I write this last post for Modeling Chemistry as we prepare to go back home. It is just too hot in Arizona that 75℉ is cool here. The air conditioning system is set to 75℉. At home, 75℉ is when I start to wonder about moving to a cooler region of the country…or maybe goingContinue reading “ModChem Day 15: Last Day!”
Tag Archives: education
Day 7 & 8: Energy, States of Matter, Mixtures & Compounds
Gabel Reading We discussed how in 1996, when this article was first presented, there was a call for more Chemistry Education Research, but here we are in 2026…saying the same thing. The conclusion I ended up writing in my notes was that students will ask themselves: How do I know this is factual? It critiquesContinue reading “Day 7 & 8: Energy, States of Matter, Mixtures & Compounds”
ModChem Day 4: Pressure, Volume, and Particles in Motion
Wenning Article Discussion Some takeaways from the group discussion of the article: U2 – Energy and Particles in Motion New unit lab/demo. To open up the unit, we watched Mitch light a match, blow it out, and waited. Whenever the smell got to us, we raised our hands to show that we smelled the sulfur,Continue reading “ModChem Day 4: Pressure, Volume, and Particles in Motion”
ModChem Day 2: Sig Figs and Density
Scale Reading, Uncertainty, Sig Figs We quickly reviewed the SigFig rules, but I definitely felt unsusre of myself. It may be how my students might feel. I keep forgetting which trailing zeros count and which don’t. I really like how my learning partner, Rich, showed me what would count as “significant.” When completing the ScaleContinue reading “ModChem Day 2: Sig Figs and Density”
Modeling Chemistry Day 1
It’s Day 1 of the Modeling Chemistry Workshop here at the birthplace of the Modeling Instruction pedagogy! I am very excited to be on this journey. I’m going to complain once about the weather, and that’s it (I hope). We left San Francisco and it was maybe 67℉. It is a cool 103℉ here inContinue reading “Modeling Chemistry Day 1”
Day 15: Chemistry and Algebra
Looks like this week’s theme is: ALGEBRA We were working on finding the average atomic mass of elements’ isotopes. This involved percentages, solving for one unknown…and solving for two unknowns. Most students were comfortable with percentages and solving for one unknown. Once we got to solving for two unknowns, we kind of gave up. ThereContinue reading “Day 15: Chemistry and Algebra”
Class 5: Density & Balloons on a Friday
To teach density in alignment with modeling instruction, I would have had students find a material’s density by measuring various mass and volumes. The density labs generally have students identify the unknown substances by comparing calculated density to known values. While what I envision would have taken longer, it would have allowed students to trulyContinue reading “Class 5: Density & Balloons on a Friday”
Chemistry Day 3: Safety & Equipment Quiz + Matter
We had the General Chemistry students take a Safety & Equipment Quiz. They must pass it in order to participate in the labs. Students generally thought this was a fair deal. The quiz had a portion where they identified some lab equipment. We all switched it up for each of the blocks so that noContinue reading “Chemistry Day 3: Safety & Equipment Quiz + Matter”
Physics Day 3: Variables
Day 2 schedule had me flustered. When speaking with others, they felt the same way. So I started Day 3 by apologizing the students for allowing my frustration with the time constraints to fly. We spent the first part of class reviewing all the things we should have covered the previous class. I’m not soContinue reading “Physics Day 3: Variables”
Physics Day 1: Making Squares
Today’s Day 1 (2nd first day of school) of Physics went as smoothly as it could go. I forgot how fun it is to teach the 9th graders as everything in high school is still brand new for them. They came in with a nervous excitement…Ms. Medrano had their seating chart ready to go… ThenContinue reading “Physics Day 1: Making Squares”
Learning with Ms. Medrano 
You must be logged in to post a comment.