The Odyssey

That day, we were to work in groups of 3 or 4 to create a magnified version of a cell. My group, which consists of Zulhilmi, Wei Wen and me, decided to create an animal cell. We were supposed to choose some materials from the front of the laboratory to use in our cell. Wei Wen and I chose almost everything to put in the agar-agar, which is the cytoplasm of the cell. At first, we were at a loss as we had a huge supply of materials. However, we sorted the different parts of the cell out and decided on the material to be used to represent the cell part. We managed to successfully use all the materials we have taken. During the process of creating our animal cell, Wei Wen took plentiful photos. We were to use these photos to come up with a photo story. Simply put, it means that we have to arrange these pictures in an order to tell a cell story.Zul also took several snapshots of our final product together with Wei wen from different angles. I feel that this hands-on experiment is a really interesting way to learn about the cell parts and where they are located. Instead of reading from textbooks, we are able to have fun and at the same time, learn about cells. I hope that we are able to conduct more of these kind of experiments!

Everyone in the class was to be interviewed by Mdm Riza to see if we were suitable for the job we were applying. I felt really nervous about this interview for I wanted to impress the interviewer. However, I feel that I could have done a better job during the interview. This is a point which I need to work on so that I could be a better presenter in the future. We were also given a worksheet to complete when waiting for our turn to be interviewed. The worksheet was to test our knowledge of the different parts of an animal cell and its functions and how important it was to keep the cell healthy.

It was our second National education and the NE message we were to focus on was "we have confidence in our future". This was linked to what we were supposed to be learning through Biopolis, which is a center for biomedical sciences in Singapore. Each of us were to be a part of a cell, and submit a resume to apply for a job at the Biopolis. I was given the role of Mitochondrion, a part found in both animal and plant cells. I had to research for lots of information in order to understand what my cell part does and how t helps the cell "I'm" residing in. I think that completing a resume aids in our learning of cells, for we would conduct researches on different cell parts, which would enable us to understand the cell parts better. I think this is a fun way to learn a topic and ups our interest in cells.

That day, Mdm Riza went through a part of the notes on photosynthesis. After that, we conducted experiments based on respiration. Though I knew that breathing and respiration were indeed two different matters, I realised that many people had mistaken respiration for breathing and vice versa. After conducting the experiments, we were now clear about the difference between respiration and breathing.

That day, Mdm Riza had carried out a distillation experiment before we stepped into the laboratory. Her aim was to collect pure water, which has a boiling point of 100 degree celsius. From the experiment, I learnt that distillation is to separate just two subsatnces in a mixture. When the temperature reaches 100 degrre celsius and water is collected, the water is PURE. However, if the temperature is 99.5 degree celsius, then the water collected isn't PURE.
We conducted an experiment on paper chromatography. Through this experiment, I understood how paper chromatography works. A spot of dye which is placed above the pencil mark on a strip of filter paper is inserted into a test tube of alcohol, which is known as the solvent. The spot of dye must be above the alcohol level so that the colours do not dissolve in the alcohol. The filter paper will absorb the alcohol and as the alcohol slowly spreads upwards, the dye gets separated. The colour with the most solubility will rise to the top while the colour with the least solubility will remain at the bottom.
I've learnt that paper chromatography and distillation can only be used for a mixture of liquids. For distillation, porcelain chips are used to ensure smooth boiling of the water in the distillation (conical) flask.

That day, we were supposed to present our solution to Mr Chang's problem to the class. My group had decided to use evaporation and filtration to achieve our three compounds. I've also learnt other ways of separating the three compounds through other groups' presentation. Mdm Riza had explained that using heat to separate the mixture might not be ideal, as the compounds might be broken down into simpler substances and not the original compounds we want. She also showed us a video on different separation techniques: Magnetism, Filtration and Evaporation. The video is really helpful as it illustrates how the separation experiment is carried out.

We had a mini quiz to test our knowledge on mixtures. We had to be clear about the differences between compounds and mixtures in order to be able to answer the questions. The questions required a true or false answer. WE also had to choose as a group the best solution to Mr Chang's problem and pen the steps down on a piece of A3 sized paper.

That day, we had our 1st test in term 3. The test required a good source of knowledge and plenty of calculation is involved. I would say that the test is pretty manageable and we need to be careful and read the questions CAEFULLY to avoid letting teachers eating our marks.

Yesterday, the lesson was dedicated to going through our worksheets. Mdm Riza continued with the checking of our workbook exercises from where we left off from the previous lesson. There was one question that i did not know how to do entirely. It was only after Mdm Riza's explanation did I know how to answer the question. I learnt that the "yellow powder" stated in the question is actually sulfur. I also learnt that we have to observe the question very carefully as it will give us clues as how to solve the question. The unknown substance, X, is a metal as it is attracted to a magnet. This metal is iron filings. This is an example of careful observation. In another worksheet, I got a question wrong. The question asked "What would happen if neutrons was missing from an atom?" Actually, the atom would collapse inwards as the electrons and protons would be attracted to one another, therefore resulting in the stated consequence. I enjoyed it when Mdm Riza gave us additional information about chemical equations which transformed from word equations. I think that this lesson was a really fruitful one and i enjoyed myself tremendously!!

Lesson was in the Living Lab that day and we carried on completing our workbook exercises. We were allowed to research for information so that we could answer those questions we were unsure of. I looked up for information on why aluminium alloy was used to make aircrafts instead of pure aluminium. From the given information, I realised that aluminium alloy was lighter than pure aluminium and thus, is used to make aircrafts. Some of us were chosen to present our answers to the class and explain why we chose the answers. Mdm Riza then told the class if the answers were correct or wrong and further explained why the answers were correct. She only went through part of the exercises we did that day, with the remaining exercises to be gone through the next lesson.
I used to think that textbooks would be able to provide answers to all questions, be it in exams, tests or workbooks. Now I think that my thinking was wrong. Not all workbook exercises answers are obtainable from textbooks. We need to conduct our own research in order to answer the questions. The exercises in the workbook test our general knowledge on that topic and thus, we need to widen our knowledge and be able to answer these questions should they arise in exams.

That day, the class went to the biology laboratory for our Science lesson. We merely did workbook exercises on that day. I did not expect that the workbook questions to be so tough that I had a hard time figuring out some of the answers. We were given several minutes to complete a few questions before she went through the questions and answers with us. I had to make sveral guesses for some questions, some of which were correct and others were wrong. While doing the exercises, we needed to refer to the Periodic Table but nobody had a copy of it with them at the lab. I referred to my notes but there was no mention of the Periodic Table. The notes are really important to us as we need them for revisions and are sources of information. We had no choice but to answer the questions based on our knowledge.

I feel that I would need to revise my work more often so as to be better equipped with information which would help me in tackling tough questions. Doing the workbook exercises enable me to know exactly how much I know about the topic and I will know which areas I need to improve on and thus, not repeating the same mistakes I had made previously.

Yesterday, we gathered in the Chemistry Lab for two experiments. We have 5 facilitators, who are from Temasek Junior College, out of which 3 are our seniors from the SPARKS programme. They guided us throught the 2 experiments.
1st experiment:
We were to determine the presence or absence of sugar in a sample of Coca Cola and Coca Cola Zero. We were given two cups each, X and Y. We were to drink each cup and predict which cup contains Coca Cola and which cup contains Coca Cola Zero. I predicted that Sample X is Coca Cola Zero while Sample Y is Coca Cola. WE conducted an experiemnt which involved heating and the pouring of the Benedict Solution. After several minutes of boiling, the colour of Sample X did not change while the colour of Sample Y changed, turning from brown to reddish orange. My predictions turned out to be right!! I've learnt that Coca Cola Zero contains less sugar than Coca Cola, but still, it is unhealthy for us.

2nd experiment:
We were to compare the calorie content in healthy and unhealthy food. We were given 3 samples:
Peanuts
Cereal
Tidbits (Roller Coaster)
First, we have to record the initial temperature of water in the test tube. Then we were to burn the peanuts first, before placing the burning peanut in an evaporating dish under the test tube. We then recorded down the highest temperature reached. We were to repaeat these steps for cereal and tidbits. Due to time constraint, I was unable to complete the experiment on cereals. The facilitators told us that the temperature change in water for peanuts and tidbits should have a higher change than cereal as they are more unhealthy than creals.
From this experiment, I've learnt that having a higher change in the tempeature of water means that the food is burning off lots of oil which determines that the food is unhealthy. I think that these experiments are really interesting ways to find out about healthy and unhealthy food. I do hope that we are able to conduct such experiments in the future!!

Yeah!! Finally post a post on the same day as Science lesson!! Ok, let's focus on today's lesson. Basically, today was not really a lesson. Mdm Riza gave out info sheets which contains what our assessment consists of and the marking rubrics for the posts in the discussion forum on the GROUPS page. We were in the Living lab again and we used the laptops to enter our blogs. Mdm Riza went from table to table to view our blogs and giving comments. Ok, that's the end for today's lesson. So short....

Yesterday, the lesson was held in the Living lab. We had to make predicitions before an experiment was conducted. Only that we are watching a video of an experiment as Mdm Riza said it was too dangerous to conduct live. The experiment was about dropping 5 metals at a time belonging to the 1st group of the Periodic Table into a water trough. The 5 metals are:
-lithium
-sodium
-potassium
-rubidium
-caesium
We were to predict what would happen when lithium was dropped into the water. I predicted that the metal would rust and sink as i thought all metals rust. (What ignorant thinking!) However, when the video was played, the lithium did not sink and rust. Instead, it produced a bright spark before zooming everywhere on the surface of the water, like a full-speed motorboat. It also produced a gas. I learnt that not all metals rust and that when some metals come into contact with water, they produce gases.

*As each metal was dropped in according to the order above, the spark produced increased in the intensity of light and more smoke was produced each time. A hissing sound could be heard each time the metals are dropped in.

Yesterday, we gathered at the Science laboratory for our Science lesson. We were to conduct two experiments in pairs. I worked with Mingze for the experiments. Mdm Riza briefed us on what we need to do during our experiments before giving the green light for us to begin our experiments.
The first experiment required us to burn magnesium and observe what happens before and after the burning of magnesium. We wore goggles to protect our eyes and we were to look away during the burning of magnesium for the magnesium would produce a bright spark. After the magnesium burned, we observed the current state of it. At first, the magnesium was silver in colour. After the experiment, the magnesium had turned white and powdery.
The second experiment required us to observe what happens when a glowing tip of a wooden stick after burned is placed at the tip of a boiling tube contaning a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and manganese. I added two spatulas of manganese into a boiling tube half filled with hydrogen peroxide. Once the manganese came into contact with the hydrogan peroxide, the liquid began bubbling. After a while, the bubbling stopped. I capped the boiling tube with a stopper while Mingze lit the tip of the wooden stick. Once the stick caught fire, Mingze blew the flame out to leave a the tip glowing. I immediately uncapped the boiling tube and Mingze placed the glowing tip at the mouth of the tube. Nothing happened.
We decided to add more hydrogen peroxide and manganese so that the boiling tube was about three-quarter filled. Mingze lit the tip of the wooden stick and again, after blowing the flame out, placed the tip at the mouth of the boiling tube. This time, the glowing tip brightened and miraculously, lit up!! Mdm Riza told us that this was supposed to be the outcome of our experiment. I was so happy that we had succeeded that i acted a little silly. We completed the worksheet based on the experiments and there, our mission was accomplished!!
I've learnt that when elements are mixed to form a compound, they don't retain their original properties. The new compound gains new properties.

Thursdays are living-lab days so our Science lesson was held at the living lab. On that day, we began our journey into compounds. Mdm Riza would conduct 2 experments but before she does that, each of us were supposed to predict what would happen when 2 liquids/substances mixed. The first experiment required iron filings to be added to copper(II) sulfate solution. Everyone wrote down their predictions and minutes later, Mdm Riza carried out the experiment. The end result was that the iron filings sank to the bottom of the test tube and hardened. Some of our predictions were right while others were wrong. We then had to record our observations down.
The second experiment required the aqueous potassium idiode to be added to lead(II) nitrate. Again, everyone wrote down their predictions before Mdm Riza carried out the experiment. The end result was that when the two colorless liquids mixed, they formed a yellow substance. The surface of this new substance was yellow liquid whereas the bottom of this substance contained yellow powder. Everyone recorded down thier observations before the lesson ended.

On that day, the class was split into 5 groups:
-The Protons Experts
-The Nucleus and Neutrons Experts
-The Electrons Experts
-Atomic Number Experts
-Mass Number Experts

I belong to the Nulceus and Neutrons Experts. We were supposed to present on what we have found out based on our groupings. So the Nucleus and Neutrons Experts moved to one part of the lab to share on our research. Just as the saying goes "Ladies First", the girls presented first. Some were pretty shy and merely showed us the slides. Some were more talkative, reading chunks out of the slides.
The boys were next to present. I hadn't prepared my slides then, so I did not present. Most of the other boys were pretty chatty and were able to present their slides pretty confidently. Some boys were more soft-spoken and, like some of the girls, just showing us the slides without going through what were on the slides. This felt like a tour, going from computer to computer viewing different slides. Most of the slides contained similar information as we were researching on the same topic "Nucleus and Neutrons".
Some people can learn to be more confident on presenting but overall, the presentation session was pretty enjoyable.

welcome to my blog!! i will be updating this blog after every science lessons, which would be about thrice a week..