Computer Lab - 12/18

Complete the chemical equation balancing activities at http://www.funbasedlearning.com/ - be sure to put your answers on your worksheet.

Activity 1 - Classic Chembalancer
Activity 2 - Review Chembalancer
Activity 3(AC) - Brain Boggle Chembalancer (only AC classes have to complete the worksheet, but everyone is invited to try!).

Finished? Make sure both sets of balancing worksheets are complete and have your name on them.

Things to do when you are done:

1. Element Quiz at http://www.funbasedlearning.com/
2. Element Games at Jefferson Labs - try Hangman!
3. Science Review Games at BBC Schools
4. Interactive Chemistry at BBC Schools

Write a comment about today's activities. What did you enjoy? What did you learn?

Computer Lab - 12/17

Today, the first thing to do is finish your computer work for your project. Make sure you have your:

1. Excel pie chart (showing proteins, carbs, and fat)
2. Excel bar graph (showing Vit A, Vit C, calcium, and iron)
3. The atomic structure of TWO elements (http://www.chemicalelements.com/)
4. The molecular structure of TWO compounds (google image search for the "molecular structure of ______)

Forgot the directions? Click here, scroll to the bottom, open, and save to your lunch number.

Done? Try the BBC Schools Science site for some extra help.

"Influenza Di Freddo"

Influenza di freddo is Italian for "influence of the cold," which some historians say is the origin of the name influenza, or the flu. Doctors and scientists have long wondered why flu season was typically in the winter - some ideas include everyone being inside and spreading germs or not getting enough Vitamin D to strengthen the immune system.

Now a scientist has found what may be the reason - the flu virus likes the cold, dry air of winter better. Read more here.

Despite the new research, flying to a tropical location is out of reach for most of us to avoid the flu - most doctors recommend getting a flu shot. At the very least, minimize exposure, take care of yourself, and wash your hands!

How do you keep yourself healthy during flu season? What do you do if you do get sick?

What'chu know about math?

LOL - this just makes me laugh...enjoy!

We Are The Web

For most of you, life without the computer or the internet is unthinkable. Your generation is the tech-connect generation - you think first of the internet in terms of getting and sharing information - MySpace, Facebook, Photobucket, YouTube.

I look back at how the computer has changed in my lifetime and my life. When I was in junior high I got to learn some BASIC - the programming language "of the future" - we don't use it anymore. By my second run at college in the early 90s, word processing was a wonder and a timesaver - as was the computerized card catalogue (you guys have NO idea...ask your folks about the old version of that). I couldn't believe how much easier writing papers was.

Now I have a computer in my home, and I use the internet everyday - e-mail, IM, Napster - shopping, reading, playing.

Watch the video - what do you think? Where do you think technology will be in 30 years, when you are about the same age I am now? What will YOUR kids understand that you don't?