Track M-1 Descriptions

Chemistry: The Elements, Rainbows, and Ice Cream!*

Chemistry is all around us in that which we can see and that which we cannot see.  Things that takes place on the atomic level impact every part of the world around us.  The study of Chemistry helps us to better understand all the different areas of science.  

In this course students will:

  • Explore the different elements, including a demonstration of several elements which are used to produce different colored fireworks.
  • Explore the difference between atoms, compounds, and molecules, including an activity where students will build molecular models of multiple compounds and molecules.
  • Explore the chemistry of acids, bases, and pH, including demonstrations and experimentation of several brilliant color changing acid-base titrations.
  • Explore properties of solutions, including the use of a salt water solution to make ice cream.
  • Each day will include a classroom lesson, a classroom demonstration, and a laboratory experiment.

Patterns and Puzzles

Arithmetic (+/-) progressions are number patterns where the differences between each pair of numbers is always the same: 2,7,12,17, … (a difference of 5). Geometric (x/÷) progressions, instead, have constant ratios: 3,6,12, 24, … (a ratio of 2). In these pattern puzzles, you will need to continue these number patterns across each row and column to solve each challenge. As the puzzles get harder, you’ll be given fewer clues and the chance to use your creativity to grow your list of tricks and techniques to figure out the patterns! 

Monday: Introduction to Sequences
Tuesday: Arithmetic Progressions
Wednesday: Geometric Progressions
Thursday: Other Kinds of Pattern Recognition
Friday: Famous Sequences

Squares and Radicals  

Square numbers are numbers that are the result of multiplying the same number twice. In other words, they can all be written with the exponent of 2. Another way you can see what square numbers look like is by looking at the floor tiles in your home. The operation of squaring has an opposite (just like subtraction is the opposite of addition, and division is the opposite of multiplication), called the square root. A square root of a number is written using a radical sign, and it looks like this √. We’ll answer questions like “What number must I square to get 36?” If you know your multiplication facts, you might be able to answer easily!

Mon: What are Perfect Squares?

Tue: Goofy Gardener: Using a decoder to figure out the answer to a riddle.

Wed: A Radical Sign and The Square Root’s Double

Thur: Drawkcab (Backward) Numbers: learning all about Palindromes.

Fri: Three in a Row: This is a game for two players. The goal of the game is to identify Square, Triangular (divisible by 3), and Palindrome numbers.