Fun Science Concepts - Chemistry, Physics, Biology - Ongoing Junior High Part A

This on-going course will introduce learners to concepts in physics, chemistry, and biology.  Each class is independent of the classes prior, so learners may join at any time.  A learner may prefer to only learn physics or chemistry or biology or even an individual class of  interest.

(These science classes have been occurring since April 20, 2022).

Class schedule:

Week of September 1st, 2024 - Electricity and Electric Circuits (Physics)
Week of September 8th - Electricity and Electric Circuits (Physics)
Week of September 15th - More Electricity and Electric Circuits (Physics)
Week of September 22nd - Optics (Physics)
Week of September 29th - Introduction to Periodic Table (Chemistry)
Week of October 6th - Radiation versus Radioactivity (Chemistry)
Week of October 13th - Radiation versus Radioactivity (Chemistry)
Week of October 20th - Chemical Balancing (Chemistry)
Week of October 27th - Electricity - Batteries and Redox Reactions (Chemistry)
Week of November 3rd - Essential Life Elements of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen 
Week of November 10th – Carbon Bonding and Molecular Formation
Week of November 17th - Building and Naming Organic Molecules (Chemistry)
Week of November 24th - Stoichiometry and Inorganic Naming of Chemicals (Chemistry)
Week of December 1st - pH Balancing and Calculations with Acids and Bases (Chemistry)
Week of December 8th - Chemical Elements Gone Wrong (Chemistry)
Week of December 15th - Surprise Science (Chemistry)
Week of January 5th, 2025 - Breakthroughs in Science
Week of January 12th - Breakthroughs in Science
Week of January 19th - How Did Scientists Figure it Out?


BIOLOGY:

Week of January 26th, 2025 - Cells (Biology)
Learners will learn all about cells - from movement through the cell plasma membrane to types of cells to the laws of thermodynamics related to biology.  Meiosis and Mitosis will be touched on as well.  Cell reproduction and chromosomes will be introduced.

Week of February 2nd - Genetics (Biology)
We will learn about DNA and RNA as well as Mendel's laws of genetics and the Punnett square the predicts the probably of genetic traits.  Alleles, phenotypes, and genotypes will be covered and some cool genetic traits that can be unique and fun.

Week of February 9th - Genetic Disorders and Punnett Square (Biology)
Learn about various recessive genes and disorders in humans.  More Punnett Square practice.

Week of February 16th - Genetics and Plants (Biology)
More about Punnett Square and genetics mainly associated with plants.  Learn about native, non-native, and aggressive plants and even about some of the native plants in Ontario.

Week of February 23rd - Homeostasis and Chemistry (Biology) -  
What is homeostasis and what is the importance of it in the human body?  What is the tie of biology to chemistry?

Week of March 2nd - Symbiosis of Plants and Organisms in Nova Scotia, Canada (Biology)
Learn about the various types of symbiosis in Nova Scotia, Canada.  Also, learn about plate tectonics and how this impacted what plants and animals live where.

Week of March 9th - General Biology - Biomes, Food Chains, Plate Tectonics (Biology)
What are biomes and food chains?  Can they be linked somewhat to plate tectonics?

Week of March 16th - World's Fastest, Biggest, Smallest, Rarest, Weirdest - Biology
Random fun facts ranging from diseases to animals to plants.  What would you like to learn about or add for us to learn about in class...

Week of March 23rd– History of Biology 1
How did the study of biology get figured out over time?  This history is up until 1900.  As aside – how can you make your very own simple microscope.

Week of March 30th – History of Biology 2
This class is a continuation of the history of biology from 1900 onwards.  Very exciting biology got developed this century up until today.  An aside – a study about honey bees and native bees.


PHYSICS (INCLUDING ELECTRICITY):

Week of April 6th - Gravity and Scientific Method of Experiments (Physics)
We will have fun doing gravity experiments (dropping things) and discussing the scientific method of writing up experiments.   Can we prove that gravity is actually 9.8 metres per second squared?  We will discuss what worked and did not work in the experiments and what the results mean. The scientific method of how to write up a science lab will be covered.

Week of April 13th - Kinetic and Potential Energy and Forces (Physics)
We will use marble run experiments to learn about potential and kinetic energy.  We will discuss what worked and did not work in the experiments and what the results mean.  A discussion on forces will be covered too.

Week of April 20th - Motion - Velocity and  Acceleration (Physics)
We will cover the concepts of kinematics and motion. Calculations associated with motion through distance, velocity, and acceleration will be explored.  

Week of April 27th - Angular motion and Coefficient of Friction (Physics)
Rotational motion and angular momentum will be explored.  Also, forces and vectors will be revisited.  The coefficient of friction will be determined through experimentation.

Week of May 4th - Electricity and Electric Circuits (Physics)
What is electricity?  We will look at how electricity happens and learn about basic calculations of circuits.  Series and parallel circuits, resistors, capacitors, and batteries will be discussed and basic calculations covered.

Week of May 11th - Electricity and Electric Circuits (Physics)
What is electricity?  We will look at how electricity happens and learn about basic calculations of circuits.  Series and parallel circuits, resistors, capacitors, and batteries will be discussed and basic calculations covered.

Week of May 18th - More Electricity and Electric Circuits (Physics)
Further discussion about electricity, including bioelectricity and alternating current (AC).

Week of May 25th - Optics (Physics)
How do glasses work?   Lets learn about real and imaginary focal points, concave, and convex.  Learn the basics about lenses and pinhole cameras.
Week of January 5th, 2025 - Breakthroughs in Science
Famous and not so known science breakthroughs.  Who do you think impacted science the most?  Who would you like to learn about?  Do you admire a person who made a major contribution to science?

Week of June 1st - Breakthroughs in Science
Famous and not so known science breakthroughs.  Who do you think impacted science the most?  Who would you like to learn about?  Do you admire a person who made a major contribution to science?

Week of June 8th - How Did Scientists Figure it Out?
A bit of science history in chemistry, physics, and biology, but also how did scientists figure out what they did?   An aside - what is a jack in the pulpit plant?


CHEMISTRY:

Week of June 15th - Introduction to Periodic Table (Chemistry)
An introduction to the periodic table will be covered in this course.  Topics will include the concepts of atoms, elements, brief trends in the table, orbitals, and electron dot configurations.  Students will learn about s and p orbital modelling, and d and f orbitals will be mentioned, but not covered.  Electron dot configurations will be introduced so that a learner would have a rough understanding of what elements would bond to other elements to form compounds and molecules. 

Week of June 22nd - Radiation versus Radioactivity (Chemistry)
What is electromagnetic radiation versus radioactivity?  Wavelengths, frequencies, and  amplitudes will be discussed. Radioactive isotopes and alpha, beta, and gamma radiation will be investigated as well.

Week of June 29th - Radiation versus Radioactivity (Chemistry)
What is electromagnetic radiation versus radioactivity?  Wavelengths, frequencies, and  amplitudes will be discussed. Radioactive isotopes and alpha, beta, and gamma radiation will be investigated as well.

Week of July 6th - Chemical Balancing (Chemistry)
How does one balance chemical reactions?  It's kind of like balancing the ingredients in a cake to know how many cakes would be yielded!  

Week of July 13th - Electricity - Batteries and Redox Reactions (Chemistry)
Reduction/Oxidation reactions will be discussed too which will give a chemistry-based thinking of electricity.

Week of July 20th - Essential Life Elements of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen (Chemistry)
Gain knowledge into the chemistry of the elements of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and how they bond into molecules that are essential to life.  Oxygen in air, water, and carbon molecules will all be discussed.  Molecules containing carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen will be investigated from an electron configuration level to understand chemical bonding.  

Week of July 27th – Carbon Bonding and Molecular Formation
Carbon bonding and molecular formation will be considered for sugars, fuels, alcohols, and carbon rings compounds.  How are these bonds formed and types of molecular structures will be investigated.

Week of August 3rd - Building and Naming Organic Molecules (Chemistry)
Learn about chemical bonding and what element will bond with another element given some simple rules.  Basic atomic theory and some basic naming of molecules will be taught.  The tetrahedron orbital shape of carbon will be discussed and organic chemistry will be touched on.

Week of August 10th - Stoichiometry and Inorganic Naming of Chemicals (Chemistry)
Inorganic chemical balancing.  Learn about Stoichiometry calculations.  Discussion of significant digits.

Week of August 17th - pH Balancing and Calculations with Acids and Bases (Chemistry)
Learn about pH, acids, bases, and chemical equations.  

Week of August 24th - Chemical Elements Gone Wrong (Chemistry)
Scientists learned over time about various elements.  Some of the elements looked very promising, but had dangerous aspects that were discovered the 'hard way'.  How do we learn from science?

Week of August 31st - Surprise Science (Chemistry)
Learn about experiments and random things that happened that led to amazing discoveries in science.


After this, the plan is to repeat these classes in order again.  However, new classes will be added over time as well.

I recognize that all learners learn differently.  Discussion will be encouraged, but no learner will be asked anything directly.  If a learner prefers to quietly take in the info by listening only, that is perfectly fine.  All learning styles are welcome.  No prior experience will be required to be in this class - just to be a curious person who likes to learn and think about things in a fun way.

Printouts and homework will be provided for some classes and learners may use them to take notes during class or practice later as homework.