Energy levels and Exploring the Periodic Table! - Weekly Blog #18

https://www.learner.org/interactives/periodic/elementary2.html

Summary

This week in science, we studied the energy levels of an atom. The energy levels in an atom show how many electrons there are in an atom, and which level they are in. We also identified and explored the different elements of the periodic table, including how it is sorted. This gave me a much deeper understanding of different elements and how much sense it makes in the way they are sorted. The periodic table was created by a man named Dmitri Mendeleev. As the years went by, others added to his ideas to created the modern periodic table that we know today. Now to explain how the periodic table is sorted. The periodic table is sorted in increasing atomic energy levels. There are periods (rows) and family's (columns) in the periodic table. This is the way the periodic table is arranged in. These are the things I learned this week.


S&EP - Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed an explanation of how the periodic table is sorted when I analyzed the data of each element and how they are sorted on the table. This was done through learning about the different families, such as the alkali, alkali earth metals, transition metals, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, halogen, rare earth metals, and noble gasses. All of these family's have distinct features and properties. I was also able to identify that all metals are at the left, nonmetals at the right, and metalloids are the 7 elements boarding the metals. This is how I constructed an explanation of how the periodic table is sorted this week.

XCC - Patterns

I learned about the constant re-occurring patterns of the periodic table, as well as a similar pattern that can be found in an atoms energy levels. this can be identified through the similar features of period . and as you go down a period there is a gradual change in chemical properties, but if you looked at a family of elements, you will notice that elements in a group have similar chemical and physical properties. This is due to the pattern of having the same amount of outer electrons. This is how I identified patterns this week.

Studying Chemistry! - Weekly Blog #17

https://www.extremetech.com/tag/elements

Summary

This week, we studied elements, compounds, atoms, matter, mass, density and volume. Chemistry put simply is the study in changes of matter and its properties. The atom is the smallest unit of life, and the basic building block of all matter. Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Density is how much stuff there is in a given space. Volume is how much space something takes up. An element is a pure substance made up of only one kind of atom. A compound is a substance made up of different elements/atoms. I applied all this information in several gizmos and worksheets that were used over the course of the week.

S&EP: Using Models

During the week, we used a model to determine the mass of marbles and pennies. We used several tools to aid us in this process, as well as several studies. The tools we used include a 10 ml graduated cylinder, 100 ml graduated cylinder, cup of water, and eye dropper. We also used the lab resource pages, and formulas for density and volume. We used the formula for volume which is volume = Length x Width x Height, as well as the formula to calculate density, which is Density = mass / volume. We used a method known as the water displacement method to figure out the volume of 5 marbles. We compared the water displacement method to the formula using a stack of 10 pennies. This is how we applied models this week.

XCC: Stability and Change

There is a great factor of stability and change when it comes to atoms. In an atom there are protons, neutrons, and electrons. These are all factors that determine its ion, stability, and charge. This brings in several key factors that involves stability in an atom. For an example, lets say you have a hydrogen atom with one proton, neutron, and electron. This would mean that the atom would be stable and have a neutral charge. On the other hand, lets say you have one carbon atom with 6 protons 8 neutrons and 4 electrons. This would mean that you would have an unstable atom (due to there being too many neutrons) with a positive 2 ion (because there is 2 less electrons, making the atom have a plus 2 charge). As you can tell, there was a great change when there were added or removed protons, neutrons, or electrons. This is how stability and change is applied in chemistry.

Project Blog: Invasive Species

http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=449

Summary

During this project, I learned a lot about invasive species, and how they can effect the ecosystem that they invade. This can be anywhere from a very slight, almost un-noticeable disturbance, to an extreme unbalance of the food chain and biodiversity of the eco-system. The invasive species we decided to study is the New Zealand Mud Snail. This is a species that isn't native to a lot of different places. This is due to the fact that the New Zealand Mud Snail travel around the world by clinging onto fishing gear. That means that they can be found pretty much anywhere in the world. They pose a great threat to the world because they can repopulate extremely quickly, taking the food and shelter away for native species. This will give less resources to the native species and eventually be all killed off.

Backwards Looking: What process did you go through to produce this piece?

In this project, we went through a relatively simple process. First we obviously had to do the research about the New Zealand Mud Snails. Next we completed the research and note catcher documents. After this we decided we wanted to make a video, in a "Draw my life" type of style. This was done by making a script, making a representation of the script through drawings on a whiteboard, and having our voice overs of the script. We first filmed the drawings, than did the voice overs, than we edited the clips to go together nicely. This is the process me and my partner went through to create this project

Inwards Looking: What was especially satisfying to you about either the process or the finished product?

I would say that the video was particularly satisfying to finish. I really liked how well the clips fit together. The music, video, and voice over all matched up very well, and looked very satisfying. This was extremely gratifying due to the fact that the video took us a while to make, so having it done after that amount of time is especially satisfying. I also liked how well the audio and video quality came out, it was a very good definition and the audio was pretty well done in my opinion. This is what I think was especially satisfying of the final product.

Outwards Looking: What grade would you give it? Why?

I would give this project an A as far as grading goes. I say this because we presented the topic well, gave feasible solutions, and put the video together well. We gave numerous facts about the snails, and kept the viewer entertained. We were able to accomplish this by giving analogies and sometimes humorous drawing or ideas that relate to the topic. This overall did a good job at keeping the viewer engaged, while also learning about the problems that this invasive species presents.This is why I think we deserve this grade.

Forward Looking: What would you change if you had a chance to do this piece over again?

I would probably change some parts in the audio if I were to re-do this project. I noticed when I looked over it again that sometimes you could here people in the background of the audio making it hard to understand us. I also noticed that there was a moderately loud crinkling noise at one point, making it a bit difficult to understand that line of dialogue. I also noticed that for some people, the video went a bit too fast for them, so it was hard to keep up with the speed we were presenting at. The final thing that I would change is the tone of the video. Sometimes, we presented our ideas in a more, un-serious tone, so that made it seem like the issue wasn't as big of a deal. This was contemplated with the somewhat cheerful background music, even though the topic at hand wasn't necessarily a cheerful one. These are the things I would change if I were to do the project over again.

Food Chains and Invasive Species - Weekly Blog #16

http://www.freshvista.com/2014/patterns-in-nature-some-thoughts-on-invasive-species

Summary

This week, depending if we were in a triad or a quad table, we studied either invasive species, or endangered species and were told to make a project about it. I was in a quad table, so I studied invasive species. The invasive species i'm studying is the New Zealand Mud Snail. These animals are typically found in oceans and are native to New Zealand. The New Zealand Mud Snail is a quite interesting animal, that can be found all over the world due to its tendencies to cling onto nets and fishing gear. This species is invasive all over the word, and repopulates extremely quickly. This can lead to a lack of space for other native species to live and a lack of food for other species as well. This is what I learned this week in science.

S&EP - Communicating Information

This week, I communicated information through the means of a video about the New Zealand Mud Snails, and why they are harmful to the environments they live in. We talked about how they can take away things like food and shelter that belonged to the native species, away from them because of how easily they can spread. We provided the solution of properly cleaning fishing gear after use. This will stop the snails for spreading because they are prone to clinging on to fishing gear to travel around. Also, you can freeze your fishing gear after use to kill them off as well. We explained that using these methods will for sure stop the invasive species from spreading.

XCC - Stability and Change

This week, I showed the significance of stability and change that these species provide when they are in a certain habitat inhabited by invasive species. We also talked about how the invasive species can affect the food chain of the current ecosystem, and possibly bring disease or decrease the biodiversity. This all gives extreme change in stability in the ecosystem, as well as provides change on how things will work. The New Zealand mud snails also repopulate extremely fast, and could give less shelter and resources to the native species.