MAYO VISITS PCHS CHEM LAB!!!

Karsyn and Mrs. Block light methane bubbles!

Karsyn, Kacie, and Lydia are assisted by Chem Club member Leslie Rush.

Mr. Mike Brouwer’s 7^th grade Science class from Mayo Junior High recently visited Mrs. Brett Block’s PCHS Chemistry Lab for a lesson in energy and how it affects electrons in an atom.  The PCHS Chemistry Club were on hand to assist in a Flame Test Lab where wood splints soaked in various chemical solutions were burned to identify them based on their signature colors – blues, reds, oranges, and pinks.  They also viewed light energy given off by different gases trapped in a tube as electricity was sent through to excite the electrons.  Finally, Mrs. Block gave a lesson on the methane gas used in the lab burners by creating methane gas bubbles which she ignited while the students held them in their hand.  Chemistry Club is a PCHS organization designed to be champions of science.  They are available to visit local schools or arrange a visit at the PCHS Chemistry Lab. 

Jenna, Chris, and Robert work with Chem Club students Geoffrey Swinford and Matt Wells...

Chem Clubbers Austin Gahimer and Damon Daugherty discuss important scientific experiments performed on wasps while Daniel lights a wood splint....

Geoffrey Swinford helps Jenna....

Triston and Mrs. Block....

Faith is not afraid....

Salem complained after this one - said his knuckle hairs got singed!  (that means superficially burned)

electricity through the spectrum tubes show a signature color for that gas...

Mayo students view white light through the spectroscopes to see the wavelengths...

BUDDY LEE VISITS THE DUGOUT!!

Varsity Boys Baseball trounced Arcola as the Spirit Club and Buddy Lee cheer them on....

Hunter, Shane, and Robert are tough enough....

Leslie, Meredith, Mary-Hunter, and JC enjoy sunflower seeds with Buddy Lee...

Chem Club Crosses Over Curricula

Observations of how fabric absorbs dye....

Angie Propst and Brett Block presented their students with a team-taught lesson crossing over their subject areas of Clothing and Chemistry to identify the fiber content of various types of fabric.  Mrs. Propst, the creator of the lesson, wanted to further her Clothing class’s existing investigation of fiber characteristics by adding a science inquiry component.  Some of the fibers used were natural and others synthetic.  Students used the observable absorbency rate in dye and burn characteristics, together with an elimination chart, to determine each fabric’s fiber content.  Students also observed how the burning is affected by treatment with a flame retardant made by Chemistry Club students in lab using boric acid and borax detergent.  Mixing this solution had to be done carefully due to the solubility of the boric acid.  Aspects of solubility and supersaturated solutions were investigated by the Chemistry Club students. This lesson promoted student to student learning as Chemistry and Clothing students were paired together.  The importance of lab safety and the use of a controlled experiment were modeled by the Chemistry students. Clothing students shared the base knowledge used for deductive reasoning with the characteristics of synthetic fibers verses natural fibers and characteristics of weaves verses knits.  Due to the success of this lab, it will be incorporated into both the Advanced Chemistry and Clothing curricula.

Mrs. Block and Mrs. Propst represent in their lab coats....

Chandler and Logan dye their fabric and check for weaving patterns....

Katie and Niam are investigators of the weave....

Erin and Becca observe the different fabrics...

Mrs. Propst explains the beading of burnt fabrics to Francesca and Darcie....

Nicole observes how differerent fabrics burn....

Burn Baby Burn!

Rachel and Kalen - where are your goggles?

Getting ready for the lab.......

Fabric retrieval from the dye....

Data collection is crucial.....