Chemistry
1. Dear Diary: Studying Tennessine (Ts)
I wrote a diary entry from the perspective of a scientist studying the element Tennessine (Ts). In the entry, I focused on the rarity of the element, its unique properties, and the challenges scientists face when researching such a newly discovered element.
2. Oxygen Art
For the oxygen art project, I drew a man releasing oxygen from his hands to bring life to creatures. This image symbolizes the importance of oxygen in sustaining life and its essential role in the natural world.
3. Creative Bohr Model of Oxygen
I created a colorful and creative Bohr model of the oxygen atom, highlighting its atomic structure. The model shows the 8 protons, 8 neutrons, and 8 electrons arranged in two energy levels, visually representing oxygen's unique atomic makeup.
Smores Lab (Chemical Change)
The objective of the Smores lab was to observe a chemical change through the process of heating ingredients. We created smores by roasting marshmallows over a fire, watching as the marshmallows melted and combined with chocolate and graham crackers to form a new substance, illustrating the chemical change that occurs when heat is applied to these ingredients.
Skittles Lab (Percentages Data)
The Skittles lab involved testing the color release of Skittles in a controlled environment. We measured the percentage of color that dissolved from each Skittle when exposed to different conditions, such as temperature or time. The results showed how much of the color dissolved from the candies, which was recorded as percentages for comparison across the conditions.
Question: How might cultural and historical contexts have shaped scientific discoveries in making the periodic table?
Claim: Cultural and historical contexts significantly influenced the development of the periodic table by shaping the resources and tools available to scientists.
Evidence: Dmitri Mendeleev's work in the 19th century was supported by prior discoveries of individual elements and a growing interest in classifying materials, driven by industrial and scientific revolutions.
Reasoning: Without the industrial revolution's advancements in chemistry and access to global resources, Mendeleev wouldn’t have had the tools or data necessary to organize the elements into a systematic table.
10/25/24
In our project, we combined STEAM subjects by using science to understand the electron configuration of tin, math to plan the proportions, and art to design a mandala showing its electronic shells. We learned more about how tin’s electrons are arranged in each shell, which helped us connect science with art in a creative way. It was fun using different shapes and colors to represent the electrons in each shell, making the mandala unique and colorful. Our artwork is a circular pattern with layers of shapes arranged in rings, each layer symbolizing a different shell in tin’s electron configuration. We focused on balance and symmetry to make the design look organized and visually pleasing. In all, these principles made the mandala clear, helping us show the structure of tin's electron shells creatively.
10/2/24
The history of Dmitri Mendeleev who formulated the periodic table heavily shaped the periodic table historically. Dmitri used the development of the Treatise of Chemical Elements to name the system for the discovery of new elements. He would use this by making a prediction chart, where an unknown element is then using their position on the table to know their properties. This shaped the available scientific knowledge and the priorities of research. His method allowed scientists to confidently search for elements that fit the predicted gaps. As new elements were discovered, Mendeleev's predictions were proven accurate, solidifying the table's importance in chemistry.
ELA
We created a plot diagram to outline our film's narrative, detailing Mansa Musa’s imaginary journey for gold. This helped us identify key story elements such as the introduction of Mansa Musa, the challenges he faced, and the climax of his quest, ensuring a well-structured storyline.(Below)
During these sessions, we began drafting the script for our short film about Mansa Musa’s journey. Collaboratively, we wrote dialogue and scene descriptions that highlighted the significance of gold in Mali's economy and the cultural impact of Mansa Musa's leadership.
We continued to refine the script, focusing on developing Mansa Musa’s character and the various interactions he has along his journey. This involved ensuring that the dialogue reflected historical context while engaging the audience with relatable themes.
Today, I collaborated with my group to write the script for our Ancient Mali project. I contributed by researching technological advancements and crafting a detailed segment on this topic. Working together, we integrated each part to create a cohesive and engaging presentation.
During our table read, we performed the script aloud, allowing us to hear how the dialogue flowed. Feedback from peers helped us identify areas that needed improvement, particularly in the need to explain the resources of Mali and how Mansa Musa navigates his journey.
We participated in an acting class at Dad’s Garage, where we learned techniques to effectively portray Mansa Musa and other characters. This experience provided valuable insights into character expression and storytelling, which we could apply to our film.
We developed a costume and prop list that included traditional Malian attire and gold-themed props to enhance our film's authenticity. We also created a flyer for our PBL showcase to attract viewers, highlighting the film's focus on Mansa Musa’s journey.
During this time, we filmed our short film, capturing scenes that depicted Mansa Musa’s adventure in search of gold. We started the editing process, adding music and visuals to create a captivating narrative that showcases Mali’s wealth and cultural significance.
In these sessions, we prepared for our presentation, focusing on how to effectively communicate Mansa Musa's story to our audience. We rehearsed our speaking parts, ensuring we could articulate the film's themes and historical context clearly during the showcase.
This is the script of the story we made Mali and the Merchants.
9/13/24
Today, my group and I presented in front of the class our script.
9/12/24
Today, I collaborated with my group to write the script for our Ancient Mali project. I contributed by researching technological advancements and crafting a detailed segment on this topic. Working together, we integrated each part to create a cohesive and engaging presentation.
In this exciting project, I was tasked with creating a movie while managing the budget to avoid financial disaster. The real challenge was making sure every part of the production adhered to the budget, which meant every decision had to be well-thought-out. Thanks to my careful planning, I kept the finances in check and avoided going broke! However, despite my financial success, the movie didn’t pull in the top stars or the star power I had hoped for. Even though the financial side was a win, the movie didn’t quite capture the audience’s attention the way I imagined.
I worked through the lessons about digital information on CodeHS. I learned about how computers store data like text, images, and numbers. After practicing, I took the Digital Information Badge quiz and passed it. It helped me understand how everything I see online is made of 1s and 0s.
I studied how the internet works, like how information travels through routers and IP addresses. Then I took the Internet Test on CodeHS to show what I learned. Some questions were tricky, but I used what I remembered from the lessons. It made me feel more confident about how the internet connects everything.
Can Computers Solve Everything? – 3/26/25
In this task, I responded to a scenario where my younger sibling was impressed by how powerful computers seem—especially after using Instagram. I took the opportunity to explain that while computers are incredibly capable, they aren't limitless. Some problems are fundamentally unsolvable, no matter how advanced the technology becomes. I introduced the idea of undecidable problems in computer science, using the Halting Problem as an example. This problem shows that there are certain questions no computer program can ever solve perfectly. By sharing this, I helped my sibling understand that, despite their vast potential, computers have boundaries in what they can accomplish.
For this task, I jumped into some serious review action with a fun and interactive quiz on Gimkit, all about tuples and lists in coding! The focus was to lock down the key concepts I’ll need for the upcoming test. I tackled each question, testing my knowledge of how tuples and lists work. It was a great way to reinforce what I know while figuring out where I need to do a little extra studying. Thanks to this activity, I’m feeling much more confident and ready for the test :)
For this assignment, I got creative with a cool dice-rolling game! I wrote code to simulate a dice roll, generating random numbers between 1 and 6 every time. It was a blast to see the random number generator in action, and I got to brush up on using control structures in programming. Not only did I learn some neat coding tricks, but I also created an interactive game that’s just plain fun to play.
In this review, I dove into a bunch of Gimkit questions that helped me revisit important coding concepts from the entire semester. The focus was on things like movement code, turning code, and the basic building blocks of coding. The questions helped solidify my understanding of how these concepts work in real coding scenarios. It was an interactive way to pinpoint areas where I might need a little extra work, and it definitely set me up to ace the test ahead.
In this assignment, I had a blast creating a gene allele generator! I designed it to showcase the difference between dominant and recessive genes, using capital letters for dominant traits and lowercase for recessive ones. To make it even more visual, I added colors to represent each gene type clearly. This project helped me understand genetics in coding while creating something that’s both useful and visually engaging.
Conditionals Badge:
Earning this badge taught me how to use conditional statements like if and else to make decisions in code. It was an important step for me, as I now understand how to create programs that can respond differently based on different conditions, which makes my coding more interactive.
Receipt Averaging Program:
For this task, I wrote a code to calculate the average of four receipts by summing them and dividing by 4. This assignment reinforced my understanding of basic arithmetic in coding, and I felt confident applying these principles to solve the problem.
Teleporting Sprite:
This assignment involved coding a simple program where a character, or “sprite,” teleports randomly around the screen and interacts with the user by displaying messages. It was straightforward and helped me get more comfortable with the basics of screen interaction and simple animations.
Halloween-Themed Game
For this assignment, we created a Halloween-themed game where a ghost has to catch candy within a 5-second timer. When the timer runs out, the game ends, and the player sees their final score. It was a fun way to practice basic coding skills, and I felt accomplished when I could see the game working with a countdown and score feature.
For this assignment it tested us on our unit 1 AP computer science test. On the first test I recived a 8/20 because I couldn't understand the material. But after reviewing the test and persevering I recived a 70 on the test.
On this assignment I learned how to animate diffrent shapes. To animate these shapes I had to code the shapes to include how I want it to change and how much.
On this assignment I learned what super karel is and how to use it. Super karel allows me to code karel much easier and provied more oppertunities to make things like my pair programming assignment.
On this assignment I leaned how to ask someone to input numbers and values into my code. For example I used user input badge to ask the user how many apples and oranges they wanted and my code did various things from that input.
My partner and I used pair programming in CodeHS to guide Karel in creating a flower pattern. Together, we wrote loops and conditionals to direct Karel to place paint in a petal-like arrangement. This collaboration improved our problem-solving and teamwork skills while reinforcing key programming concepts.
Jazmyne Mangham
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Aug 7
100 points
I used the sandbox environment to create a unique project with Python SuperKarel, utilizing all the concepts we had learned. I programmed Karel to perform various tasks using basic commands resulting in a custom pattern or arrangement of objects. This project helped me apply fundamental programming skills and explore the capabilities of SuperKarel in a creative way.
Jazmyne Mangham
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Aug 7
For this assignment, I used for loops in Python to repeat code a fixed number of times. I created a program where Karel performed a sequence of actions repeatedly, such as moving and placing objects in a pattern. By using for loops, I was able to efficiently execute these repetitive tasks without writing redundant code. This approach was especially useful for creating complex patterns or arrangements that would have been difficult or impossible to achieve with manual coding alone.
Obi Wan
I created a Python script that asks for the user's name, and then how many droids and Wookiees they want to meet. I used the input() function to get the user's responses and printed a message summarizing their choices. This simple program helps practice handling user input and formatting output.
Chemvas
Today in class with Noah, Grant, and Brandon , we tried making ink using lampblack, which is the black soot left after burning something. We held a spoon over a flame to collect the soot, then tried to mix it with alcohol on the table. However, we did it wrong because the soot clumped together instead of making smooth ink. We learned that we needed gum Arabic, a sticky substance that helps the soot mix properly with liquid. Without it, the ink didn’t work well. This experiment showed us how ancient people made ink for writing and art, and next time, we’ll use gum Arabic to make it correctly. This relates to chemistry because burning creates soot, which is a result of combustion which turns this into a carbon capture project.
Covalent or Ionic Bond Paper Weaving
1/8/25
In class, I did a paper weaving project using different colors to represent covalent and ionic bonds. I carefully intertwined the strips, making sure they were evenly spaced and secure. The contrasting colors helped illustrate the differences between the two types of chemical bonds in a creative and visual way.
Weaving Experience
1/10/25
In class, I weaved strips of paper together to create a heart that could open like a pocket. I carefully interlaced the pieces, making sure the pattern was even and secure. When finished, the heart not only looked decorative but also functioned as a small pocket to hold notes or tiny items.
Dyeing and Bonding Lab
1/14/25
In class, we boiled blueberries to create a natural dye and used it to color paper. I twisted the paper tightly before dipping it into the dye, allowing the color to seep in unevenly. After untwisting it, I saw beautiful, unique patterns where the dye had settled differently across the folds.
Chinese Painting with ink/dye
1/17/25
In class, I studied Fu Baoshi’s painting style and used ink on paper to create a mountain scene. I experimented with brushstrokes, layering dark and light washes to add depth and texture. The process was both challenging and rewarding as I brought the landscape to life with expressive ink work.
Making Paper experience
1/24/25
For this assignment my group—Noah, Grant, Brandon, and I—worked together in class to make recycled paper using colored paper. First, we tore the paper into small pieces, added water, and poured it into a blender to create a smooth pulp. Next, we poured the blended mixture onto a screen and carefully strained out the excess water. Finally, we strained pulp was pressed and left to dry, transforming it into a sheet of recycled paper.
Google "mandala" and find out something more about another use of mandalas. Make and entry in your learning journal and discuss
1. Mandala's are artistic representations of Buddhits beleifs. These art peices are used in meditiation, to teach people in religious training, and to guide a meditating person to spiritual healing and enlightenment.
2.Mandalas have been used in world civilizations like Mesopatamia, to represent the relationship and connection between humans and the universe.
3. In mandala peices one principle of design I have noticed is symmetry, which is the defining element of mandala designs. The countless intricate patterns of squares,circles,squares, and triangles adhere to geometric symmetry.
4. I can use mandala to sybolize the an atom by using the geometricly symmetrical elements of a mandala to represent a atom. Because a mandala is seen as a symbol of the universe in a pure form the mandala made atom would perfectly fit a atom.
7/30/2024
In my mind “Art”, is a form of creativity and expression that extends beyond traditional forms of creativity like music and performances. For example in science the eloquent designs in thesymmetry of a snowflake shows art from its purest form, nature. Math showcases the beauty of patterns and equations which is a component of art. English literature demonstrates artistic components through compelling stories and engaging poetic language. Every subject shows art in unique forms of creativity and human expression.
8/1/2024
Geometry
Geometry and architecture are like close friends that work together to create buildings and spaces. Geometry is like the special language that architects use to turn their ideas into real structures. Whether it's ancient pyramids or tall modern buildings, geometry helps decide how things should look and fit together. It also helps architects to ensure that buildings are strong and safe, while being creative and green. When geometry and architecture come together, they ensure that buildings are not only useful but also beautiful, making our cities and landmarks meaningful and special.
In the first unit of geometry, I learned about some important math concepts. One of them was polynomials, which are expressions with numbers and variables combined using operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These polynomials can have different degrees, which tell us the highest power of a variable in the expression.
Another thing I learned was how to simplify radicals. Radicals are symbols like the square root (√) that show us a number's root. I learned how to make these radical expressions simpler by finding factors that can be taken out from under the root symbol.
Throughout the unit, I also got to understand the relationships between different types of numbers, like integers, fractions, and decimals. These concepts helped me build a strong foundation for understanding more complex geometrical ideas in the future.