Holiday Break...

IB Chemistry:
Holiday Break! HW= Log on (or register for free) to quizstar.4teachers.org.  Register for my class by searching teacher name= Bullock and class= Chem.  There are lots of Bullocks, so make sure you pick the correct class "Casie Bullock" and "IB Chem".
Take the Quantitative and Bonding quizzes by Tuesday 1/7.  You need a score of 60% or better to get credit, but you can retake them and there are explanations for each answer at the end.  I will receive notification, no need to print the results.

quizstar.4teachers.org

Have a great break and a very happy start to 2014!

 

Chemistry:

Your holiday break homework is just a worksheet in your packet- the Mole Islands WS.  I'd hate to have you forget how to comvert moles, liters, grams, and molecules over the 2 weeks you're off!  We'll review when you get back anyway.

Have a great holiday and a very happy start to 2014!

What's going on in class? 11/18-12/20

IB Chemistry

Redox Extra-credit (due before the Holiday break on December 20):
Research 1 specific type of battery (for example D-cells, car batteries, fuel cells, solar panels, AAA, Lithium battery) and make either a mini-poster or pamphlet explaining the CHEMISTRY of how it works.

In class right now it's.... THERMOCHEMISTRY!  That means heat changes in chemical reactions.  You'll be learning about how and why reactions change heat, plus how to calculate the heat change in a process using calorimetry, Hess's Law and Bond energies.

You'll also be doing your big IA: Investigate 1 factor which affects that results of a calorimetry experiment.  You can use either the burn-under-water technique or the reaction-in-a-cup technique to find the affect of one factor on the calculated heat change.  This is a FULL IA, will all 3 sections, due December 19.  Fun!


Chemistry

Bond Test Thursday 12/12! You've been learning about ions, names and formulas for ionic compounds, covalent bonding, Lewis Dot structures, VSEPR shapes, and intermolecular bond strengths.  Whew!  But, the ionic names and formulas are by far the most important part.  That is the section which will carry through into other units and is the section which carries the most weight on the test.

Next up, you finally get to learn about.... THE MOLE!

What's going on in class 10/31- 11/7

IB Chemistry:

REDOX!  Yay!  New unit starts Monday and it's called Redox.
You will be learning about electron movement in reactions and how we can harness those electrons to create batteries, plate metal, or recover reactive metals from nature.

The next IA is November 22- a design IA revolving around Voltaic cells.  You will do the entire thing in class that day.  I will give you some tips to prepare, but 50-minutes is enough time to do a stellar job.

Thanksgiving: (1) Review Crossword (2) Optional Redox extra credit assignment discussed in class

Chemistry:

We're wrapping up a unit on the Periodic Table.  Is there anything more important in Chemistry?  By now, you know a lot about atom structures, isotopes, electron configurations, and how to read the periodic table.  The final phase is periodic trends.  The table is full of them!  You'll learn what the trends are for reactivity, size, ionization energy, electronegativity, and melting point.  But, most importantly, you'll be able to explain WHY the trends are what they are.

The test for this unit has 2 parts: essay on Nov 5 and multiple choice on Nov 7.

Next up = Bonding: naming and writing formulas for molecules

__________________________

Periodic Table of... project details:  DUE Friday 11/8

Create a periodic table of something, ANYTHING other than elements.  Your table must have at least 20 items.  They must be arranged so that there are sensible patterns across (left to right) and down (top to bottom) your table.  It need not be in the same shape as the original periodic table.

Here are a couple of online examples to get your creative juices flowing:

Candy: http://www.drchinese.com/periodic_table_of_candy.html

Instruments: http://pubs.acs.org/supplements/chemchronicles2/pdf/poster.pdf

Dessert: http://www.eblong.com/zarf/periodic/closeup.html

Tools: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/01/periodic_table_2.html

Your table can have pictures from magazines, from the internet, drawings, or just words.  It should be on poster board (or large paper) for display in the classroom.  On the back of your poster, write a short description of the patterns in your table.

To get an

A+ = The best in the whole room! 20+ items, creative, lots of work put into the trends and project overall

A= The minimum is done with extra creativity, more than 20 items and/or really effective/clear trends

B = Minimum done, 20 items with 2 trends, easy to understand or explained clearly

C = Less than 20 or trends in only 1 direction or really unclear trends (missing explanation)

What's going on in class Oct 28-Nov 6

IB Chemistry

Lewis Dot Tutorial that I mentioned in class

We are wrapping up our last review unit- Atomic Structure, Periodicity, and Bonding. You'll have a bonding test Thursday in class. Plus, they will have a homework calendar due that day.  Plus, your silver lab (Conclusion and Evaluation only) is due Wednesday

Next up: Redox.
Starting next week, review will be over and you'll be learning all new stuff. Yay! The pace will slow a little bit, but the content will get more difficult. Redox will last about 3 weeks... which will take use all the way to Thanksgviing break.

Chemistry

This week we will focus on the Periodic Table and learn about the patterns on the table for reactivity, melting point, atomic size, electronegativity (whoa! big word...), and ionization energy. Part of this section will be a project- "The Periodic Table of..." where you will make a table of something that interests you. It's a lot of fun, so stay tuned for details.

This unit will wrap up Nov 6, just before parent conferences.

What's going on in class 10/1-10/13

IB Chemistry
We have just finished a big Stoichiometry review and learning about how to write an IA (Internal Assessment).  This week, it's time to do a REAL IA!  Students are using titration to find the %CaCO3 in an eggshell.  I encourage you to all use the IA template (all files are on a wikispace, see link down below).

Next up is Atomic Structure, the Periodic Table, and Bonding.  This unit includes a review of atoms, electron configurations, periodic trends, VSEPR, Lewis structures, polarity... from regular Chem + you'll learn about mass spectrometers, empirical formulas, and how to write concise answers to IB questions.  Cool stuff!

October 11 is the Group 4 Project: A project where students from all disciplines of IB Sciences come together to create experiments and interpret data together.  You will be conducting an experiment out at Dillon Falls along with a group of other students and thinking from a Chemist-perspective.  At the end, you will produce a poster which needs to be up in S-Hall by Tuesday 10/15.  You will be graded on your poster, but also your "Personal Skills" as required by IB.

Chemistry
Right now, we're wrapping up a unit on designing experiments-- Including an experiment on which materials have the fastest cooling rates.  Friday we will be making videos on how to find/write about sources of error.  Get creative.

Next up= States of Matter and Gas Laws.  You'll be reviewing kinetic theory, but also learning how to explain gas behavior using math.  How much does a weather balloon's volume change when it's way up in the atmosphere?  How does a potato gun work?  How does dry ice turn to a gas?

What's going on in class 9/18-10/1

IB Chemistry
Here are 2 videos that I recommended watching before class on Friday 9/20:

1. Crash Course Chemistry: Significant Figures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQpQ0hxVNTg
2. Rich Thornley's Uncertainties in Measurements: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcaYc9xr9-k

Welcome back to School!

Welcome back!
I hope those big powerful brains are rested, flexed and ready for action (not atrophied and screaming with wimpiness) because this is CHEMISTRY!

Bookmark this site because it has lots of stuff that you'll find useful as the class progresses. What's on here, you ask? Well...

• A bi-weeklyish update of exactly what's going on in class with large assignment and test dues dates (see packet/calendar for small assignment details)
• Links which will be helpful for studying- tutorials and review sites
• Links to videos used in class
• ALL paper materials distributed and power points used in class will be posted on a wikispace site which you can access through here
• Assignment details
• IB practice tests
• A few games and things just for fun
• Class syllabi + rules

.....and maybe more, especially if you ask for it

I'm excited (you'll learn that it's kind of a constant state, verging on a problem) and I hope I get you excited about Chemistry.

Who am I?

Hi there! I just want to take a minute to introduce myself and give you a little of my background.

My name is Casie Bullock. I grew up in Texas, went to high school in Chicago. Then, I went to Michigan State University where I played soccer and majored in Chemistry in the Honors College. I graduated, goofed off for a while, and then landed in Tahoe where I worked for AmeriCorps- working with the teen parent and AVID programs at South Tahoe High. After that, I worked for 3+ years at a biotech company in the Bay Area called Inhale. We made (or tried to) injection drugs into powders that could be inhaled through the mouth. Insulin was supposed to be our big product. That didn't work out, and I had always wanted to teach anyway, so I got a teaching credential at San Jose State and started teaching in 2000. I spent 3 years at Branham High in San Jose. Then, I moved to New Zealand for 3 years and just ended up teaching by accident! (Yep- there's a story there) We moved back to the Bay Area (what a shock after living in a town of 3000), couldn't deal with it, and escaped to Bend. After a year of tutoring, subbing, and baking, I landed at Bend High (Yeah!). The 2012-2013 school year will be my 11th year teaching and my 6th at BSHS.

I LOVE my job. There are so many things that make it wonderful, and I'm excited for the school year.  My goal is to create a classroom where students feel safe, have fun, and are challenged to truly think, to question everything and search for their own answers, and to be scientists.
But, I also love my family. I have a husband named Grant and 2 little boys named Cal and Ian.  In between, I am usually outside- playing soccer, running, hiking, skiing... whatever gets me out.

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year. I hope you're as excited as I am!

What's going on--- end of the year!

IB Chemistry
Physical Science demos and Plastic art this week.  Next week is a careers in science panel discussion, survey, and some international photo-sharing.
After the seniors leave it will be Big Bang Theory and a shake walk final exam.... pretty low-key stuff.

Chemistry
Ethanol Debate time!  We're doing a role-play debate over whether or not to increase the ethanol content of gasoline to 15% in Oregon.  In class, you will be assigned to one of 7 groups: Governor Kitzhaber's advisors, environmentalists, Monsanto, Auto Alliance, Farmer's union, Mom's of America, and the Task Force.

What's going on in class through May

IB Chemistry

Physical Science Demonstrations this week!  You're going to plan a reaction type demo to do for the freshmen on Tuesday 5/28.  You and your group need to pick a demo, set it up, practice, and then present it to the littlies!

Deschutes Brewery Tuesday 5/21.  Meet at the front of the school at 8:35 and we'll travel to the brewery caravan style, returning by 10:30.  We'll miss 2nd and 3rd period, so talk to your teachers.

Bend Research Wednesday 5/22.  Again, we'll meet and caravan over.  But, meet at the back of S hall.  We'll head over, get a tour, and be back around 3:15.

Friday 5/24 is Dry Ice Day! I'll bring in mounds of the stuff and you get to play like mad.  Enjoy.

What's going on in class 5/1-5/15

IB Chemistry
Final Exam May 7-10 and IB Exam May 16-17
If you are wondering what to study, here are some suggestions:

• The terms lists and study sheets you made for each unit
• Any practice problems that we did in class
• The links below for online videos, practice tests, and quick reviews on each topic
• Thornley videos (note, he hasn't categorized his Redox and Organic videos since the re-vamping, but they are still there)
• Get together with your friends to play Scattergories, quiz each other, or make terms flashcards
• Practice tests (you can get some from me or freeexampapers.com)
• Don't forget to look at your notes on uncertainties and significant figures

On a lighter note- don't forget to bring in your permission slips for the field trip May 21 to the Deschutes Brewery labs.  May 22 is the optional Bend Research field trip (no permission slip) and we might even do one more!

Chemistry
We are in the heart of the Organic Chemistry unit right now and will continue through May.  Some of the cool things you will be learning about are names and formulas for crazy things like 2,2,3-trimethyl-4-propyl-octan-1-ol; how and why margarine is made; what a polymer is and why we can only recylcle certain plastics in Bend; the pros and cons of adding ethanol to fuels.

Your Organic Test is Friday May 24.

The final exam for this class is 15% of your overall grade.  It has two sections- one multiple choice, and one lab.  In the lab part, you will be using your knowledge of acids and bases + reactions to identify 6 clear liquids- it's a big, satisfying culmination of everything you have learned.

Final Exams June 7-12 (schedule yet to be released)

What's going on in class 4/1-4/15

IB Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry!

You'll be learning about the Chemistry of global warming, acid rain, water treatment, ozone, and even waste dumps.  Yee-ha.  ESS students have a huge advantage, but will be looking at issues from a chem perspective only in this class.

Wastewater Videos:
(1) Why water is an issue
(2) UN Water Stats (Check out the sanitation and pollution sections in particular)
(3) Treatment Plant Tour
 

Extra Credit: make a city on electrocity.co.nz and email it to me.  You just need to survive for 150 turns to get the credit.  I'll discuss how to play the game in class.  

My teacher code is: CB18603

Chemistry

Homework due Wednesday 4/10:
Literacy (AKA reading and writing) in science is just as important as in any other subject.  Your homework for the next few days is to read the article titled "Rain like Vinegar" on pg 607 of your text book and write a summary/reflection of the article.  The summary/reflection can be creative writing, a poem, a song, or even a cartoon strip but must address the following specific points:

What are the two types of acid formed in acid rain?
What causes acid rain? (One man made and one natural)
One way that chemistry has helped to reduce the effects of acid rain.
Your reaction (feelings) to the article.

You will get 5 points for each topic addressed for a total of 20 points.   Good luck!!

What's going on in class 4/1-4/10

IB Chemistry
Spring Break homework= May 2009 (timezone 2) exams paper 1 and paper 2.  You can find the tests and the markschemes on freeexampapers.com or posted on the class wikispace.

Environmental Chemistry!

You'll be learning about the Chemistry of global warming, acid rain, water treatment, ozone, and even waste dumps.  Yee-ha.  ESS students have a huge advantage, but will be looking at issues from a chem perspective only in this class.

Extra Credit: make a city on electrocity.co.nz and email it to me.  You just need to survive for 150 turns to get the credit.  I'll discuss how to play the game in class.  

My teacher code is: CB18603

Next up= review for the big test May 16 and 17.  

You will have your final exam in this course May7-10

Chemistry

Acid/Base unit is coming up.  

Ms Philips is in charge of the entire unit- planning and presentation.  So, stay tuned.

What's going on in class 3/4-3/18?

IB Chemistry
We're studying Food Chemistry right now- hydrogenating fats, antioxidants, preservatives, artificial and natural colors, and genetically modified foods.  By the end of the unit, you'll know how haggis is made, what the issues are with GMOs, and about some scary food additives.  You'll also be able to argue both for and against food preservation and describe some of the extreme food waste in North America.
Your final IA is due Friday 3/8.  If you're really wanting to improve your IB score, you can choose to do the optional one highlighted on the wikispace (see link below).

There is no test for this unit... just little quizzes: Groups/Fats, Shelf Life, and Terms.

Next up= Environmental Chemistry

Chemistry
Stoichiometry!  We're learning about how to convert amounts of 1 substance into amounts of another by using the balanced equation.  For example: If you have 0.9g of Mg and react it in air, what mass of MgO will you make?  Then, we'll be doing the same type of calculations but given two amounts.  For example: If you have 0.9g of Mg and 10L of O2, what mass of MgO will you make?  For this second one, you need to first figure out which reactant limits the amount of product/which will get used up.

Extra Credit WS on the wikispace (see link below): Stoichiometry 3
Plus, there are a few random worksheets available in the classroom, so you can take one and do it for an extra stamp on your packet.

Stoichiometry Test Monday 3/18!

What's going on in class 2/11-3/1

IB Chemistry

Some useful polymer videos:
(1) a good one from M2 Polymer Tech (12 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMO6srwL2pQ and a pdf version: http://www.m2polymer.com/pdf/Superabsorbent-Polymers-Video.pdf
(2) silly Dr. Cheikhe version- can skip first 3 min (9 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_XJ76OQC1w

Friday you will have the 50-minute period to plan and write your hydrogel beads IA.  You may use (and should!) notes and refer to your old IAs.

Hydrogel Bead Information- pamphlet that I showed you in class: http://www.asminternational.org/content/docs/water.pdf
The hydrogel beads are made from Polyacrylamide.  It's the same substance that the "instant snow" is made from.

Chemistry

The student teacher, Lisa Phillips, will be taking over classes sporadically over the next few weeks, but full time in March.  We sent out an introduction letter, but you can also see the letter on the Wikispace page linked below.

Reactions!  You're learning how to observe a reaction and then write a complete, balanced equation.  Big time Chemistry!  The Reaction Types Project is due Tuesday 2/19.  Details:

• Make a power point (or paper slide video)
• with Pictures to represent the 4 main reaction types (combination, decomposition, single replacement, and double replacement)
• Include a sample full, balanced equation of each type- there are tons of examples in your packet
• Make it cute and creative to get 100%

The rubric for the project and an example are posted on the wikispace (link below)

What's going on in class- wrapping up the semester!

IB Chemistry
We are working on one last unit before the midterm- Equilibrium and Acids/Bases.  The main topics are: LeChatelier's principle, properties of acids and bases, and titration.  You will be doing another titration (Gosh, you're getting a lot of titration experience, huh?), but this time without an indicator.  You'll see that we can use the pH probes to find an exact endpoint instead of relying on your eyes.

The midterm exam is cumulative, 20% of your grade, essay, and it's an actual IB exam.  I know all 4 of those things are pretty scary, so we will spend about a week reviewing in class.

How to figure out what grade you need on the midterm...
80(class grade) + 20(midterm) = 100(overall grade)
so...
[(semester grade you want) - 0.8(your current grade)]/0.2= midterm grade you need
for example, if you have a 87%, and want to end with a B (80%):
[80 - 0.8(87)]/0.2 = 52, so you'd need a 52% after the curve on your midterm

After the midterm-- Organic!

Chemistry
You are in the middle of the Mole unit right now.  The emphasis for the next couple weeks will be applying your knowledge to the lab.  You have 4 labs coming up:

• Atoms in Your Name
• Percent Composition of a Penny
• Serial Dilution
• Butane/Ideal Gas Law

There is NOT a test for the Mole unit- just 2 quizzes on Jan 9 and 16.

You DO have a midterm for this course- worth 15% of your grade.  It is cumulative, multiple choice, and I'll admit it's pretty hard.  The questions are not difficult or tricky.  It's merely the quantity of material that makes this test hard.  It covers gas laws, atomic structure, the periodic table, names and formulas, bond types, and the mole.  There is an extra credit assignment which counts directly onto your midterm- see the Chemistry links below.  What should you study?  Your old packets and notes plus the study guide that we will give out and work on in class just before the exam.

How to figure out what grade you need on the midterm...
85(class grade) + 15(midterm) = 100(overall grade)
so...
[(semester grade you want) - 0.85(your current grade)]/0.15= midterm grade you need
for example, if you have a 83%, and want to end with a B (80%):
[80 - 0.85(83)]/0.15 = 47, so you'd need to get a 47% on the midterm to keep a B