At STEM science is an important topic, one that we learn a lot about. The science we learn here can help our future when we get a job if we chose a job that is in the science profession. Science can be used at school and when we are away from school, we can use the knowledge that we learn to show people relationships between fake and real world things that happen or other things that are fun to talk about. This year I did many more lab experiments than last year and doing more labs in class helped me feel safer doing them and doing many more labs helped me not get scared when there was a chemical, I have grown in conducting labs as a result of this.

I know that I have grown in labs because in lab activity 3.1 in the chemistry unit (which is one of my artifacts) we had to make soap but it was hard for me because I was scared. Because there was a hot plate involved in the lab and I was scared to go near it because I knew it was very hot and to do the lab we couldn’t be scared of it and if I was scared then I would not get data which would be bad because I can’t learn or observe the substance melting if I didn’t do the lab like I was suppose to. I started to practice labs with my lab table in class during the easy labs and soon I thought I was ready, then I just had to wait for another lab that might be hard for me. Then it came and it was lab activity 8.2 when we had to suspend a paper cup with flaps that were cut in over a flame, we had to observe what happened with the cup while it was over the flame. What I saw happen was the cup was spinning, but I only saw that because I was not scared so I could focus more on what I was doing and I could get a better grade on participation for the class. Some words and concepts that I learned during this experience are chemical reaction which is when to substances combine to make something new and the molecules rearrange to make the substance new. Another word that I have learned in class during this time is molecular level, the molecular level is something that humans cannot see, it is where everything is just molecules.

I’m glad that I have now learned to stay calm and do labs even if I don’t want to, and seeing that I can tell when I’m doing better makes me happy. That is how I know that I’ve grown in conducting labs, by looking back at my work and actions I could tell that I have grown and know I can use that skill in the future.