Past projects 4
Chemistry in Motion
Funded Oct 1, 2023I want to tell you what it is like for my students to walk into my classroom where there are enough thermometers for every lab team after months of not having enough. The students are thrilled to be able to complete their thermochemistry labs without waiting for others to finish. Thermometers are necessary for explorations of thermochemistry. They are also necessary when a student wants to control temperature while other variables are tested. We are loving having enough of them in our lab.
My students also love to write on the white board. However, when I purchase the markers, I do not let them use them. When you supplied the funding to purchase white board markers, you funded the opportunity for my students to teach each other. They prefer the board as they are able to interact with several students at a time.
Finally, thank you for providing chromatography eluting solution. It can be very difficult to get chlorophylls to separate from each other so a safe commercial eluting solution is usually necessary for a successful study.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bish
This classroom project was brought to life by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 5 other donors.Investigate Chemistry Like a Pro
Funded Feb 8, 2022For students and teachers in a chemistry laboratory, it is lovely to be able to go to a cabinet and know the needed size and type of stopper is available. Our lab had a variety of stoppers in various sizes, but the sizes and types we most needed were not available. This led to an inability to store solutions securely for short periods of time and was problematic for the completion of certain procedures. The purchase of several sizes of stoppers that range from two-hole to solid has made a big difference in the search for the correct stopper, and the students and I are grateful. The photo is from the project of one of our seniors.
The hot plate/magnetic stirrer is amazing for preparing solutions since it allows constant agitation and warming during solution preparation. Since I prepare most of the solutions for student lab practicum on site, the time saved by having such an instrument is welcome in so many ways. Although I use it most, it benefits all students in terms of preparation and planning.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bish
This classroom project was brought to life by Panda Cares and one other donor.Sanitize Those Goggles!
Funded Oct 14, 2020As my junior and senior students were finally able to return to campus for a couple days a week, I tried to get a sense about how they felt about being back. They were glad to be back, but the COVID -19 restrictions and individual anxieties also made the return a bit scary. The goggle sanitizing cabinet arrived and was installed while they were still learning remotely so the students had not seen it yet.
I had been instructing the students in both groups about reaction rates and planned to do a lab with them that required goggles and aprons. As I gave them their instructions about the goggles and aprons they were to use and the lab itself, it was evident they were more interested than normal about the efforts made to sanitize their PPE. I was so proud to be able to tell them that donors, from Donors Choose, had purchased the goggle sanitizing cabinet for them. There was a definite reduction in anxiety in the room as the students realized the goggles would be sanitized in a cabinet meant to kill bacteria and neutralize viruses before they would have to wear them again. It has lowered my anxiety as well. The cabinet has already been busy, and I expect to keep it that way.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bish
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose 20th Anniversary Fund and 3 other donors.Safety and Confidence in the Chemistry Lab
Funded Oct 11, 2019Safety in a chemistry laboratory goes a long way toward making students feel comfortable with chemicals and procedures that are new to them. One of my favorite investigations involves volatile solvents that vaporize very rapidly which causes the liquid to undergo evaporative cooling very rapidly. Unfortunately several of the solvents are fat soluble and might dissolve readily into the skin so gloves are really important for protection. My school has chemical resistant gloves for my classroom, but they are huge. Only the guys with the largest hands can use them with any amount of dexterity. Since fitted gloves have been a bit rare, I have only had my juniors or seniors complete this lab investigation.
This year, my sophomores were able to do this lab for the first time since I had enough gloves to serve them. It turned out really well. The girls were especially thankful to have gloves that fit as they used tape, tied knots in strings, and removed caps from containers of various liquids. They would have constantly removed the old gloves in order to do what was needed.
More labs are lined up for the spring semester where the gloves will also be very welcome. My students are so thankful for your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Bish