reactant nov 2011
DESCRIPTION
The Reactant is the newsletter of the Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas (ACT2). This newsletter is for November 2011.TRANSCRIPT
Metro areas. Please look
through this newsletter for
more information about these
activities. Several of your
ACT2 colleagues are present-
ing at SWRM, CAST or both
and we have an energetic
speaker for the luncheon at
CAST. Also at CAST, Dr.
Diana Mason has some excit-
ing news about a grant that
we were recently awarded.
Lastly, we recommend that
you check out the ACT2 Net-
work on Grouply. Paul Schu-
mann has archived a great
deal of ACT2 history, includ-
ing newsletters and pictures;
and the site features opportu-
nities for you to share your
ideas in a blog format or just
contact other members with
your questions and thoughts.
Check it out.
I hope your
school year is
off to a good
start. I know
things are a
little busier
for all of us
with cutbacks and budget
crunches; and I’m sure you’ve
all adjusted well and likely
have some funny things to
share about the way your dis-
trict/school is dealing with the
monetary issues. If you’ve not
adjusted, keep at it and things
will smooth out. We have, as
science people, the amazing
ability to adjust when pre-
sented with data – regardless
of whether we like the data!
At our fall board meeting, one
of the areas of discussion was
the difficulty of making sure
we have an accurate address
for contacting members.
Some of the emails were be-
ing bounced back because of
various reasons including:
bulk mail screening, district
firewalls, and incorrect ad-
dresses. Since that meeting I
know we’ve tracked down a
few more people and made
corrections. If you know
someone who has not re-
ceived this newsletter or other
eblast items and should have
received them, please let us
know so we can try to fix the
problem. We anticipate hav-
ing a new system in place at
the CAST booth that should
help us alleviate some of
these problems. Stop by and
check it out.
There are several opportuni-
ties coming up in the next
weeks and months including
SWRM, CAST, and local area
meetings in some of the
From Paul Schumann Net-
work Consultant
In recent months Paul has archived nine years worth of newsletters and provided an avenue for many of our members to share and learn through blog posts and links to resources. Please con-sider joining the network if you’ve not done so already.
President’s Message
I N S I D E
T H I S I S S U E :
Network 1
Su-Chem-Ku 2
CAST Strand 3
SWRM 4
Member spot-
light
5
STAAR 9
ACT2 Network
A S S O C I A T E D C H E M I S T R Y
T E A C H E R S O F T E X A S
The ReACT2ant N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 1 8 , I S S U E I I
S P E C I A L
P O I N T S O F
I N T E R E S T :
Start up help
for area
Chemistry
Teacher
groups
Fun Comic
Su-Chem-Ku
CAST and
SWRM
P A G E 2
Did you know that
even though we’ve
been calling ele-
ments 110-112
Darmstadtium (Ds),
Roentgenium (Rg)
and Copernicium
(Cn) for a few years,
it only became offi-
cial after a vote by
the IUPAP (physics
version of IUPAC) on
November 3, 2011?
2011 is International Year of Chemistry
Su-Chem-Ku The Su-Chem-Ku below is just like a Su-Do-Ku logic puzzle. The goal is to get 9 different
symbols in each 3x3 square, 9 different symbols across each row, and 9 different symbols
down each column.
The symbols used, in alphabetical order are for: Einsteinium, Erbium, Holmium, Hydro-
gen, Oxygen, Sulfur, Tin, Tungsten, and Xenon.
Clue: The shaded area describes what Lise Meitner may have needed during her exile to
Stockholm during WWII.
and many other features.
There is an IYC item of the
day for each of the 365 we
have in 2011 and a virtual jour-
nal that is updated monthly
with articles, stories, and facts
related to the topic of the
quarter. The 3rd quarter of
2011 is devoted to materials
and the 4th quarter is devoted
http://iyc2011.acs.org/
This URL will take you to the
American Chemical Society
page where you can access
links about the International
Year of Chemistry suggestions
for community outreach activi-
ties, resources for teachers
to health. In each of the quar-
ters, water is a suggested fo-
cus. Check it out!
By the way, did you know that
the official announcement of
the IYC was made at the Bien-
nial Conference on Chemical
Education in 2010 at UNT?
T H E R E A C T 2 A N T
Er W
Ho Xe S Sn
H Er Xe W
S O Sn
H Er W
Ho Es Sn W
S O
Ho Es
Es
112
Cn Copernicium
ACT2 Presents: CAST Sessions
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 8 , I S S U E I I
The following list is a summary of the sessions being offered by ACT2 during the strand. Some of the sessions will be offered more than once,
so take a good look at your program so you can squeeze in as many sessions as possible. If you have questions about the strand please con-
tact Rhonda Alexander (Past-President and strand coordinator). Rhonda’s email is [email protected].
we were expecting. To that end, we
have purchased some extra meal tick-
ets in anticipation of people needing to
buy them as a separate item. Please
come by the booth to visit, look over
some new items, update your informa-
tion and get your luncheon ticket if
you have not already signed up for
one. The luncheon will be in the Dal-
las Convention Center near the
exhibits and session rooms, so it
will be convenient and you already
know, it will also be fun! See you
there.
CAST Luncheon
Presenter Title
Criss Bartley ACT2 Presents; Writing Chemical Formulas.
Bryan Beck
ACT2 Presents: It’s a Gas!!!
Jonathan Bergmann ACT2 Presents: Mastering the Chaos: The
Flipped Classroom and Mastery
Paula Chastain
ACT2 Presents: Geocache for Science
Karen Compton ACT2 Presents: "Old" Demos for "New"
Teachers
Vinay Dulip ACT2 Presents: ―A Demo a Week Makes Sci-
ence Class Peak‖
Kathleen Holley ACT2 Presents: A Gentle Introduction to
Teaching Chemistry Using Inquiry.
Diana Mason ACT2 Presents Lone Star Online Solutions
Amiee Modic ACT2 Presents: ―What’s Going on During
Freezing?‖ and Other Questions
Denise Sanders ACT2 Presents: Engaging Strategies for the
Chemistry Classroom – Part 1
Denise Sanders ACT2 Presents: Engaging Strategies for the
Chemistry Classroom – Part 2
Sally Urquhart ACT2 Presents: PBLs for Chemistry
Claudia Wallace
ACT2 Presents Chemistry in a Bottle
Juan M. Ybarra
ACT2 Presents: Chemical Stoichiometry - an
easy way
Meg Young ACT2 Presents: What's the Matter?
This year, finding the CAST
luncheon on the registration was
a bit like GeoCaching—albeit a
hair more difficult. (Perhaps we
should all attend that session!)
As a result, the number of people
signed up for the Affiliate
Luncheon at CAST is less than
P A G E 4
T H E R E A C T 2 A N T
SWRM 2011 – Doubletree Hotel - Austin, TX
High School Teacher Day November 12, 2011
Proposed schedule –
Registration, Lobby 7:30am – 8:00am
($30 if you are not preregistered)
Chemistry Careers Breakfast, Dovers 8:00 – 9:30am
Presenters are Dr. Alan Hall, Azar Owlia, Dr. Rene Garza, and one TBA
EOC Tools & Opportunities for Students, DeWitt North 9:30 – 10:30am
Presenters are Don Wharry, Joshua Pak, Bonnie Brown, and
Welch Summer Scholar Rep. TBD
Morning Coffee, DeWitt North 10:30 – 10:45am
High School Teacher Workshop, DeWitt North 10:45am – 12:30pm
Amiee Modic and Jeremy Thompson
Lunch & Project SEED Poster Session, Dovers 12:30 – 1:30pm
High School Teacher Workshop, DeWitt North 1:30 – 3:00pm Jamie Flint and Barbara Schumann
High School Teacher Workshop, DeWitt South, 1:30 – 3:00pm
Brian Anderson and Frank Walmsley
Afternoon Coffee, DeWitt North 3:00 – 3:15pm
High School Teacher "Chemistry Idol", Austin 3:15 – 4:30pm
The Mean Green Chemistry Demo Team
from the University of North Texas
High School Teacher Reception, Robertson North 4:30 – 5:00pm
P A G E 5 V O L U M E 1 8 , I S S U E I I
for beginner through advanced
students.
http://www.chemteam.info/
Nomenclature/
Nomenclature.html
Click on the links provided in
the tutorial section of the web-
If your students are like so
many I’ve seen over the past 28
years, there is a good chance
that they make nomenclature
much more difficult than it has
to be. If you feel like you just
keep repeating yourself to no
avail, here is a website with
TONS of practice that is good
site to practice writing formulas
and naming compounds. There
are 360 total examples divided
up by type of compound; with
equal practice in both direc-
tions—name to formula and
formula to name. In the home-
work and lab section there are
additional worksheets you or
your students can print out.
and Associates representing Flinn
Scientific.
Eva Lou has attended many NSF
summer institutes including the AP
Chemistry Workshop at Hope Col-
lege, the Woodrow Wilson Chem-
istry Institute at Princeton in 1986,
the ICE Institute at Berkeley, and
the ICE Institute at the University
of Arizona. She has also been a
regular and crowd favorite pre-
senter at many ACT2 Biennial
Conferences, with the Demos in
the Dark SCUD Missiles she set
off with Barbara
Schumann being
extremely memorable. Eva Lou re-
ceived the Texas Excellence Award
for Outstanding High School Teach-
ers from the University of Texas in
1987, the Outstanding Chemistry
Teacher Award from the Central
Texas Section of the ACS in 1988
and was named as a Life Time Hon-
orary Member of the Texas Chemis-
try Teachers organization in 1994.
She has presented over seventy-five
workshops at the local, state and na-
tional levels.
BS Chemistry-Texas Woman’s
University. Graduate work ---
Texas A&M University, Hope
College, University of California
at Berkeley and the University of
Arizona.
Eva Lou taught physical science,
chemistry and AP chemistry for 26
years in the Waco, Texas Public
Schools, Houston, Texas Public
Schools, and at Westlake High in
Austin, Texas before retiring in
1993. She also worked in the ana-
lytical chemistry lab for Shell De-
velopment Company’s Research
Lab in Houston. For several years
she worked as an Independent
Representative for George Seidel
EvaLou Apel—Member Spotlight
Nomenclature Review Suggestion
there is a fall meeting, an early spring meeting
and a late spring meeting (usually in conjunction
with the ACS scholarship exam). Please con-
tact Claudia Wallace of the DFW group
([email protected]) or Amiee Modic of the
MHCTA in Houston ([email protected]) if
you have any questions.
See the application form in the section below.
Are you interested in starting a metro area or
regional group of chemistry teachers so you
can keep in touch better? The ACT2 board
will provide you with start up money if you
just apply! It’s that simple. You can use the
money for speakers, supplies, coffee, etc. The
DFW area and the Houston area already have
meetings several times each year. In Houston
Start a MetroChemical Group P A G E 6
T H E R E A C T 2 A N T
Application for Area Chemistry Teachers Group Funding
In a state the size of Texas, one way we can lead chemistry education is to encourage teachers to meet and share
in their geographic zones as well as at CAST and Biennial Conferences. Any group of chemistry teachers from a
Regional or Metropolitan area that wants to have regular meetings for the exchange of ideas through workshop or
discussion, or to have a guest speaker, may apply for $200 seed money to put toward expenses. The application
below should be completed and submitted online to ACT2 for consideration by the board. Please submit to
[email protected] and reference “area application” as the topic.
Name of Group Applying:
Name and Contact information for the person that will be the main contact person for your group and receiver of
funds:
Name:
Address:
Email:
Phone:
What will your group do to ensure the money is handled fairly?
How do you plan to use the money?
Mark Your Calendars! SWRM—November 12, 2011 CAST—November 17-19, 2011
ACT2 Biennial—June 24-28, 2012
Next Two Newsletter Dates
January 10, 2012 — Articles Due January 17, 2012 — Publication
April 1, 2012—Articles Due April 10, 2012—Publication
Inside Story Headline
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 8 , I S S U E I I
Caption
describing
picture or
graphic.
Inside Story Headline
Inside Story Headline
Caption describing picture or
graphic.
“To catch the reader's attention,
place an interesting sentence or
quote from the story here.”
ACT2 Biennial Conference Chemistry Makes the World Go Round
When: June 24-28, 2012
Where: The University of Baylor Mary Hardin in
Belton, TX (173 miles from Houston, 140 miles from Dallas, 61 miles from
Austin, 140 miles from San Antonio)
Cost: $250 (early bird pricing until May 25th) includes registration, all
meals from Sunday night through breakfast Thursday, and lodging in a
private dorm room from Sunday night until Thursday. (or $125 for regis-
tration and all meals except breakfast-no lodging) ** Presenters save $50 off
the above prices!!!
Why should I go: Get all of your Professional Development hours for the year!
The lowest cost chemistry conference you will find anywhere!
The University of Mary Hardin Baylor is a small beautiful campus with FREE
PARKING!
Many workshops covering all levels of Chemistry from your lowest academic
students to your brightest AP students!
It will be 5 days of Chemistry Fun!
Gets tons of ideas to implement in your classroom!
Door Prizes- everyone will win something!
Come see old friends and meet lots of new friends that you can network with!
World renowned presenters (*Robert Becker and Ken Lyle)!
10. Demos in the Dark- all the demos you can’t do inside because they are too
big or dangerous (you won’t want to miss this)!
Where can I go for more info and to register: the ACT2 website and click on the biennial link. http://www.statweb.org/ACT2/
index.htm
or https://sites.google.com/site/act2tx/
They recorded their data in the table shown.
What is the percentage yield of MgO in this reaction?
A 97.2%
B 86.8%
C 58.0%
D 51%
Mass of Crucible 35.84 g
Mass of Crucible + Mg 38.35 g
Mass of Mg ?
Mass of Crucible + MgO 39.45 g
Mass of MgO ?
The sample question that follows was one of several
sample test items for the Chemistry EOC or STAAR.
If it strikes fear in your heart for the non-honors stu-
dent, find a friend and start a conversation about it.
Join the ACT2 Network and ask questions. Attend
CAST and pop in for the session on Stoichiometry.
The link that follows will take you to the entire re-
leased document for chemistry and the other subjects
should you like to peruse them.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/
Question:
Some students burned magnesium in excess oxygen,
as described by the equation
2Mg(s) + O2(g) —> 2MgO(s)
Amiee Modic
Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas
6331 Highwy Blvd.
Katy, TX 77494
Phone: 281-386-7884
E-mail: [email protected]
Associated Chemistry Teachers of
Texas
STAAR EOC can loom LARGE
Chem-is-try!
http://act2network.grouply.com/login
http://www.statweb.org/ACT2/
The Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas, ACT2, is a statewide
501(c)(3) organization of elementary through college teachers and
supervisors and those interested in science education who are dedi-
cated to maintaining the highest levels of chemistry education in
Texas schools. The major objectives of ACT2 are to recognize and
support those interested in teaching chemistry on all levels in a
learner-centered environment, to provide common ground for the
exchange of ideas, and to improve the quality of chemistry teaching
and chemical education throughout the state of Texas. The fulfillment
of these objectives is in part accomplished through annual state meet-
ings and biennial conferences that address the needs of chemistry
teachers and the content-specific training necessary to utilize the lat-
est advancements in chemical education. Active membership consists
of all parties interested in the teaching of chemistry and those who
shall assent to the constitution and pay the regular dues. The Associa-
tion is an affiliate of the Science Teachers Association of Texas, the
largest organization in the state committed to promoting excellence
and innovation in science teaching and learning.