Blog 12th May
I told my year 13 class Thursday would be the last lesson I will ever have with them. They are a delightful class and I will miss them. We will have a little tea party during the last lesson and trough on doughnuts, cake and tea while we go through past papers.
I explained to Year 10 about the history of the atmosphere and decided to stick up for carbon dioxide, a much maligned gas. The early atmosphere contained mainly water and carbon dioxide with traces of ammonia and methane. When carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans it produced the chemical mix that allowed life to form. Without carbon dioxide there is no photosynthesis and therefore no food for animals. Most plant growth is restricted by lack of it anyway. Perhaps I should start a carbon dioxide appreciation society to seriously annoy the eco-warriors and their overindulgence in self-righteous doom-mongering. Hopefully my classes might realise what poor science is being spouted in the media.
I tried out some problem solving experiments with my Year 9 class instead of ploughing through SATs questions before their test on Friday. The thing is, I’m not sure how much they did learn. They eventually realised the way to separate sugar and glass was by dissolving and filtering. I think the only other revelation was that they can make plasticine float if they make it into boats. I suppose the proof have to be in the test results or I’m sunk.