemistry unit up. Both of our children have completed the Adaptive Curriculum Unit on Chemistry, have done the Discovery Education Teams Chemistry and are planning to give our children some exposure to the Periodic Table. I was thinking about having little one do this project and see some videos from this site. I was also thinking that this activity would be worthwhile.

Well, I hope that this will encourage you as you enter the world of Chemistry!!

Blessings!