Posted by Cindy on February 5, 2009
Okay, I have to admit up front that Christian Kids Explore Chemistry
is getting tough for this ol’ momma who realized early on that she was never meant to be a chemist in life. Seriously, what I’m teaching the kids now are things I learned in high school! Lucky for me, the book is walking us through each of the concepts slowly and in fairly kid-friendly terms. Unfortunately, though, I’m finding that I’d really appreciate an answer key for the daily lessons now.
Chemical Reaction – Acid on Copper
Reversing the Chemical Reaction of Acid on Copper
Mahayla is doing well. She will have a great base of understanding when high school chemistry rolls around. Caleb, is doing well, too, for a third grader. Unfortunately, though, much of the content is now making his eyes glaze over. On the positive side, he’s still very much up for the experiments.
Chemical Reaction – Acid on Calcium Carbonate
Before
After
Like I mentioned in another post, we will definitely have to review the concepts from this book once we finish by completing simple experiments from a book like Kitchen Chemistry
. There’s just too much information to soak into little brains.
Posted by Cindy on November 12, 2008
It just so happens that we’re studying chemistry this year AND the Living Arts and Science Center has a special exhibit open called Invisible World: The Beauty of Microscopic Life. Perfect!
Observing prepared slides of all sorts.
Completing a scavenger hunt of the hands-on exhibits.
Making our own pond water slides for the microscope.
Guessing what items are magnified.
Do I look any bigger to you?
Magnifying letters using various unconventional tools.
Fingerprinting with pencil lead and tape in order to observe the prints under hand-held microscopes.
We visit the LASC every year. They do a wonderful job with hands-on learning!
Posted by Cindy on October 30, 2008
I promised to show you some of the fun things we’re doing as we go through Christian Kids Explore Chemistry. I can’t brag enough about this curriculum so far. I don’t typically follow any curriculum to a “T” – but this one I am. It is teaching my children things that I didn’t learn until high school in very understandable terms. How many third graders do you know who can tell you all the parts to an atom and make a labeled model? It makes me smile!
Lithium model
Labeled carbon atom
Hydrogen and Carbon atom cookies
Posted by Cindy on October 9, 2008
I don’t think I’ve mentioned how much we’re enjoying chemistry this year. We follow The Well Trained Mind’s recommendation of four-year science and history cycles. This year’s science cycle is chemistry. The word “chemistry” can certainly be intimidating, but choosing good materials and being sure to have f-u-n is making chemistry turn into nothing more than pure joy this year.
We’ve just finished Unit 1 from Christian Kids Explore Chemistry. I’ve waited to say much about it because I really wanted to be sure it was working before I made any comments. I’m so glad to report that it is working! After one unit (five lessons, I think) my children have already been introduced to some very big concepts (biochemistry, elements, mixtures, compounds, periodic table) AND they are understanding it! The book seems to move slowly, but I’m finding out that it’s very deliberate – to concrete the concepts before moving on. And concrete it has – both of my big kids scored 100% on their unit test. 
)
My children like experiments that “wow” them. Christian Kids Explore Chemistry hasn’t quite done that – yet anyway. So I’ve got a few books around the house with easy chemistry experiments for them to try on their own. Solids, Liquids and Gases, Science in a Bottle, and Chemistry for Every Kid.
When we’re finished with Christian Kids Explore Chemistry. I plan to review several of the ideas using Kitchen Chemisty. It’s full of simple and fun experiments that cover similar topics we will have learned through the year.
Earlier this week, we completed a periodic table scavenger hunt created by Makita. The purpose was to help my children become familiar with the elements and their symbols – and what a fun way to do it. Thanks, Makita!
Now that I know I really like what we’re doing for chemistry, I’ll try to share more of our activities. I think we’re making protons during the next lesson!
Posted by Cindy on September 22, 2008
For those of you who know Melissa from blogging, consider yourselves blessed. But, if you’re lucky enough to know her in person, how much more blessed you are! It was such a treat to spend time with her last week. Not only that, she took on all three of my children while I spoke at the THINK meeting AND hosted us overnight so we didn’t have to drive home late. Thank you, Melissa. I know I owe you one for sure! (Toddlers who know how to escape out of the house are so much fun, aren’t they??)
On our way home from Melissa’s Wednesday morning, I spied a sign for Big Bone Lick State Park. It had been so long since we’d been there, I decided to take an impromtu field trip. This is a place where bison, mastadons, wooly mammoths and the like came for salt many years ago. Of course, that means Native Americans and explorers found their way to the area as well. We even found (and smelled) a sulphur water spring that became a supposed “healing water” hot spot in the early 1800′s. If you can’t tell, the water is almost a creamy white coming out of the spring.
Answers in Genesis has really helped me to be prepared to speak to my children about ”millions of years” when we’re at a place like Big Bone. Nearly everything we read talked about the animals roaming the land 300 million years ago, when SO MUCH proof was right in front of our eyes that pointed to a world-wide flood. Imagine, they found fossils of sea-like creatures smack-dab in the middle of Kentucky?? Imagine, large deposits of salt were found in Kentucky?? I’m so proud that my children can point out the obvious. They do listen to me!
Notice the tape measure in the two pictures above. Caleb just happened to bring along a tape measure and binoculars on our trip. When I asked him why in the world he would have packed those things (not having a clue we were going to do any sort of nature study), he said, “Well, you never know when they might come in handy.” Indeed they did! 
(I wonder what else he had packed!!)
We were again blessed later in the week when my parents took care of the kiddos and hosted us overnight so I could talk at the CACH meeting. On Friday, we were able to talk my Dad into a tour of the lab in the hospital where he works. We’re studying chemistry this year and seeing all the lab equipment, chemists and live “experiments” in person turned out to be a great visual for the kids. (My dad used to be the lab manager and I remember spending many a day watching all the lab techs do their work. I only wish the lab were as safe now as it was then. I was probably over-protective, but I didn’t want to take any chances with all the lovely things hospitals deal with now-a-days.)
The coolest part by far was the pathology area. The pathologist was in and gave the kids an awesome look into his world. We watched him dissect gall bladders, tonsils, colon polyps, knee shavings and more. He even offered the kids a chance to open up a gall bladder. I think the picture below shows their answer best.
Okay, so I might not have a pathologist in the family, or a med tech, or anyone who goes remotely near a hospital on purpose. God knows what He has in store for them and I’m excited to see what awaits!
We had a busy week, but it was a good one! And by the way, Happy Birthday, Daddy!!
And thank you VERY much THINK and CACH for allowing me to come visit with your groups. You are both full of very friendly and encouraging ladies (and gentlemen.) It was a complete joy for me to share my heart with you. )
