Field day '09

Yesterday's annual Field day was great! The kids costumes were super and they had a lot of fun with the Field day events. We started off great by winning the Apache Relay and second in the boys 1/4 lap relay, 4th in the 1/4 lap girls relay, 3rd in the 1/4 lap mixed relay, but it was downhill after that. Congratulations to Mr. Olivios homeroom for winning Field day!

Greek Plays Groups 65 & 68

On Tuesday we were treated to 12 Greek plays by Mrs. Black's groups 65 & 68. They were great!

Environmental Awareness activities here at Parker

Here are 3 activities currently being run here at Parker by Ms. Quackenbush's 8th grade classes that you could participate in to help our Earth!
1. This Sunday, June 14th there is a BakeWash being help here at Parker from 10 - 2. Come get your car washed using eco-friendly soap and while you wait, buy some home baked goodies! The cost is $7 with the proceeds going to a cause to help fight global warming.

2. Recyclathon! Bring in your recyclable plastic and aluminum bottles. They will be collected, counted, and recycled. The homeroom with the most bottles/cans will win a Pizza party.

3. "Lights Out Challenge". Let's try and turn off all of the classroom lights next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to show our awareness of our environment.

For more information about these events and others, visit the web sites they have constructed.

Gold Penny Demo - 2009

Today we made Gold! Not really. We took a penny made before 1982 and cleaned it. We next put it into a heated bath of sodium hydroxide and zinc. When the penny came out, it was silver. Next, the kids dried off the penny and using long tongs, heated it in the Bunsen burner until it turned a gold color. They then plunged it into cold water. Gold!
What we really produced was a brass coated penny. The silver coating on the penny is plating of sodium zincate. The heat causes a fusion between copper and zinc to form the brass alloy.

Photos by Quillen.

Hydrogen Balloon

In today's activity we performed a single replacement chemical reaction. We mixed Zinc (Zn) with Hydrochloric acid (HCl) in side a 1,000ml Erlenmyer flask. When the reaction began, we put a balloon over the top of the flask to capture the gas. Some metals react with acids to produce hydrogen. The metal changes place with the hydrogen in the acid. The hydrogen is set free. Zinc is a metal that will react with Hydrochloric acid. This reaction produces. Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and Hydrogen.

Photos by Duncan and Shawneen.

Chemistry Test Study Party

Here are photos from this morning's "Study Party." These optional "parties" were held Tuesday and Wednesday morning at 7:15 to help students prepare for the Chemistry test. To entice the kids into showing up, I brought Munchkins.

Element of the Day - Thursday, June 4th

Who am I? I am a soft, metallic chemical element found in limestone, chalk, and marble. I am needed for the healthy development of teeth and bones. I am often fortified (added) to foods. I am the most abundant metal by mass in most animals. My name comes from the Latin word "calcis" meaning lime. Who am I? E-mail me the correct answer and its chemical symbol at: dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.us.

Element of the Day - Wednesday, June 3rd

Who am I? I am a hard, slivery-white, grayish, magnetic metal. I have been used since ancient times. 30% of the world's supply of me comes from Canada. I am used in alloys, coins, magnets, some kinds of batteries, and plating (covering) other metals. E-mail me with your answer at dwilliams@reading.k12.ma.usInclude the element's chemical symbol.Image taken from: wholesalebatteries.us

Element of the Day - Tuesday, June 2nd

Who am I? I am a soft, silvery-white metal. I am a key component of many fertilizers and am needed by the human body to help muscles function well. Sometimes people eat bananas so that they get enough of me. Who am I?
E-mail me with your answer. Include the elemnet's chemical symbol.
Image taken from: stke.k12.nf.ca/science