Growing Minds

When a substance is heated up, its particles move more and it takes up a larger volume – this is known as thermal expansion. Conversely, a drop in temperature causes it to contract again. The mercury level inside a thermometer, for example, rises and falls as the mercury’s volume changes with the ambient temperature. This effect is most dramatic in gases but occurs in liquids and solids such as iron too. For this reason, large structures such as bridges are built with expansion joints which allow them some leeway to expand and contract without causing any damage.

Im back from hiatus! Just in time to prepare you or your child for exam season!

•Comment below your favourite science related book!•

I recently bought this book and I am looking forward to reading it. I didnt take physics past grade 10, but listening to with has definitely had an impact on my curiosity about the universe and the that makes up the universe.

So why this book over other books? For one, the title of it is honest about how much science really knows about the universe. Often times scientists are made out to be these people who have all the answers, yet in reality they know just as much as you and me. The only difference is they have made it a career to find out the answers of questions nobody xan answer.

It also resonated with me in the same manner when you hear the quote from Aristotle, "the more you know, the more you realise you don't know." Because the more you learn about the world, the more it should make you question what else you haven't learned, or rather than being content with the answer to one thing it should raise even more questions that you may not know.

The final reason for choosing it was because, as I was told once, looking at a random page my attention was brought to these nifty images which I assumed were there to help an explanation to a theory or concept to make it more tangible and visual. The creator of those images makes the webcomic and I thought it was a nice addition to such a book on so many heavy topics.

Here is to continuously learning!

•Tell me what university you went to or want to go to in the comments below•

I never heard of Trent University until the school I currently work at was offered the chance to sign up for a live lecture from their science department about various subjects. Specifically, Dr. Anne Pasek's "Climate Change Communications: How to Talk with People About Climate Change." I am looking forward to hearing this talk as climate change is a real global issue and how we communicate and talk to each other is the only way we can find a solution that can have a positive impact for us all

If you want to check out some of their other online hosted talks check out this link: https://www.trentu.ca/futurestudents/undergraduate/applicants/guidance/trent-talks-high-school-edition-2021

When I researched the university I was surprised how small it was, but also at some of their programs they offer to students. I listed some of more unique programs that I feel students would never think about as an option.

For a complete list of their programs go here: https://www.trentu.ca/futurestudents/undergraduate/programs

If you, or your child, work well in smaller class sizes then a smaller university like Trent might be a good option. They are a top 10 primarily undergraduate university, and can claim being top 10 for student awards and student satisfaction.

When presenting, it is easy to keep on talking and fill out every moment of silence. Silence can indeed feel awkward - but there is great potential in keeping a slower pace. A short pause after a statement or question helps your audience to get their thoughts together and makes it easier for them to contribute. By pausing more often, you get continuous feedback on what you are presenting and can better engage your audience.

There are many positive effects on students when you give them a chance to hear the question and formulate their response in their head before having them respond. This works best in a one on one session as the student will have a chance to be heard. But if not, cold calling can keep the shy ones from staying hidden.

•Tell us a volleyball story you have in the comments below!•

When I moved to the area in 2019 I was itching to find some house league clubs to resume playing the sports I have done since I was 10 years old.

The offered weekly games at a fair price considering the amount of guaranteed games we played. They were always organized, communicated when time chages or game cancellations had to occur and during covid were accommodating at ensuring we were still able to play out the season when it was safe to do so!

They have youth volleyball leagues for indoor and beach volleyball. Offering competitive and recreational so everyone at all skill levels can play.

They also offer beach volleyball training for those between the ages 10-18 if you are looking for a more structured learning environment.

For more information about a specific location, dates, times and prices visit the link below:

http://www.niagarasportandsocial.com/leagues?state=LIVE&locationId=&seasonId=&days=&levelId=

http://www.niagarasportandsocial.com/leagues?state=LIVE&locationId=&seasonId=&days=&levelId=

•Comment which post you are looking most forward to seeing this week!•

Monday: Community spotlight will highlight different local companies and activities found around the Niagara Region. Websites and links will be found in the comment section after the post!

Tuesday: Tutor Tips on how to improve academically or personally in life. This is every Tuesday.

Wednesday: University/College spotlight will focus on specific programs to inform you about your options, what the requirements are to get in, which University or College offers the program. Sometimes it will highlight grants and bursaries students could apply for as well.

Thursday: Quote of the Week. Every Thursday I will post a quote with a theme. Generally the quotes come from scientists but not always!

Friday: UN Global Goals highlight one issue that we as a planet and human race face. I will highlight one of the goals and often suggest a way you can make an impact personally, or in your community.

•We all have DNA so why not explore it at home? Comment the fruit you used in the experiment!•

I have done this with a grade 8 class and we used frozen peas. It is very simple to do and the only really messy part was mashing up the peas to release the DNA. Its a great way to introduce the idea of DNA, genetics, and variation.

I highly recommend doing this at home at any age to allow your child to see with their own eyes some DNA. You can even have them isolate their own DNA using some of their own saliva.

For a full breakdown of the materials and procedure visit the link below.
https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disimpactmngmnt/labexercises/PlantBiotechnology/Pages/Activity1.aspx

•What are your thoughts on Dr. Stone?• Comment below or suggest a science related anime I should watch!

If you ask Senku he would say it is "10 billion percent" accurate. However, he would have a personal bias.

The amazing thing about this anime is that it introduces science and explains science in ways that are engaging and feel natural. Listening to Senku explain how to make gun powder would be similiar to talking to a friend about their science project.

It gets the general principles of science right, it educates you about inventions by going so far as to name drop inventors. Often times it shows the important of trial and error during scientific discoveries and even highlights how accidental discoveries can occur.

Where it falls short are some of the more practical issues that would bog down the storyline. Things like resource availability, complexity of inventions, and timeframes to build working models like cars.

This anime is perfect to get kids excited about science. There aren't too many adult themes or images to worry about if you are watching it.

Today's 🌸 comes from one of my personal favourite scientists of all time and revolves around "critical thinking." Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on this quote or give me a quote you feel people should see.

What I love most about him is how excited he gets when talking to others about science. You can see, hear, and feel his passion and interest in teaching others the wonders of science and science literacy.

He has definitely impacted how I try and model my lessons, finding ways to engage students more with investigations and hands on activities rather than just copying notes. The world has so much to offer and learning how to make sense of it is a skill that requires curiousity and exploration.

Few scientific minds do as good a job as he does as making it easy to understand some complex concepts, another quality I strive to do when I am teaching or tutoring others.