Math Students Apply their Skills!

Katie Clay Beyond the Classroom, Experiential Learning, Science and Math No Comments

The YMCA Academy’s Grade 11 College Math class took to the park to apply their skills to real world problems. After studying trigonometry in class and using technology to verify its laws, students were ready to see its applications firsthand.

Trigonometry has been used through the ages to solve problems in fields such as astronomy, land-surveying, navigation, architecture and more! In our class the students had to find the height of a lamp post, using a device called a clinometer which measures the angle of elevation, and determine the width of a pond that we created with chalk. Students worked together to take required measurements, determine which trigonometric formula to use and solve the problem.

Chemistry students observe reactions

Zareh Demirdji Science and Math No Comments

Grade 12 YMCA Academy Chemistry students observe a reaction and record analysis.

Atoms are all around us. They make up everything we know. Having a fundamental understanding of their properties and characteristics grants us the ability to analyse pretty much any substance and discern its chemical and atomic makeup. There are several ways of figuring out the chemical makeup of substances. In the matter and qualitative analysis unit of grade 12 chemistry, we look at some of the techniques chemists use to analyse matter. Specifically, we look at the use of mass spectrometers, flame tests, emission/absorption spectra, and lastly precipitation reactions.

In order to apply their knowledge and understanding of qualitative analysis, the grade 12 chemistry class was tasked with running a series of precipitation reactions in order to figure out the identity of an unknown chemical substance. Using their knowledge of precipitation reactions, solubility rules and net ionic equations, they observed a series of reactions between known substances and a single unknown sample. Using all of the aforementioned tools along with their recorded observations, they determined the identity of the unknown substance and reported their methods, observations, and conclusions in a formal lab report.

Exploring ancient stories of the night sky

Zareh Demirdji Community, Experiential Learning, Native Studies, Science and Math No Comments

Visitor to the YMCA Academy Astronomy class shares stories about constellations in the night sky.

Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences. As long as humans have been able to look up at the sky, we have done so, wondering what our place is in the universe, where we came from, and how the universe itself came to be. Many (if not all) ancient civilizations have creation stories of how the universe came to be, and of constellations and celestial objects. As we started our new unit of Earth and Space exploration, we had the pleasure of having master orator Jim Adams share Aboriginal stories about celestial objects, constellations, and the universe as a whole.

We first heard a story about Sky Woman, which connected the Earth and the sky. Next, we heard about Atima and Atchaksuk, the dog and light/star respectively. Lastly, we heard three stories about constellations. The first story was one about a wolf which related to the little dipper. The second story was about Mista Muskwa (the big bear) which is commonly known as Ursa Major which has the Big Dipper as part of it. The last story was about the Pleiades constellation. By the end of the class, students were still thirsty for more stories. We may have to call in Jim again in order to appease the students’ desire to hear more Aboriginal stories.

Chemistry students explore properties of compounds

Zareh Demirdji Experiential Learning, Science and Math No Comments

The atom is the basic unit of matter. All the elements in the universe are made up of atoms, each possessing its own set of physical and chemical properties. The grade 9 chemistry unit is all about exploring matter. Throughout the unit, students are introduced to the atom and the characteristics of its subatomic particles, the periodic table, and most importantly, the information the periodic table holds about the physical and chemical properties of elements.

The grade 9 science class set out to experiment and observe the physical and chemical properties of a set of four chemical compounds in order to determine which of them, if any, are part of the same family. Students ran a series of chemical reactions and recorded their observations in order to determine the answer and to justify it with evidence.

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Grade 10 Science – Pig Dissection

Zareh Demirdji Experiential Learning, Science and Math No Comments

Learning about cells and tissues can be a difficult concept for students considering how small cells are, and how much information there is to know about the different tissue types in the human body. With cells and tissues out of the way, organs and organ systems take center stage which students find easier as they have a good amount of background knowledge about most of the major organs and the major functions they have. Each student was assigned a specific organ to research and become a “master” of. Students then used this knowledge to teach each other about their organs.

In order to see how all of the major organs look, and to get a better appreciation for how they work together, the grade 10 science class observed the dissection of a fetal pig just before their biology unit assignment. Students were called upon to explain their assigned organs to the rest of the class throughout the dissection. An alternate room was set up for student who did not want to partake in the dissection. Although the dissection was an exciting idea to most of the class during the days leading up to the dissection, only 3 of the 9 students in attendance ended up partaking in the entire dissection. All of the students got a chance to see the pig before the dissection, and most of them saw various portions of the dissection, with all of them making memorable memories regardless of their level of participation.