The Periodic Table

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Summary: My favorite element is Bismuth. You may be wondering how this has to do with the Periodic Table and what i've learned; but what if I told you it has everything to do with it?! Bismuth is one of the 118 elements on your current periodic table.  The periodic table may look pretty messy and you may have trouble even finding this element on it but fear not it is not as complex as it seems. The periodic has order to all is madness for example it is made up of rows and columns. Each row represent energy levels. For example the top row with Hydrogen and helium is row 1 becasue it only had 1 energy level in its atoms. Next we have columns and these columns represent families.  Bismuth is a part of the "other metals family" This family consists of  Aluminium,  Bismuth, Gallium, Indium, Lead,Thallium, and Tin. How are these ever related? Well that's becasue the all react similarly just like a family would. They share traits!

S&EP: This week we used mathematics. I have been taught from a young age that mathematics is the center of everything. Well in Chemistry you couldn't be more right. You can think of the elements as the pieces hat make up the world around us. They are your water, you ai, and more. In Chemistry we use math to define theses pieces of our world. For example we see that a hydrogen  particle is different from a helium becasue of the addition of protons and neutrons. We also can organize these pieces using those electrons n the outside of the nucleus. Math is so important to this world especially to the worlds building blocks.

XCC: This week we used Systems and System models. Systems are everywhere. It is how we understand things and in this cause how we understand the Periodic Table. As I said before our table is set up in rows and columns. Well lets look at those rows. So what is an energy level? Well and energy level is a level of electrons outside of the nucleus of and atom. These energy levels have rules. Each energy level except the first can only hold up to * electrons. Once that level is filled to 8 then it full. These energy levels can determine two things. One what row of the periodic table that element will be put on. Also it could represent wat elements that element can combine with. For example we can have one Hydrogen. This hydrogen has only 1 energy level and one electron. SO the only thing that can mis with this is another Hydrogen. This would make it full since the first energy level only hold 2!

Intro To Chemistry

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Summary: Atoms, Elements, Compounds molecules,and more. What do these all have in common? Thats easy they are all a part of chemistry. Let's start with the atom. The atom is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Atoms are the basic building blocks for everything. Now using these atoms we can create elements. These are different combinations of atoms. For example Hydrogen it has one proton and one electron. While maybe Bismuth has 83 protons.  Now may be wondering I have covered atoms and elements, so what are these compounds and molecules? Well lets see compounds. Most favorite compound is sugar. Sugar is a compound because it has multiple elements put together t to create something such as the formation for glucose, Then we have molecules that are like 02 it doesn't have multiple different elements but more so multiple of the same.

S&EP: Using Mathematics: This week we used mathematics when we found cations and anions. First a Cation is when an atom loses electrons. Then of course Anions are when they gain electrons.For this we had to use our skills in subtracting negative numbers. Such as 5 -(-2)= 7. To get the proper number you need to remember that a negative next to a negative creates a positive.

XCC: This week we used Stability and Change. When you have an atom its very important that you  make it balanced. You don't want an atom to have Cations or Anions. So you actually see when we were doing the gizmo that when you add protons or electrons to you elementit can change that stability. This change could make it either more positive or more negative. Especially with the protons which are a major depending factor upon what the element will be. If you think about tit to make Hydrogen you must always have only one proton. IF there is more added that's a completely new element.

Invasive Species Project Blog

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Summary:  The New Zealand Mud Snail is an invasive species. What is an invasive species you may ask? Well , an invasive species is a species introduced into an area that its not native to. Plus on top of this invation they harm the ecosystem. Specifically for the New Zealand Mud snail they harm by taking resource. How much resource could this little snail consume? Well actually they consume half of the resource! These little snails repopulate extremely fast meaning there could be billions of these snails. Can't you see these snails could cause a crisis!

Backwards Looking: What process did we go through to produce the video? To make this video it took a lot of preparation. When you are creating an informational video you need to make sure all of your facts are set in stone. This is the kinda of thing that is supposed to help people, to save people. This project didn't just take a while to create but the research was a huge aspect. So I would say step wise you start with a basic idea. For example just picking the animal. Then you do not brief but deep research on many different websites and get all the information. This information can go from fun facts, tips, or just an explanation. Then of course we make a project that you are proud of.

Inward Looking:How do you feel about this piece of work? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? What did/do you enjoy about this piece or work? This project is really something great in my opinion. I felt like we did a really good job and actually thought the near due date just made my productivity better. One thing I did really like about the project is when I made the video even though it was due soon I felt there was enough flexibility that I was still comfortable. That's why the theme of our video is more about the entertainment. I did dislike though that I felt like I still could be 100% confident with it. I didn't know if it was too unserious. Over all I feel if I could do it over I would find a way to boost my confidence I this video we made.

Outward Looking: Did I do my work like others did? I have a feeling form the presentations I saw we did our final product differently. I don't think anyone else made a video in the class. I think people has an idea that a video would have to like an infomercial and all serious. I think that's why not many people picked it. It all about making it your own. That's why I thought making a video would  be the best option. Videos give you that full range of creativity. I know this mostly comes from that I was looking at this project the entire time as something to do and make fun. I strive to engage the audience not just inform them. This trait is evident in my work and I hope others notice that.


Forward Looking: What would I change if I could do it again? If I could have changed one thing I would have probably done the video sooner. I feel like we had just finished editing it right before the due date so I felt unprepared. It would have been better if we just did it before the Saturday we worked on it. I think we maybe underestimated some of the time we had to be able to work on putting it all together. Over all this was a great project but being prepared tops all.

Invasive Species Project

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Summary: The New Zealand Mud Snail is an Invasive species. An invasive species is a species that is introduced into a nonnative area and harms the ecosystem there. These snails are a perfect example of an invasive species. They can reproduce at tremendous rates. For example one paring of male and female can create up to billions of offspring in only 4 years. These snails also take up half of the resource in the river usually when they live there. So half the food half the shelter etc. These little pests are crazy and could really end up destroying the water habitats we know and love.

S&EP: This week we used  Asking Questions and Defining Problems. We did this by asking things like; How does this effect the water ecosystem? How fast do they spread? What is the main issue and how do we fix it? All these questions had to be asked and answered so we could make our video. To understand the full story you must think of all the benefits and problems. Asking questions always helps but the answers are what you really need.

XCC: This week we used Cause and Effect. I think our environment is full of cause and effect. You see when we ask our questions we need to see how does this invasive species negatively effect the environment. For the New Zealand mud snail they cause lack of resource which effects the over all populations of  the ecosystem. Also we may ask how one pair of male and female can cause an explosion in the population. This explosion may cause again a resource problem. You can always find a way to make a cycle into simpler steps because a cycle is just cause and effect.

Energy Cycle

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Summary:  This week we studied the Energy Cycle. This cycle is the balance in ecosystems between producers and consumers.  Producers are at the bottom. Producers are organisms that can make there own food using the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process when plants transform sunlight into food to keep themselves. Next we have the consumers. Consumers are organisms that get there energy by eating other organism. It doesn't stop there though because it usually become much more complex. For example we have grass as a producer but we may also have a rabbit which consumes the grass. Then we have snakes which consume the rabbits. Then on top of that we have hawks that consume the snakes. It's all a chain and a never ending cycle.

S&EP: This week we Analyzed Data. We used the gizmo to analyze a balanced and unbalanced ecosystems. We used different numbers in the population and disease to see how the ecosystem would be effected. By changing the numbers and therefore the ecosystem we can simulate what it would be like if lets say our snake population suddenly spiked. We used all this data and record the outcomes. Surprisingly most of the time the ecosystem would manage to stabilize itself. As they said in Jurassic Parks. " Life always finds a way". There are other time though when it can permanently damage and even destroy and ecosystem. This includes when you take out a completely species or if you take out grass which is the main base of all the ecosystem.

XCC: This week we saw cause and effect. Ecosystems are all about cause and effect. Every animals or more so organism in an ecosystem has a role in the function of it. So letssay we took out one of these key organisms you must think how would that effect the ecosystem. Well it would most likely cause a disruption for a bit but as most ecosystems can do it stables out. This is just an example of a cause and effect relationship. If we want better detail lets not even look at the food chain. How about we see the caterpillar. What would happen to the caterpillar if it had no leaves to munch on? Well as we know the caterpillar wouldn't be able to eat and couldn't survive. This means the lack of leaves causes the caterpillars to starve. Our world is filled with cause and effect even right outside your door. Everything is an ecosystem you just need to find it.

Genetics Project Blog

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Summary: Genetics is the blueprints of us. Genetics is referring mostly to genes. Genes are found within our DNA. DNA is the formula to make up who we are. Genes are kinda like code in a game. Without a piece of the code the game would be incomplete. Each gene is like a sentence of code while DNA is  a piece like a level of the game. Now we move on to a bit on GMO's. A GMO is a genetically modified organism. This means you take genes/ code from one organism and put into the DNA/ game of another organism. This can change their looks and traits. Traits are things such as your eye color, and your risks for diseases passed down from your parents. Traits are randomly passed down when a child is conceived. This is why you may have your mom's eyes but also have your dad's chin. Then last but not least we have epigenetics this is when your genes get affected by something outside your body. This is like when you dye your hair is changes the color therefore changing the genes. You can also think of it like if you drop your flash drive in a puddle then you ruin a bit of your game. It's kinda the same thing something from the outside effected the inside of your USB/body.

Backwards Looking: Does this work tell a story?

 In my work for this project I wanted everything to fit together very nicely. This is why in my work everything has its place within the universe. For example Miss. Conception and the villain have a direct relation to each other. They have a sister rivalry and a backstory the intertwines. I also have Miss. Conception not just be a good person  all the time. I have tried to make Miss. Conception relate able  because of her flaws, her fears, and her past. Even in the science I tried to fit it to the character. For example, I did a GMO instead of mutation because she has features of an angler fish so it makes more sense that she got those traits put into her. I hope that it all fit and that it did really show something interesting to the people that saw it.

Inward Looking: What were your standards for this piece of work? Did you meet your standards?  

For this project I think I did really good. This in my opinion is some of my best work. I could even tell just from my presentation that I really knew what I was talking about I felt really confident compared to other subjects i've learned. Another thing is I found myself aiming for the best. Especially when it came to the writing portion. I made sure to add lots of details and show my understanding of the topic. My standards were mostly to be above average and get my work done and make it interesting. I feel I really did pass these expectations.

Outward Looking:  If someone else were looking at the piece, what might they learn about who you are? 

 If someone was to look at my work I believe they would see two things about me. First of all you may see my creative side. I expressed this though all my art work and my writing. In this project it was a lot about how much you were willing to do. The coolest parts were usually the creative portions so really your project relied on how much time you spent working of making that great. Next of  all from my project you can probably tell that I am a bit of a perfectionist in a way. When it came to this project every character and science aspect has its place within the universe. Kinda like tetris I made sure the story the characters and the science behind them made fit together as clean as possible.

Forward Looking: One thing I would change? 

 If I could change one thing it would be the son of Miss. Conception. I feel like he didn't really fit in as much as I would have liked. If I could do it over I would maybe make more conflict between him and Miss. Conception. Making the son more of an important character that has effect of Miss. Conception. I just feel I didn't do that portion its full justice. each and every character is different so I think I should have developed more for the son.

Super Hero Final Touchs

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The final touches on a project

Summary: This week we were doing final touches on our superhero project. Something I learned this week was how to make a  QR code. This was used so we can give easy access to our digital work while presenting. Next I also finished making the engineering potion to this project. We made contraptions that make our drawings move. This was so cool because it was all based on experimenting and just attempting to make it by looking at a working one. It was so amazing to be able to see my contraption working after I used my mind and put hard work into it. This project is almost to a close but i've really learned a lot.

S&EP: This week we Constructed Explanations and Designed Solutions.  This we have been making sure all our creative work is to perfection and I feel like especially for me since i'm presenting i'm wanting it say something. I have been wanting my work to say something to the audience. For example with story I want my ideas and my story line to make them understand my character and really get depth. Then for my art i want them to clearly see what the character is like through visuals. For example Miss. Conception is meant to look slightly evil because she is not exactly perfect and her character is kinda scary. I am really hoping my work can speak and that my audience can understand.

XCC:  This week I used Cause and Effect. This week I used Cause and Effect when I was engineering the moving contraption. I realized after a while of adjusting it to make sure it worked that its was all just a big game of cause and effect. For example if the disks position is very crucial to how your contraption works. It the disk is not connected them no movement but if you get it just right then up and won goes your little character.