Science Fair Awards

 We did Science Fair awards on the same night as the science fair, so our antsy students didn't have to wait too long to find out who won.  I was out of school that day because Jason decided to run a 103 degree fever (turns out to be an ear infection--his first!) but I came back that afternoon to help with the awards once Timmy came over and took over my "shift".  Sometimes it feels like the misbehaving students get all of the attention around this place, and it's so nice to have an awards ceremony for kids who are going above and beyond in their school work.  
Caroline and her friends really cleaned up shop!  Caroline got first place in her category--Molecular and Cellular Biology--AND is a Piedmont regional finalist!  So she will be accompanying me to UVA for that event on March 17.  
Caroline's friend Claire won first place in Biochemistry, Emma won first place in Chemistry, and Lauren B (Lolo) won first place in Environmental Analysis!  And all were also chosen for Piedmont, so the girls are going to have a ball!

Caroline getting her award

With her project!

Science Fair Time

 Because Caroline is in my Integrated Science class, she is required to do the dreaded "science fair project" this year.  Yes, Caroline is one of my students, and no, it wasn't my first choice.  But I'm the only 7th grade teacher who teaches this advanced class, so she's stuck with me :)
We did a DNA extraction lab in class with dried peas and Caroline thought it was a neat idea.  So she expanded on that lab to do a project on different fruits.  She wanted to see if the pH level of the fruit affected how much DNA can be extracted from that fruit.  Her hypothesis was that the fruit with lowest pH (highest acidity level)--the lemon--would have the most DNA.  She tested strawberries, bananas, apples, oranges, lemons, and kiwi.  I set everything up for her, but Caroline ran all of the trials herself.  
The KGMS Science Fair is next Wed, January 21st.  We'll see how Caroline's project does in the fair!

See the top layer of floaty white stuff?  That's the DNA!

Pouring the chilled isopropyl alcohol into the graduated cylinder.

Christmas Photos

 Well, here are some photos from our Christmas last month.  Tim and I have been done and out with various illnesses.  I started December with a sinus infection and ended up with viral bronchitis.  I would wake up each morning feeling exhausted and had a cough that cleared the room.  The doctor warned that it could take up to 3 weeks to feel "normal" and boy was she right!  But now Tim and I are back at work and feeling like our old (more energetic) selves.

Playing on the new Leap Pad 3

Someone likes his head lamp!

Nintendo DS XL for Garrett!

I Pad for Caroline!