Biology lab 3/17

It was pulmonary lab day. I used Breathing and Holding Your Breath Lab as a guide.I always modify for my group but this was the starting point.

First we made model lungs. This would be appropriate for a much younger group but the teens seemed to enjoy it as well.

A balloon makes a better diaphragm but we used a vinyl glove. A glove fingertip is the miniature lung and the stiff cup mimics the stiffness of the chest.



One of the teaching points was that the brain detects a fall in blood oxygen level and then, stimulates a diaphragm contraction that creates an intake of air, or a breath.

So they timed how long they could hold their breath. Then hyperventilated room air, thereby raising their blood oxygen level, and compared how long they could hold their breath again. Each was able to hold it a bit longer.



Then they breathed into a bag, dropping their oxygen level, and could not hold their breath as long afterward.

Each kid was encouraged to develop his own technique for this. I like this one.






Finally we measured lung capacity by doing water displacement. The competitive swimmer had the best lung volume.

Then we brought in pizza. It was a pleasant day and the kids could eat on the porch. The teens jammed in the basement. Yakov was home and always wants to take any opportunity to play with the lab drummer. PRM

Oops. We forgot Poetry Friday BUT

Noach and I had Music Friday.

We went to Dad's workplace where the Appalachian State steel drum band named Steely Pan played. We had a great time.

Steel drum music is smiley music. You just can't listen and not smile. And move.

Our 6th Homeschool Band Winter Concert

According to Dr. R, it was the 15th winter concert but, for us, it was the 6th. The winter concert is always a challenge because the Beginner Band has been playing for only 4 months. And often they don't play well together. And sometimes they don't play well alone either. It always reminds me of that scene in The Music Man, when the boys start play discordantly and a mother calls out proudly, "That's my boy on the clarionette." (I know that's not an exact quote.) Last night the Beginner Band sounded pretty good. There were only about 8 members and they stayed together. I remember the first one we went to, when Yakov was playing trumpet and Shoshie squawking the clarinet. The band was awful, just awful. And they were so proud of themselves. And so were we.

Now Yakov plays the bass and Noach percussion in the Advanced Band. Shoshie dropped out this fall after 3 years of oboe playing. The Advanced Band played very well. There are a lot of trumpets and they stayed together. Dr. R told me again what a leader Yakov is, how he has really helped the new bass player improve. I suspect this will be Yakov's last year. He will be 18 next fall. I cannot imagine not going to these concerts. PRM