As a result of the ongoing pandemic, schools around the world are adjusting and adapting to facilitate meaningful learning for students. British Columbia is no exception. It seems at this writing, most if not all BC schools will be implementing some kind of quarter semester system. While every school timetable system is different and has advantages and disadvantages, I think it’s really important for parents and students (and for that matter teachers) to realize that the quarter system is the least forgiving system for anyone who gets off to a bad start.
The quarter system involves students taking just two courses during a ten week period where half of each school day would be dedicated to each course. Needless to say a lot of material has to be covered in a very short period of time. As a comparison, after just two weeks of a quarter system, the students will have covered the same about of material that would have been covered in two months of a linear system. If the teacher is on board and prepared and the students are keen and diligent this could be an awesome opportunity for learning and experiencing a wide variety of educational activities that might not be practical when the students and teachers only meet 2 or three times a week for an hour at a time. Hopefully many teachers and students will rise to the occasion and make the best of this unexpected opportunity.
Having said that, in this situation, students and teachers for the most part are being forced into this quarter system with no experience or choice. While it may be the best way to operate schools for efficiency and safety in this particular environment, it is critical for parents to recognize that many students and teachers (on such short notice) will be less than prepared to make the most of this new and quite extreme change. It will be of utmost importance for students to learn the material immediately as it is presented. They need to realize that getting one week behind will be the equivalent of a month in the linear system. Any stutters or stops or confusion on the part of teachers or students will be greatly magnified. Unexpected interruptions will be difficult to deal with and the time dedicated to learning curricula will fly by.
Throughout my career, at the beginning of every year, my most important piece of advice to students was always to learn material as it is presented or as soon as possible thereafter. In this environment, that advice will be more important than ever.
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If you or someone you know would like help with Chemistry 11 or 12 please feel free to contact me. Keep in mind that during any given time period, I will likely be working with fewer students but on a more frequent basis.
attempts to assist students as much as possible, but the reality is that it is really difficult for both students and teachers these days. Many of my current students are signed up to take Chemistry 12 in September and I am making sure that they have the required knowledge and skills from Chemistry 11 to do so successfully.
Each webinar will include all topics as well as pre and post-session printable materials and only cost $49 plus an Eventbrite service charge. Sessions will be limited to 10 participants to allow for interaction and some questions. Pacing will be moderate so that students can follow along and participate in real time.
When you put on your mask and head off to get your groceries, keep in mind that if you walk through an environment in which the virus is present, and the mask catches the droplets containing the virus preventing them from infecting you, the virus is now sitting on the moist surface of the mask. Again, if the mask actually protected you, then there is a high probability that virus particles are sitting right there on the mask. The first things you should do when you get home are carefully take the mask off, throw it in the washing machine and wash your hands.
unpack the groceries. Or even think about using that mask again without washing it thoroughly.
While you are out and about even pulling the mask down and moving it back into position can be problematic as every time you touch the mask you run the risk of touching virus particles and spreading them to other surfaces.
(depending on what your teacher calls it). This skill is critical to your success this year and will also be next year if you take Chemistry 12.
available, along with various metal electrodes, leads and volt meters. That’s it!
Students then construct bio-batteries by sticking the electrodes into the various fruits and vegetables and measure the voltage. You can make the activity as casual or formal as you like and either way, students find the activity fun and eye opening. Different groups can even try connecting their batteries together in series or parallel and see how the voltage changes or not. 
Depending how adventurous the class is, you might even try making human bio- batteries by holding electrodes connected to a volt meter with hands dampened by salty water.
fruits and vegetables. You might check-in a couple days in advance and ask them to set aside some of these fruits and veggies that otherwise would be heading to the compost. You could also ask students to go through their fridges at home and look for something appropriate to use and bring to class. Oranges, lemons, grapefruits, watermelon, potatoes, bananas, apples, yams… there are endless possibilities. Most classrooms have access to zinc, copper, nickel, aluminum and maybe even silver electrodes.