A Place at the Table

Can you imagine having to drive an hour just to buy a piece of fresh fruit?  Can you imagine living in a town that doesn't sell lettuce?  Julia Savacool wrote an article for the October issue of Women's Health that investigates how "both the obesity and hunger problems in the U.S. are connected to the dearth of healthy foods."

Watch the video clip below:

In class the past week, we have been discussing carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and a lot about food in general.  This weekend as I was grocery shopping, I started thinking about the above mentioned Women's Health article and how fortunate I am.  Have you seen this movie?  What do you think?  What is a food desert?  Why are over-processed foods so much cheaper and easier to access?  What is the link between processed foods and obesity?  How can you help people that can't afford healthy food?  What can be done to revive nutritional wastelands?

Because there is no school on Friday and you have a test on Thursday, this assignment will be due on Monday, October 28th.  For Monday, you will write a response to the video trailer and the questions posted above.  I am expecting a scholarly, well-written response.  In order to receive the full 10 points for this assignment, I would like you to find one written source to cite in your response.  You may use EBSCO or any of the school databases.  Ask me if you have any questions.  Wikipedia is not considered a written source, but it might be a good place to start.

Savacool, Julia.  "What It's Like to Be Stranded in a Food Desert."  Women's Health.  October 2013, 154-159.

"Mountain Dews and Don'ts"

Read the Newsweek article below:

http://mag.newsweek.com/2013/10/04/mountain-dews-and-don-ts.html

For our second week in the chemistry unit, we are going to analyze what happens to the chemistry of your brain on caffeine.  After reading the article, respond to the questions below in a well-constructed academic paragraph.  This discussion response is due Friday and worth 10 points.

Why do you think more teens are drinking energy drinks, coffee, and caffeinated beverages?  Do you think the demands on teens is greater now than in the 1990's?  Why?  What will happen to society if teens continue to drink high levels of caffeinated beverages?  What will this look like in the future?  What evidence can you provide that proves that energy drink companies target teenagers?  Can something be done to prevent teens from drinking caffeine?  Is there evidence of a direct link between academic performance and sleep?  Can you provide proof?

Akpan, Nsikan.  "Mountain Dews and Don'ts."  Newsweek.  10.04.13.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

And the winner is .....

Video killed the radio star.

Watch the video clip below about chemical bonding:

Every week I spend countless hours searching for cool video clips that relate (and sometimes don't relate) to what we are talking about in class.  I included the Tom Lehrer chemistry song and this video clip that a teacher made about ionic and covalent bonding on my blog this week.  Instead of a discussion response, this week I would like you to find a relevant video clip.  Below is a list of upcoming topics and you will either create your own video or find me a link to a cool video.  (All I need in your comment is the url address to the video clip.  Obviously, make sure that they are school appropriate.)  Rather than commenting on someone else's post, you will just give your vote.  For example, I would write "Mrs. Mazzuca votes for this clip."  The winners will be used in class.

Upcoming Topics:

pH

Properties of Water

Organic Molecules

Carbohydrates

Proteins

Lipids

Nucleic Acids

Dehydration Synthesis and Hydrolysis

Good luck and may the best video clip win!

Tom Lehrer Chemistry Song

Do you remember when I told you in class about the periodic table of elements song?  Here it is:

What do you think?  Can you remember them all?  David Radcliffe can.