The Lost Volume Demonstration
The Lost Volume Demonstration What happens when an equal volume of water and ethyl alcohol mix? Is the mass additive? Is the volume additive? The Law of Conservation of Mass dictates that the mass is conserved, but is there a Law of Conservation of Volume? No, if you mix 250 mL of water with 250 […]
Physical Science Math Review: Techniques, Formulae, and Constants
Having good math skills is important and necessary for students to be successful in physical science courses. As a course progresses, formulae build up, units become more complex, and students may become confused. This Physical Science Math Review can help students organize formulae by topic and recall the appropriate SI units; it also gives them […]
One in a Million: Using Serial Dilutions to Understand Concentration
A serial dilution is a simple technique for reducing the concentration of a solution in a systematic way. In this activity, students prepare beverage solutions over a wide range of concentrations and determine the minimum concentration required to taste the sweetness of a solution. Safety This activity involves taste-testing a prepared solution. Note: Do not use laboratory […]
Rubrics: Successfully Communicating Expectations and Standards
Rubrics are not new on the educational front, and their use continues to grow in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary settings. They provide efficient, two-way communication between student and instructor across a broad range of skills and content. They also facilitate assessment between instructor and student, between student peers, and are invaluable as self-assessment tools. Rubrics […]
Notebooking
Write to Read. Read to Write. Write to Learn. In elementary classrooms, teachers often have multiple resources at their fingertips to teach students to read. However, curricula used to teach reading often doesn’t support teachers—or students—in writing. Yet research shows that reading and writing have a synergetic relationship: reading interventions can enhance students’ writing performance; […]
Basic Right Triangle Trigonometry
This is a brief review of the basic trig functions Sine, Cosine, and Tangent as applied to a right triangle. A right triangle is a triangle where one angle measures 90°. In order to calculate the Sine, Cosine and Tangent of an angle, first identify one angle. We will indicate this angle with the Greek […]